Go forth into 2019 inspired, energized, and supported by those that also really want to make something amazing. Here’s a shortlist of worth-attending tech conferences you can find in Q1 2019. Check it out! who knows, maybe you’ll find your dream investor and/or partner at one of these events!

1. FOSSASIA OpenTechSummit

Date: March 14-17
Location: Lifelong Learning Institute Singapore, Singapore
What to Expect: Experts panels from a range of industries, hackathon, special networking events to meet guests, concurrent exhibition with major tech companies, 10-year anniversary party.

This massive conference is run by FOSSASIA, an organization focusing on developing open source software and hardware with an Asia-based developer community. The event is organized into different topic tracks, covering subjects like AI, Blockchain, and cybersecurity. They also have social events so that guests can explore Singapore while networking and a parallel exhibition so guests can meet people at companies like Microsoft and VLC.

2. Emtech Asia

Date: January 22-23
Location: Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore
What to Expect: 40 impressive presentations from the people actually working in emerging tech, MIT Technology Review’s 10 Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific, a special boutique exhibition with 40 curated deep tech companies, network with high-level entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors.

Co-organized by the MIT Technology Review, this conference combines emerging technology and business. Their agenda groups the speakers into curated panel discussions and individual presentations that are based around four different key themes, “Digital Everything,” “Human 3.0,” “Rewriting Life,” and “Industry 4.0.” These themes cover topics like robotics, AI, Blockchain, biomedicine, and sustainability.

3. Start Me Up Festival 2019

Date: January 21-25
Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
What to Expect: 7 conferences focused on different uses of technology, supplemental local startup community events stationed around the city, opportunities for startups to learn and pitch to investors, networking with global startups

The festival is an offshoot of StartmeupHK, an initiative of InvestHK created to help startups find their footing in Hong Kong. The five-day festival is made up of seven individual conferences, each with their line-up of speakers and own theme, including lifestyle technologies, the impact of startups regionally and internationally, and the future of emerging technologies in workforce innovation. 

4. HelloTomorrow

Date: March 14-15
Location: Centquatre, Paris, France
What to Expect: extremely interesting discussions and presentations about how technology could shape the future, 3 stages presenting talks, pitches, and skills straight from the experts

Hello Tomorrow is a non-profit aimed at using deep tech for global level challenges. The organization has eleven hubs around the world, with the closest one being Singapore. Their summit is packed with panels and keynotes discussing topics like Mars exploration, mobility shaping cities, and even creating a digital DNA twin to maintain health.

5. Unicorn 2019

Date: February 23-24
Location: University Town, National University of Singapore, Singapore
What to Expect: student startup focused talks from experts, pitching competition to share your startup ideas to top venture capitalists (UNICON Arena), networking party with other guests, very cheap tickets (assuming you’re a student)

Presented as “Asia’s first global entrepreneurship conference for students by students,” the conference promises to mix student startups with industry experts. The talks on the agenda include topics covering Blockhain, fintech, and Alibaba from speakers representing companies like Facebook, Shopee, and Go-Jek. Because it’s meant for students, the ticket prices are very low, starting at 50 SGD (early bird pricing).

6. MWC Barcelona (formerly Mobile World Congress)

Date: February 25-28
Location: Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain
What to Expect: amazing presentations from speakers representing all different parts of tech, seminars from global mobile innovators, exhibition and pavilions showcasing the latest in global mobile tech, special themed experiences, lots of networking events, announcement of winners for the 2019 Global Mobile Awards

You may have heard of MWC Barcelona by its previous name, Mobile World Congress, which their website says is “the largest mobile event in the world.” This year’s theme is “Intelligent Connectivity,” covering topics like immersive content, IoT, AI, and 5G. Alongside the incredibly packed conference is an exhibition with over 2,400 global tech companies, and tons of opportunities to learn from partners like Huawei and IBM at seminars and exclusive experiences. You can attend just the conference for 799 Euros, but if you want to see everything, prices start at 2,199 Euros.

7. UX Thailand Conference

Date: February 23-24
Location: KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha Theatre & Novotel Siam Square, Bangkok
What to Expect: Product and UX designer-oriented, two-day workshops and conference by UX/Product designer veterans from across the globe.

Aiming to inspire and upskill, UX Thailand is a non-profit organisation that began as a series of monthly meet-ups, focused on empowering the local community to do better design. Expect in-depth conversation, knowledge exchange and get inspired by veteran product designers everywhere and upskill yourself in a one-day workshop the day after.