Q&A with Katia Ameri, Founder of Tech Week by a16z
In 2024, #NYTechWeek, a decentralized conference presented by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), brought together the top funds, startups, and tech companies with a whopping 740+ events across the city — the largest among the Tech Week host cities. And Tech:NYC was in the thick of it.
This year, Tech Week returns to the Big Apple June 2-8, and event submission applications are officially open. We caught up with Tech Week founder Katia Ameri to discuss the conference’s origins, get an inside scoop on what makes for a “great” Tech Week event, and learn how attendees can make the most of the maelstrom.
What’s unique about Tech Week?
Katia: The beauty of Tech Week is that instead of everyone being packed into one convention center, because it’s decentralized in nature, you get to move through curated, intimate spaces that foster organic, deeper connections. We also see an incredible variety in the types of events hosted, from factory tours and electric boat demos to fireside chats and so much more.
Tell us about the origin story of NYTW.
Katia: Initially, we started as an experiment! Post-COVID, we noticed that so many founders were going remote and starting companies everywhere. As a firm, we were investing a lot more in places like Los Angeles, so we decided to launch an LA Tech Week there in 2022 as a way to bring together the LA ecosystem, work with and get to know local partners, and invest in the community for the long run. When we launched, the response blew us away. We had 16,000 signups in just a few weeks, people flew in from all over the U.S. and even internationally, and there was huge demand to take Tech Week to more cities. So, we decided to not only do LA again, but expand to SF and NY, three cities we’re incredibly active in as a firm.
How has NYTW grown?
Katia: Last year, we doubled the size of Tech Week, and NY was the largest market!
The numbers from our last New York Tech Week still blow my mind. We had more than 740 events across the city! What's really exciting is seeing people fly in from all over the world to be part of this, and watching the conversation explode online with hundreds of millions of social media impressions. It's been incredible to watch this grow from our early experiments to what it's become today.
As folks submit event proposals, what insights can you share on what makes for a great Tech Week event?
Katia: As long as it’s related to early-stage tech, the sky’s the limit! That said, here are a few event types we see a ton of demand for and encourage you to consider:
Vertical-specific events: The more niche, the better! Focused, vertical-specific events tend to attract the most relevant people and help you stand out from the rest of the events happening throughout the week.
High-quality speaker panels: Events with tech luminaries and high-profile speakers tend to get the most traction from attendees. Consider adding a speaker to your event to elevate its appeal and help you draw more people.
“Launch” events: With so much attention on the week, if you’ve got a new product or brand, launching at Tech Week is a great way to generate awareness.
Investor-led events: Think office hours, fireside chats, or curated happy hours for founders or coinvestors.
Demo days and pitch days: Perfect for showcasing new products, companies, or innovations.
Founder knowledge-sharing: Intimate dinners, AMAs, and workshops where founders share practical, real insights and get tactical.
Events that highlight what makes NYC unique: Lean into topics, venues, and themes that tell the story of NYC!
Scenes from NYTW 2024.
NYTW is a mammoth of a conference, with hundreds of events. What recommendations do you have for attendees to maximize their NYTW experience?
Host an event: It’s one of the best ways to meet like-minded people. You don’t have to go big. You can host something low-key like a group hike or a curated dinner, and create an experience for the folks you want to connect with. Submit your event here: www.tech-week.com/host
Stay for the whole week: NY Tech Week is a full seven days, weekends included. My suggestion would be to plan to stay the whole time and take advantage of everything happening throughout the week, vs. popping in for a day or two.
Expand your network: Of course, check out the amazing speakers, but also stick around after their talks to meet others. Tons of founders and execs fly in from all over, so use the week to attend events and set up coffee chats and 1-1 convos.
Post on social: Don’t forget to share your experience on social. There’s a whole conversation happening online too, and it’s a great way to keep connecting and engaging with others digitally during the week. You can follow us on social and email: Sign up for our newsletter at www.tech-week.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn so you can know what events are happening and where.
We just opened the platform for event submissions! Hosting an event is the most effective way to get in front of the ecosystem. Whether you're a startup or VC looking to hire, fundraise or showcase your brand, there are a ton of ways you can host an event and build connections during Tech Week, whether it’s through a curated dinner, happy hour, fireside chat or something else.
Submit your event at www.tech-week.com/host