As YourStory completes a decade, here are 9 reasons for you to make it to the 9th edition of TechSparks

India’s most loved annual technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship summit TechSparks is right around the corner. We are just three days away. The YourStory office is buzzing with energy - that rush you get when you are hanging at three quarters while on a Ferris Wheel. Know what I mean? With every edition, TechSparks gets bigger and better, and this year is the 9th edition as YourStory celebrates its 10th-year milestone.

TechSparks 2018 will be two days of networking, conversations, and an experience like none other.

For those of you still contemplating why they should buy tickets and spend two days from work and family with us, there are loads of reasons. Workshops, product launches, debates, expert corners, talent discovery aren’t the only highlights this year, there’s a lot more in store!

Listen and learn from the best

From unicorns to deep science to design - there is a little something for everyone this year at TechSparks. The who's who of the ecosystem will be there, business leaders from India and across, VCs, Government heads, companies and a host of entrepreneurs.

There is the man behind Paytm - Vijay Shekhar Sharma - talking about his journey, while Dailyhunt’s Founder and CEO duo tell us what will interest the next 500 million Indian internet users - and no, it won’t be porn or sex. Curious? Well, so am I.

Hold on there’s more - Mohit Tandon of Delhivery on what it takes to scale up logistics to 12,000+ pin codes in India to Gods of Grocery- the BigBasket founders sharing their journey. And in all this, we can’t forget the M&As and the unicorns. 30 years and 13 acquisitions later, Ashish Bhasin - the media and advertising Mogul of India is betting on digital India more than ever before.

Udaan’s Co-founder Sujeet (you may also know him as the guy who built Flipkart logistics/operations) will spill the beans on how he spots the biggest market opportunities in India.

And while they speak, don’t forget to share your view with us during the sessions on Twitter with #tsparks.

Focused tracks just for you

This year there are seven parallel tracks - from design, tech for impact, and deep tech to product and women focused track. With this, we deep dive into the core of things like tech and its impact on society. Hear what Mayukhini Pande, Co-founder and Head-Reseach, Greenopia, has to say on “the Designer as a CEO” in the design track or hear King Siddharth, Head of Design at Instamojo talk about human biases, and why they matter in tech and design. This is just the tip of the iceberg, find the agenda here.

This your opportunity to ask questions, interact with your peer from the industry and form networks and discover new partnership opportunities to grow.

Go global

There are speakers and attendees from different parts of the globe at TechSparks. This year at TechSparks find out why South Korea, Japan, Israel, Sweden are all looking at the India market and how chaotic (or not) are they finding it. All this and more from our global partners on "The Global India: Silicon Bridges for Startups" panel.

This is an opportunity to build global connects, understand global market demands, and get a sense of how different geographies perceive Indian markets and how they are looking to collaborate.

Meet the Tech 30

If I actually sat down to list all of it down, it would take me a good part of the night, so I will stick with a few names- Mobisy, Innovaccer, Vicara, and of course here is the list of the ones that got acquired. 

These are all Tech30 companies. These are tomorrow’s superstars who will be rocking as the Tech30 of TechSparks 2018. So even if you haven’t made the cut this year, it is an opportunity to find out what makes a pitch powerful and catches the attention of a VC.

And of course, goes without saying that they will be meeting a lot of potential investors.

Time to deliver that elevator pitch

No startup event is complete is without the VCs. This TechSparks, find out how the Indian VCs have been prepping for a sultry summer in the Indian startup space again. Which sectors are they eyeing, and what is hot and what is not.

Find out what VCs are thinking and when you bump into them don’t forget your elevator pitch. Better get down to polishing it. You never know when you may need it. It’s your shot to make it matter and land that meeting. Let me tell you, we have seen magic happen first hand at TechSparks so be ready!

Exhibitors

Solution providers, startups, MNCs and so many more exhibitors to meet, connect, partner and share stories and experiences. Find out what the exhibitors have to offer only at the TechSparks 2018. No, I am not revealing who will be coming. Why don’t you find out for yourself on the 5th and 6th of October, and don’t forget to save the date if you still haven’t.

Masterclass

Learn from some of the best names in the industry. At TechSparks this year we have 8 masterclasses. SamsungNext, Samsung’s early-stage investment and innovation arm that focuses on software and services, is holding a Masterclass which focusses on “UX for engineers; pro-tips on how to delight your users with less and why that's a good thing”. There will be a Masterclass on Kubernetes and “why it is the tech to consider when building applications for scale.”

There are more so don’t miss out on this opportunity.

Unlock new opportunities by networking

There are chai and coffee, and almost 2000 plus people to talk to and to connect, exchange cards, discover new partnership opportunities and even find a new job, or if you are fresh out of college, then an opportunity to work for some of the best startups in India. Networking is the way to unlock new opportunities, so make the best use of the opportunity. Don’t forget those business cards at home. You will need a whole stack of them!

Say hello to the YourStory team

The YourStory team works hard to put up TechSparks every year. We put in our love, passion and the desire to bring the best of the best under one roof. This is your chance to catch the whole team in action. Come and meet the team, get to know us better, and share your pitches and stories with us. Show us love and get loads in return. We are waiting eagerly!

With three days to go, the YourStory office is buzzing. To give you a sense of what’s happening backstage, here’s a peek - the MC is hard at work, there is a whole flurry of things transpiring on our first floor, the Tech30 pitches are in place and of course, the reports are ready, and speakers have all been briefed. And we are waiting to welcome each and every one of you. See you soon. Till then, sharing a lot of love from the entire team.

Hope to see you at TechSparks 2018.

Hope you have booked your spot for the most-loved summit in India taking place on October 5-6, 201. If not then Book your tickets & exhibits now at 40% of the cost. Prices go up tonight.

Book your spot now! (Use code "TS40LB" while booking your tickets to avail the discount)