The top 7 start-up events for founders to attend in 2026/7

Starting a new business can be exciting, but it can also be tough. You’re going to need a lot of information, advice and support, as well as that all-important funding. You’ll also need to be making connections to find new clients and partners, and help your startup grow.

This is why it’s a good idea for startup founders to attend industry events, but which are the best ones to be adding to your calendar?

Read on for a rundown of all the top startup events for founders to attend in 2026. This includes networking events, conferences and industry-specific events, some of which are free to attend.

And if you’re exploring financial solutions for your startup, make sure to check out Wise Business. It’s ideal for companies of all sizes, especially if you have big plans to go global.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

7 startup events to sign up to today

As the founder of a startup, your time is precious. This means that if you're taking time out to attend an industry event, it needs to be worth your while.

However, attending business events can potentially be a springboard to something bigger for your startup – whether it's a valuable new contact, a lead on funding or advice and support from industry experts who've been in your shoes.

Let's take a look at some of the best start-up events founders should attend over the next 12 months so that you can plan your calendar.

1. Web Summit, Lisbon

Dates: 9th to 12th November 2026
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Price: From approximately €595 EUR, on sale at time of writing²

Possibly the largest tech conference in the world, Web Summit draws founders, investors, media and corporate leaders from across the globe.

Over the four days, you can expect talks and masterclasses covering everything from AI and sustainability to business growth and growth hacking. There's a specialist startup programme and pitch stages where founders showcase to investors and partners.

Plus, dedicated areas for mentorship sessions and themed lounges.

2. Dust x Wise Business Rooftop Sessions: Build Here, Scale Anywhere

Date: Wednesday 8th July, 6pm-10pm
Location: Wise London HQ

The next generation of companies won’t wait to ‘go global’ — they’ll build their business models for scale from day one.

In fact, the strongest businesses are already staying leaner for longer and using AI agents to move faster without adding unnecessary complexity. Simultaneously, modern financial infrastructure like Wise Business is making it easier to operate across markets from the get go.

To uncover what it takes to build a truly borderless business, we’re bringing together finance leaders, founders and C-suite operators for the first Rooftop Session hosted by Wise Business at their London Headquarters.

Join us for rooftop drinks, networking and a fireside panel with industry experts.

Want to be in the room? Apply for your spot here 💼

3. Slush 2026, Helsinki

Dates: 18th to 19th November 2026
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Price: Startup tickets from €395; Investor tickets from €1,095 EUR

Slush has become one of the most important gatherings in the global startup ecosystem, attracting 12,000+ founders, investors and technology leaders every year. The two-day event hostsover 25,000 meetings, 200+ speakers and over 600 side eveets.

The event is renowned for its focus on founder-investor matchmaking, helping startups build relationships with venture capital firms and angel investors from around the world.

Alongside keynote speakers, attendees can access workshops, networking sessions and side events designed specifically for scaling businesses and securing investment.³

4. FinTech Connect & Tokenize: LDN 2026, London

Dates: 1st to 2nd December 2026
Location: London, United Kingdom
Price: Pre-registration now open

This dual event focuses on fintech innovation and institutional digital finance, hosting over 5,000 attendes and 300 speakers.⁴ First, FinTech Connect showcases payments, banking tech and financial services trends, while Tokenize: LDN focuses on asset tokenisation and digital capital markets infrastructure.

It's perfect if your startup operates in fintech or finance infrastructure, or if you're targeting enterprise and institutional partners.

Panel discussions and product showcases will dive into emerging technologies, while networking opportunities with banks, asset managers, VCs, regulators and fintech founders will provide the chance to ask your burning business questions.

5. 4YFN 2027, Barcelona

Dates: 1st-4th March 2027
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Price: Pre-registration open

Held alongside Mobile World Congress, 4YFN (Four Years From Now) is one of Europe's premier startup events, connecting founders with investors, corporate innovators and accelerators from around the world. Its 2026 edition held over 105,000 attendeees, 300+ speakers and over 70bn EUR in investors total funds.⁶

The event is built specifically for startups and scale-ups looking to secure investment, generate partnerships and gain visibility within the global technology ecosystem. Attendees can expect startup pitch competitions, investor meetings, networking opportunities and expert-led sessions focused on growth, fundraising and innovation.

