We often celebrate funding rounds, breakout conferences, and scaling stories. But we rarely talk about the events that quietly disappear, even when they helped shape ecosystems, launch companies, and build lifelong founder friendships.
This is our tribute to the ones that stepped away quietly. The conferences that may no longer run, but still deserve a place in history (and in this blog) for what they built, inspired, and proved possible. Some, confirmed to have gone for good. Others, mysteriously gone quiet, and which, as of December 2025, never actually said “goodbye”.
The Next Web, Amsterdam (Last edition: 2025)
TNW wasn’t just a conference. It was an institution. And Amsterdam is one of the finest cities for a conference with its unique charm. The Netherlands is a country that punches above its weight thanks to technology, engineering and its openness. It was a no-brainer that one of the most important startup events should take place in the Dutch capital, bringing together global tech leaders, policymakers, scaleups, startups and more.
And because of the editorial influence of the traditionally great media outlet, it also had some of the best-curated stages in Europe.
The 2024 and 2025 editions were nice moments for our own agency, including sessions led by our own JJ, like her fireside with Ōura’s CPO, Holly Shelton. Often called “the most intimate technology festival on the planet,” TNW had a unique energy that blended scale with soul.
The event wound down after 2025, closing the book on one of Europe’s most influential tech gatherings. And with it, also the tech outlet. We made many friends at TNW in Amsterdam, learned about new trends and startups and it was always a trip we looked forward to.
Thanks for everything, guys!
Pirate Summit, Cologne (Last edition: 2023)
Some startup events are just different. Pirate Summit was one of them.
Held in Cologne, it brought together over a thousand carefully selected attendees from more than 40 countries, with a program built around real connection, grit, and long-term relationships. The 2023 edition featured more than 100 speakers, two pitch competitions, intimate matchmaking sessions, and the kind of environment that encouraged honest, founder-first conversations.
Its final theme was “Raise Yourself.” And like every edition before it, the summit ended with the symbolic burning of the wooden pirate — a ritual that felt somewhere between farewell and rebirth.
As the organisers put it: “Pirate Summit is an event focused on long-term relationships instead of transactions. In the long run, authenticity wins. That’s because people connect more with your grit than your shine.”
We’re glad our very own Joe Krasean was able to witness the final burn. The 2023 edition was its last, but the stories, friendships, and spirit it created are still alive in the ecosystem. RIP, sweet pirate… though who knows if the ghost will resurface?
EMERGE (Last edition: 2024, Yerevan)
EMERGE began in Belarus in 2018 and quickly grew into a central hub for entrepreneurs, community leaders, corporates, and investors across the New East. Its reach spanned Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia. Regions often overlooked on the mainstream startup map.
Over the years, EMERGE held more than 4,800 one-on-one mentoring sessions with international experts from diverse industries. It brought together participants from 103 countries and created a space where bold ideas met serious ambition.
After two online editions during the pandemic, the conference returned with in-person events in Yerevan, Istanbul, and Dubai. Its final edition took place in 2024, once again in Armenia’s capital, a location that captured the spirit of EMERGE: offbeat, welcoming, and built for discovery.
We always appreciated its roving format and global mindset. EMERGE proved that world-class innovation doesn’t need to be tied to traditional tech hubs.
Will we see another edition?
ScaleupFest, Budapest (Last edition: 2023)
ScaleupFest was created as a space where founders, scaleups, investors, and corporates could come together to explore what it really means to grow. Not just in funding rounds, but in mindset, reach, and resilience.
Hosted in Budapest, the event brought a mix of international case studies, honest founder stories, and investor insights. Sessions often focused on scaling beyond Central and Eastern Europe, with speakers sharing what had worked, what hadn’t, and what they wished they’d known earlier.
Attendees were encouraged to connect, exchange best practices, and build their own stories of expansion in a friendly, founder-first setting.
The last edition took place in 2023. Since then, things have gone quiet. But for the founders who attended, ScaleupFest offered a rare blend of honesty and ambition that helped shape their next chapters.
Will ScaleupFest return? We’re definitely curious about it, and Hungarian startups!
Disraptors, Prague (formerly SWCSummit) (Last edition: 2023)
Disraptors, formerly known as SWCSummit, was one of the more energetic and eclectic gatherings in the European startup calendar. Built through collaboration between VCs, startups, NGOs, and corporates, it brought a sharp focus to both innovation and fun — all rooted in the heart of Prague.
The event was known for hosting the battleground to crown the European Startup Champion as part of the global Startup World Cup. Finalists competed not just for bragging rights, but for international media attention, a spot in the global finale, and a shot at a $500,000 investment prize.
Its style was bold, fast-paced, and unapologetically loud. You could expect serious investors and playful branding, sometimes in the same room.
After its 2023 edition, organisers announced a postponement to 2024. But with no further updates since, Disraptors has been silent. Whether it returns or not, it proved that startup events could be both impactful and irreverent. And that sometimes, the weird ones leave the best memories.
Untold Stories CEE, Budapest (Last edition: 2023)
Another discontinued event from Budapest. Untold Stories CEE set out to do something different. Instead of polished pitches and media hype, it focused on the real, raw experiences behind building a startup. The missteps, the turning points, the doubts, and the lessons learned along the way.
Held over two days in Budapest, the event brought together founders from both around the corner and around the world, creating space for honest conversations that rarely happen on stage. It wasn’t about growth hacks or unicorn dreams. It was about connection, clarity, and the stories that don’t usually get told.
Organisers have shared that the event is currently being rethought. Whether it returns in the same form or evolves into something new, Untold Stories filled a much-needed gap in the CEE startup landscape. And we hope its next chapter is just around the corner.
For the OG events list, click here.
