Summary:
The Next Web (TNW) is shutting down its events and media operations after nearly 20 years, marking the end of a major era in Europe's tech scene.
Founded in 2006, TNW grew from a small conference with 280 attendees to hosting 17,500 participants by 2019, becoming a central hub for startups.
The Financial Times (FT), which acquired a majority stake in 2019, confirmed the closure, citing strategic reasons and challenges like declining attendance post-pandemic.
Co-founder Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten expressed pride in TNW's role in digital transformation, but noted the shift from innovation to celebration as digital became mainstream.
While events and media close, the coworking space continues, and the FT is supporting affected staff, highlighting broader ecosystem changes and opportunities.
The Next Web (TNW), the Amsterdam-based company renowned for hosting one of Europe's most iconic tech events, has announced it will wind down its events and media operations by the end of September following a strategic review.
This decision was confirmed by The Financial Times (FT), which acquired a majority stake in TNW in 2019, and was first reported by Amy Lewin, Editor of Sifted, another FT-backed publication.
Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Co-founder and board member of TNW, shared his reflections: "TNW has been the adventure of a lifetime. We started out at a unique moment in history, just as the world was moving online and everything was becoming digital. It was a thrill to not only witness that shift, but to help spark and accelerate it."
He added: "Over time, as digital became the norm, our role felt less about breaking new ground and more about celebrating what had already been achieved. I'm grateful we got to play our part, and I'm glad we can now close this chapter with pride."
Founded in 2006 by Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten and Patrick de Laive, TNW began as a small tech conference with just 280 attendees in a church in Amsterdam. By 2019, it had grown significantly, hosting 17,500 participants and becoming a central hub for Europe's startup community. Its final conference took place in June this year at NDSM in Amsterdam.
This announcement marks a significant turning point for the European startup ecosystem. TNW evolved beyond just event organizing, developing a media publication and operating a coworking space. While the events and media businesses are closing, the coworking arm will continue to operate as usual.
At the time of the FT acquisition, TNW was praised as a key European asset. Angela Mackay, FT Live Global Publisher, stated: "TNW is an established and profitable business that produces one of the largest and most critically acclaimed tech startup events in Europe. There are clear synergies between TNW and FT Live, in sharing audiences and delivering the FT's world class journalism on live stages in Europe."
However, challenges emerged post-acquisition. The media team shrank after editorial staff departures at the end of 2024, and conference attendance dropped from 10,000 between 2022 and 2024 to just 4,500 in-person attendees this year—less than half of pre-pandemic levels. The FT has been supporting affected employees through this transition.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced TNW to pivot to virtual formats, with 20,000 digital attendees in 2021 alongside in-person participation. The broader post-pandemic landscape for tech events has been unpredictable.
EU-Startups has covered TNW's journey for over a decade, highlighting its role in the ecosystem. TNW's closure underscores broader shifts in Europe's startup scene, where media, events, and community-building face new economic and structural challenges, yet also present new opportunities.
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