For founders seeking exposure to international investors and enterprise partners, few events offer the same scale and access as 4YFN.

6. SaaStr Annual, San Francisco

Dates: 11th-12th May 2027
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Price: From approximately $599 USD

For SaaS founders, few events carry as much weight as SaaStr Annual. Bringing together 10,000+ founders, executives, investors and operators, it's designed to help businesses accelerate growth and learn directly from those who've successfully scaled companies before them.

Attendees can expect keynote talks, founder workshops, networking sessions and practical discussions covering customer acquisition, fundraising, product development and international expansion.

The event is particularly valuable for B2B founders looking to connect with investors and enterprise decision-makers.¹

7. Latitude59 2027, Tallinn

Dates: 19th-21st May 2027
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Price: Super early bird currently starting at 139 EUR

Estonia's flagship startup and tech conference is ideal for founders ready to scale internationally or those who are keen to explore European ecosystems. Not to mention those seeking investor exposure.

Expect thousands of attendees from more than 70 countries alongside hundreds of investors and ecosystem leaders.⁵ There are pitch competitions, workshops, side sessions and themed discussions that cut across tech, policy, investment and sustainable innovation.

For founders looking to build international connections, Latitude59 offers one of the strongest startup communities in Northern Europe.

Grow your company and go global with Wise Business

Researching funding options for your startup? You’ll also want to make sure you’re set up with the right business account.

Open a Wise Business account and you can hold and exchange 40+ at once. You can send fast, secure payments to 140+, and get account details (only with Wise Business Advanced), to get paid in 8+ like a local. Whenever you need to send, spend or exchange foreign currencies, you’ll benefit from the mid-market exchange rate, with low, transparent fees.

You’ll also benefit from all of these features with Wise Business:

• No ongoing fees, minimum balance requirements or foreign transaction fees
• Debit and expense cards for you and your team, which you can use in 150+
• Multi-user access for team members, with ways to control and manage permissions
• Pay up to 1,000 people at once with the Wise batch payments feature
• Integrate with your favourite cloud accounting solutions
• Use the powerful Wise API for automation and streamlining workflow
• Take advantage of Wise Interest to make your funds work harder when you’re not using them (capital at risk).

With a truly global account, you’ll be all set to grow your business worldwide.

Register with Wise Business🚀

Investments can fluctuate, and your capital is at risk. Interest is offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise Payments Ltd. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with registration number 839689. When facilitating access to Wise investment products, Wise Payments Ltd acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Wise Assets UK Ltd. Please be aware that we do not offer investment advice, and you may be liable for taxes on any earnings. If you're uncertain, we urge you to seek professional advice. To find out more about the Funds, visit our website.

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2026 has already been a full year of business events, with 2027 looking the same - all of which offer excellent opportunities to build relationships, learn from industry leaders and explore international investment prospects.

It goes without saying that you’ll leave inspired and energised for the next stage of your growth. But attending these events can also help you stay ahead of industry trends and spot opportunities before they become mainstream. Beyond networking and funding, you’ll gain insights into emerging technologies, regulatory changes, innovative business models and potential growth ideas.

In fact, whether you’re seeking mentorship, partnerships, inspiration or more, these conferences and events provide the perfect environment to accelerate your start-up’s growth and global reach.

But tickets are being snapped up fast, so if one takes your fancy - don’t delay reserving your place.

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Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

Sources used:

1. SaaStr Annual – Buy tickets
2. Web Summit – Tickets
3. Slush – Home
4. FinTech Connect –Home
5. Latitude59 – Tickets
6. 4YFN – Home

Sources last checked on date: 18-Jun-2026

Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.