| |
Two young outsiders are set on disrupting the events world. It helps that they’re kicking off in 2026 with a lot of help from AI.
And we spoke with events vet Greg Topalian about the high-risk environment we seem to now be permanently stuck in. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
AI Fast-Tracks B2B Events for Entrepreneurs Building Off Niche Newsletters |
|
|
Two young entrepreneurs are building B2B conferences out of niche newsletters. Their first is Hardware FYI, focused on engineering. They have big plans to expand into different industries, starting with the communities built by creators. |
Read full story here. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Events Veteran Urges Organizers to Think Beyond Short-Term Turbulence |
Greg Topalian has spent three decades navigating uncertainty in the events business. |
Economic downturns, travel disruptions, natural disasters and global crises have all tested organizers' ability to adapt. But as tariffs reshape supply chains and geopolitical tensions influence travel and attendance decisions, Topalian sees event operators confronting an entirely new set of challenges. |
“I have dealt with unpredictability for pretty much 30 years,” said Topalian, founder of advisory firm On Deck Ventures and chair of Clarion Events North America. “Everything I run is here in the U.S. so for me, the biggest things are tariff-related.” |
For an industry built on global supply chains, higher import duties are affecting everything from promotional products and branded merchandise to exhibit booth construction, signage, staging and audiovisual equipment. |
While organizers can reduce spending on giveaways and swag, other costs are harder to avoid. Graphics, fabrication materials and temporary event infrastructure often rely on imported components, leaving planners exposed to rising prices. |
The audiovisual sector has been particularly affected. Much of the equipment used at conferences and trade shows is manufactured overseas before being imported and rented domestically. According to the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA), some media player manufacturers are absorbing an additional 10% in import tariffs. With industry margins often hovering around 12%, even modest increases can significantly affect profitability. |
With costs increasing, the pressure is on organizers—and it could mean that unless your event is an absolute must-have for attendees, it may be short for this world. |
“You have to make the event so compelling that it's a, ‘I can't hurt my business, I need to be at this,’” Topalian said. |
And some sectors are better off than others. Take AI. |
Through On Deck Ventures, Topalian helped launch the Yotta Conference and Expo, a Las Vegas event focused on data centers, AI infrastructure and energy systems. Heading into its third edition this September, the show is benefiting from continued investment in artificial intelligence and related technologies. |
“It’s a really, really appealing market to be in,” Topalian said. |
Attendance, Geopolitics |
Tariffs aren’t the only issue for organizers. There’s also the question of the U.S.’s standing in the world and the increasing challenges for foreigners entering the country. |
Canadians, for example, represent an important buyer and attendee base for many U.S. events, but participation has softened. Data from the Canadian government shows visits from Canadians to the U.S. fell 25% year over year in 2025. |
“It may be more of an emotional reaction to the U.S. right now,” he said. |
Again, events that succeed through this difficult time will be the ones so essential that broader political or economic conditions won’t be taken into account—to a degree. |
Topalian pointed to Israel as an example of when geopolitics truly bite. |
“Israel is an example of a very compelling country in terms of startup and technology... and that can get disrupted,” he said. But even that can be handled. |
Topalian saw that firsthand through Clarion's InsureTech Connect, which attracts roughly 9,000 insurance professionals to Las Vegas each year. In 2023, the event took place just weeks after Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel. Despite the conflict, the Israel Pavilion brought together 22 startups and approximately 80 entrepreneurs, participation levels that were not dramatically different from previous years. |
Topalian credited organizers with finding ways to support the delegation during a difficult period, allowing Israeli companies to maintain a meaningful presence at the event. |
For him, the experience underscored a broader lesson about the events business. |
“It recovers through absolutely everything,” he said. |
That resilience is why Topalian cautions organizers against making decisions based solely on short-term economic or geopolitical developments. |
“I don't think you should be making customer decisions through the lens of economics,” he said. |
Instead, he encourages event leaders to focus on long-term value creation and the needs of their audiences. |
“This is my Warren Buffett version of trade show advice,” Topalian said. “Think long term.” |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Sign up for AMO Pro |
Most of AMO’s strongest operator analysis lives behind the paywall—deep dives on revenue strategy, data, product decisions, and the models real teams use to grow. One smart insight can pay for your subscription many times over. If you want the full operator toolkit—not just the highlights—go AMO Pro. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
