DLD Tel Aviv 2016: 10 Innovation Festival Events Not To Miss

The largest annual startup conference held in Tel Aviv, Israel, will once again open its doors next week. The DLD Tel Aviv Innovation Festival 2016 will see 10,000 startup and high-tech industry executives, including 3,500 attendees from abroad, participating in dozens of events, meetups, lectures and demos.

Like every year, DLD is attracting some of the world’s most influential tech and finance firms, all eager to get in on the Startup Nation action. As Tel Aviv was recently voted the world’s best startup ecosystem outside the US, it is no wonder that global organization Digital Life Design (DLD) picked Tel Aviv as one of a handful locations for its conference.

“DLD has become one of the most intriguing high-tech conferences in the world, bringing together the finest minds, companies, entrepreneurs and investors in the world into one place,” according to Israel’s Office of the Chief Scientist.

SEE ALSO: Why The World’s Largest Tech Companies All Want A Piece Of The Israeli Pie

Aside from the main DLD conference, the whole week (Sept. 25-29) – known as “Innovation Festival”- is packed with other private- and city-sponsored events scattered across some of the coolest locations around town.

To help you figure out which events and parties not to miss, NoCamels has prepared a comprehensive roundup of the best and most noteworthy events happening next week in the “city that never sleeps.”

1. DLD Tel Aviv Innovation Conference 2016

DLD features a plethora of events happening simultaneously at the site of the 124-years-old Jaffa Railway Station, the first of its kind in the Middle East. This beautifully preserved 19th century spot, which no longer serves as a railway station, perhaps symbolizes the Startup Nation’s journey from a small colony to a vibrant center of innovation and high technology.

Events will include lectures, panel discussions, technical sessions, meetups, demos, cocktail parties and social events, which will offer conference guests access to high-tech and investment gurus, up-and-coming startups, high-tech giants and cool gadgets. Admission is steep – 2,000 shekels. And be prepared, the panels take place in tents and it gets a little hot and humid!

When: Sept. 27-28

Where: The Old Jaffa Railway Station (“HaTachana”), 2 Yehezkel Kaufmann street, Tel Aviv

2. Creative Boulevard

Various events will be taking place on Rothschild Boulevard, including an urban happening, where a host of meetups will provide opportunities for global networking; and live exhibitions, which will turn the boulevard – Tel Aviv’s main startup hub – into an open-air digital media arena, featuring interactive digital games.

The evening is expected to be “an amazing visual representation of the startup ecosystem and innovations in Tel Aviv,” according to the mayor’s office.

When: Sept. 27, starting at 7 p.m.

Where: Along Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv

3. Tel Aviv Cities Summit

This annual summit will address key issues that urban administrators must consider as they face ongoing technological and urban revolutions that shape communities nowadays. It brings together entrepreneurs, city planners and visionaries from cities around the world – who together experience the innovative spirit of Tel Aviv.

The opening plenary feature a discussion on local solutions for global challenges. Speakers include the Deputy Secretary General of the OECD Douglas Frantz and Mayor of Bogota Enrique Peñalosa.

When: Sept. 26, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: The Tel Aviv Museum of Art, 27 Shaul Hamelech Blvd., Tel Aviv.

4. The second China-Israel Investment Summit

The summit will connect prominent Chinese investors and corporations to innovative Israeli companies from a variety of industries. Delegations include leading companies in the fields of medical devices, AgTech, CleanTech, internet, mobile and FinTech.

When: September 24-26

Where: David Intercontinental Hotel, 12 Kaufman St., Tel Aviv

5. Chief Scientist’s consultation meetups

As part of the DLD convention, Israel’s Innovation Authority (formerly Office of the Chief Scientist) will set up a pavilion to consult early and later stage startups on support and grants, opportunities for research and development cooperation with countries in North and Latin America, East Asia, Europe, and more.

This is an opportunity for members of the high-tech ecosystem to meet Innovation Authority staff face-to-face and get updates and information.

When: Sept. 28, 2-6 p.m.

Where: The Old Jaffa Railway Station (“HaTachana”), 2 Yehezkel Kaufmann street, Tel Aviv

6. Tempest: The French Tech Party

Musician Franck Vigroux, along with Antoine Schmitt – a contemporary artist, programming engineer and designer – will present a show of digital media and sounds on Rothschild Boulevard, just outside the French Institute.

Called “Tempest,” this audio-visual performance depicts the universe right after the Big Bang.

When: Sept. 27 in the evening

Where: 7 Rothschild Blvd., Tel Aviv

7. Exclusive events held by Amazon, Intel, Google and Microsoft

DLD also offers an opportunity to get to know some of the world’s largest tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Intel, which all have offices in Israel. Some sessions are by-invitation only, others simply require registration.

At the events, some of the world’s most cutting-edge technologies will be presented by leaders of giant tech corporations.

When: Sept. 26-28

Where: The Old Jaffa Railway Station (“HaTachana”), 2 Yehezkel Kaufmann street, Tel Aviv

8. Jamming with smartphones 

The availability of affordable mobile platforms allows for creating a new generation of musical instruments and interactive audio applications. These systems are currently redefining the boundaries between music listening and music performance. This DLD meetup will explore mobile platforms that create collective performances. Bring your own smartphone.

When: Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. 

Where: BuXa Bar, 31 Rothschild Blvd., Tel Aviv 

9. Berlin’s creative popup laboratory

At the Berlin Popup Lab, visitors can get comprehensive information about the Berlin startup scene, and life and work in the German capital. The lab will feature meetups, exhibitions, and a dinner. An open-stage event will feature the stories of entrepreneurs that expanded their startups from Tel Aviv to Berlin.

When: Sept. 25-29

Where: The Old Jaffa Railway Station (“HaTachana”), 2 Yehezkel Kaufmann street, Tel Aviv

10. 4YFN Mobile Event

4 Years From Now (4YFN) is a platform that enables startups, investors and corporations to connect and launch new ventures together. The organization will host several events, including startup pitching sessions and networking.

When: Sept. 28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: The Old Jaffa Railway Station (“HaTachana”), 2 Yehezkel Kaufmann street, Tel Aviv

*Please visit event websites for registration and admissions information.

Photos and video: dautrescordes, Pikiwiki, Orenvo5, Random, Berlin

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