Breaking away from the classic conference format: “The ecosystem must meet in a genuine and meaningful way”

Aarhus has long proved its worth as a burgeoning startup city with strong communities and a growing ecosystem. Now, a new conference is adding to the city’s unique approach. On May 22, SMIL will open its doors for the first time – and the ambition is clear: It will be the startup world’s most present and (co-)human experience.

Behind the conference is the organization Startup Aarhus. They have listened to founders, investors and ecosystem players who have asked for something different from the big, vibrant tech conferences. SMIL was the answer. TechSavvy spoke to organizers Ellen Kobberø and Line Bech, who promise a day with a focus on authentic meetings, intimate spaces and options rather than abundance.

“SMIL should be the happiest startup experience in the world. Not because everything is perfect, but because we create the framework for people to meet in a genuine and meaningful way,” explains Ellen Kobberø.

A showdown with the classic format

SMIL stems from a realization that many in the startup community can relate to. At traditional tech conferences, it’s easy to drown in the crowds. Keynotes and panel discussions rarely deliver the tailored knowledge that a founder needs right now.

“We’ve been to big tech conferences ourselves and heard from many founders that they can be too overwhelming. You often end up just being there with thousands of people and it becomes difficult to make genuine connections. You often get more out of smaller side events than the main event itself,” says Ellen Kobberø, Project Manager at Startup Aarhus.

For the organizers of SMIL, it was obvious that the format needed to be rethought. That’s why keynotes, panel debates and one-way communication have been removed from the program. Instead, participants should meet each other at eye level, be active and engage in conversations based on their own challenges and ambitions. So now, side events simply take center stage.

“We could see that the classic tech conference with keynote after keynote and huge crowds just wasn’t creating the value we wanted. That’s why we wanted to do away with the idea of everyone hearing the same thing at the same time. We want to create meetings where you can take something home with you,” says Head of Brand and Experience Line Bech.

The goal of SMIL is therefore to create a framework where people are not just present, but actually engage. The new conference is therefore built around smaller happenings and sessions, where the focus is on dialog, sparring and sharing experiences.

Curated experience with participants as co-creators

At SMIL, it’s not random who you meet or what you participate in. Each participant chooses their own path through the day and commits to the spaces they enter. There’s no background noise – just conscious choices and people present.

“We have removed the keynote format completely. Instead, participants have to participate, interact and play a role. It can be walk-and-talks, drawing workshops or small discussion rooms. This way you are activated and take knowledge with you in a completely different way,” says Ellen Kobberø.

The sessions range from walk-and-talks to workshops with concrete startup hacks. Everything is designed with interaction in mind. Participants play an active role in shaping the content and become part of the conversation, rather than just passive listeners.

“You choose what you want to participate in. We have deliberately created a framework where you can’t do everything. When you choose one specific session, others have made the same choice. It makes the meeting more genuine and the conversation more focused,” says Line Bech.

The venues and setting at the Institute of (X) in Aarhus are also designed to be part of the experience. With festival vibes, opportunities for spontaneous meetings and time to breathe, SMIL encourages networking not to feel like work. It should feel like a natural extension of the day, the two organizers explain.

Locally rooted with an international perspective

Although SMIL is based in Aarhus and has its roots in the city’s startup community, the ambitions do not stop at the municipal border. The conference will also attract international startups, investors and partners. But it will do so without compromising its special tone and proximity.

SMIL is meant to complement the big tech conferences like TechBBQ, not compete with them. Where the big stages gather thousands of attendees, SMIL should be the place where you meet the right people at the right time in a more curated and intimate space.

“We don’t see ourselves as a competitor to TechBBQ. SMIL should be something different. We’re rooted in Aarhus, and that gives us a different vibe. We want to create a format where the local community shines through, but which still attracts people from outside,” says Ellen Kobberø.

The local anchoring is key. The conference will showcase what Aarhus is capable of: a strong community, an unpretentious approach and a culture of helping each other out. The hope is that SMIL will become a benchmark for how to bridge the gap between local strengths and global ambitions. That’s why the organizers are excited to see how the ecosystem receives the first edition of SMIL on 22 May.

“The most important thing for us is to start right. It’s not about how many participants or investors come. We want people to go home thinking: ‘Wow, I really made five strong connections today’. That’s what matters,” Line Bech concludes.

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