tbilisi on the global technological ecosystem map

From June 19-21, Tbilisi will transform into a regional hub for technology, innovation, business, and the creative industries. As part of Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi 2026, the city is set to host up to 20,000 local and international attendees, bringing together representatives from diverse global tech ecosystems over the course of three days.

 

The scale alone signals intent:

• 200+ speakers
• 150+ companies
• 300+ investors
• 80+ events

 

In this piece, we explore what to expect from Global Tech Weekend, highlight key international speakers, and unpack why an event of this magnitude matters - not just for Tbilisi, but for the broader ecosystem it aims to engage.

 

what is global tech weekend tbilisi?

Global Tech Weekend was founded in Los Angeles in 2024 and made its Tbilisi debut in 2025, quickly establishing itself as one of the region’s most influential gatherings in technology and innovation. Last year’s edition hosted over 10,000 attendees, 120+ speakers, and more than 70 global investors - an early indicator of both demand and positioning.

 

 

In 2026, the event expands across four global locations: San Francisco, Tashkent, Tbilisi, and Baku. This geographic spread is not incidental; it reflects a broader strategic shift toward emerging ecosystems. As organisers emphasise, the expansion underscores the region’s growing potential to claim a more visible place on the global tech map.

 

3 days, multiple narratives, one ecosystem

The three-day program is designed as a layered experience, blending content, networking, and culture.

 

 

Day one features over 80 events across eight locations, setting the tone with decentralised, community-driven engagement. The main event unfolds on day two at Factory Tbilisi, structured across five thematic stages. This year’s focus areas include:

 

• artificial intelligence and deep tech
• fintech and banking
• innovation, web3, and blockchain
• urban innovation and architecture
• gaming and esports
• creative and fashion technologies
• tourism and hospitality
• health tech

 

Beyond the stages, the venue will host a range of interactive zones - combining entertainment, education, and food experiences - designed to foster informal connections and cross-industry dialogue.

 

The final day shifts toward cultural immersion, closing the event with experience-driven activities and an official closing ceremony. This progression - from ideas to interaction to cultural context - reflects a deliberate attempt to position technology within a broader human and societal framework.

 

why it matters

From a minds & marketing perspective, events like Global Tech Weekend are not just about scale - they are about signal. They reveal where attention is moving, which ecosystems are emerging, and how narratives around technology are being shaped.

 

One of the most compelling aspects of this year is the speaker lineup, particularly for those interested in creativity, branding, marketing, and design. Here are five international voices worth paying attention to:

 

1. Timothy Goodman

A New York-based artist, illustrator, and designer, Timothy Goodman operates at the intersection of art and commercial storytelling. his collaborations span global brands such as Apple, Nike, Google, Netflix, Samsung, and Tiffany & Co., with over 250 murals worldwide, social experiments turned publications, and even a successful Uniqlo clothing line, his work exemplifies how personal expression can scale into global brand language.

 

2. Pepe Villatoro

Co-founder and ceo of fuckup nights, Pepe Villatoro helped transform a simple idea in Mexico into a global storytelling platform. The concept is disarmingly simple: successful people openly share their failures. In doing so, it reframes failure as a strategic asset—one that builds authenticity, resilience, and community.

 

3. Amy Nordrum

As executive editor at MIT Technology Review, Amy Nordrum sits at the forefront of global tech discourse. Her work focuses on artificial intelligence, climate, and emerging technologies - effectively shaping which innovations gain visibility and traction. Her perspective offers a meta-layer to the event: not just what is happening in tech, but what gets recognised and why.

 

4. Monika Bielskyte

A futurist, strategist, and speculative designer, Monika Bielskyte works on long-term thinking in an age of rapid technological change. Currently serving as Nike’s first futurist in residence, she collaborates with organisations like Google, Microsoft, BBC, and McKinsey. Her work challenges conventional narratives about the future, particularly in the context of AI, the metaverse, and extended reality.

 

5. Dot Lung

Known as the “mother of social dragons,” Dot Lung is a pioneer in social media strategy. She developed the dragon strategy - a research-driven framework focused not on vanity metrics, but on building authentic, viral content ecosystems. Her approach reflects a broader shift in marketing: from reach to resonance, from scale to substance.

 

The full list of international and local speakers is available via the official event platform.

 

final thoughts

The diversity of topics and speakers makes it clear: Global Tech Weekend is not a niche technology conference. It is a cross-disciplinary platform where technology intersects with culture, business, design, and human experience.

 

For emerging ecosystems like Tbilisi, this matters. not just for visibility, but for integration - into conversations, capital flows, and creative networks that define the future of innovation.

 

See you at Global Tech Weekend.