It’s getting close to the time of the year that we all look forward to. That’s right, we’re approaching West Tech Fest season.
The first big sign that the #1 tech festival is rapidly approaching is Festival Passes going on sale, and that just happened.
You’ve likely already got that week blocked out in your calendar, so here’s your chance to get one of the limited number of Festival Passes before they run out.
There are a few changes this year — from a new venue to a shuffle of events and days. Here’s what you need to know.
What does the schedule look like this year?
This year, West Tech Fest will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, meaning more space for events and activations, and all right in the heart of the CBD.
As usual, there’ll be many side events that are hosted as part of the week-long festival, and while there’ll once again be no Rottfest this year, we’ve heard rumblings about a couple of other end-of-festival Friday activities that will wrap up the festival nicely.
West Tech Women
The breakfast event that kicks off the week on a high note with the goal of accelerating female participation in the startup and investment ecosystem. Don’t be fooled by the name; this event is for all to attend and I’d highly encourage you to do so. Last year, this was the event of the week with a strong panel of speakers dropping knowledge.
When: Monday, December 2nd
Time: 7:00 am to 9:30 am
Where: The Maali, Perth Zoo
West Tech Coast
Coast premiered at last year’s West Tech Fest and was a huge hit. Dubbed as the bigger, better replacement for Rottofest, it didn’t disappoint. On top of some great sessions and networking, there was Bill Tai on the kitesurf and Minister Dawson hitting the beach for a swim after announcing the Green Tech Hub and grants program, showing why he’s a staple part of the ecosystem.
We’re not sure who’s on the speaker line-up this year, but it’s sure to be one not to miss.
When: Tuesday, December 3rd
Time: 8:45 am (all-day event)
Where: Coast, Port Beach
Freo Startup Fest
Of all the West Tech Fest events, this is the one that aligns most with founders. It’s a raw gathering of founders, ecosystem, and supporters and is a great way to network in a casual setting. There’s also a series of speakers, panels, and the Startup News Awards which will be open for applications very soon. If you’re new to the ecosystem, this is where you’ll want to be.
Note: Freo Startup Fest is usually on Thursday, but this year, it’s switched places with West Tech Main and will be on Wednesday.
When: Wednesday, December 4th
Time: 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Freo.Social, Fremantle
West Tech Main
The main event and the reason why we’ll all be there. This year will see an impressive lineup of speakers inspiring everyone in attendance, as well as some additional break-out areas, activations, and live podcast recordings.
There’ll also be the Innovation Showcase and Young Entrepreneurs Showcase providing an opportunity for Western Australian startups and innovators to promote their business to prospective clients, customers, and investors. EOIs are currently open if you’d like to be an exhibitor in the Innovation Showcase.
When: Thursday, December 5th
Time: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (CBD)
How to get a WTF festival pass
Festival passes are available for $700.00 each and are available here.
Each Festival Pass includes:
- Priority access so you can skip the queues to access the events
- A 10% discount on single ticket prices
- Premium services throughout the event, including West Tech Main Festival Passholder VIP room
- Guaranteed access to the following events:
- West Tech Women
- West Tech Coast
- Freo Startup Fest
- West Tech Main
- The After Party at West Tech Main
- Exclusive West Tech Fest Merch
