Top Tech Conferences in Bay Area

top tech conferences in Bay Area

As 2025 begins, the tech world is buzzing with new challenges and opportunities. In an industry that evolves faster than ever, staying ahead of the curve means immersing yourself in the latest innovations. That’s why attending tech conferences isn’t just important—it’s essential.

The Bay Area, home to Silicon Valley and San Francisco, remains the beating heart of technology and innovation. These events offer more than just insights into cutting-edge trends—they’re incredible hubs for networking. Whether you’re a startup founder, tech enthusiast, or venture capitalist, these gatherings provide unique opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange groundbreaking ideas, and build relationships that could shape the future.

Who knows? You might even meet your next business partner or uncover your next big idea. Attending one of San Francisco’s premier tech conferences could be the spark your career or company needs to thrive in 2025.

Where Should Tech Enthusiasts Go in 2025?

In 2024, Softbinator made it a mission to attend the most significant tech conferences worldwide—a journey we captured in detail in our yearly review. This year, we kicked off 2025 with an inspiring interview featuring Mark Stevenson, the founder of RepSheet.ai and our VP of Sales.

Mark at Plug and Play and Hero City

With over 30 years of experience in the tech industry, Mark is a true pioneer who has witnessed the transformation of the Bay Area into the global hub of innovation it is today. Reflecting on the region’s evolution, Mark remarked, “Can you believe that 20 years ago, this area was filled with endless cornfields and orchards? Now, you see stunning buildings with iconic logos. Over there—Uber—ever heard of them?”

For anyone looking to navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape, Mark is a go-to resource for insights and recommendations. Whether you want to network with industry leaders, discover the latest innovations, or simply understand the pulse of the tech world, Mark’s advice is invaluable.

Don’t miss the full interview below to discover the must-visit spots in 2025 for connecting with top innovators, exploring groundbreaking ideas, and staying ahead in the tech world—all straight from Mark Stevenson’s insightful answers.

Q: Mark, tell us about yourself and your connection to the tech world

In a few words, my name is Mark Stevenson, founder of Champion-Recruiting.com and RepSheet.ai, and an absolute admirer of the tech ecosystem.

Champion Recruiting is a typical tech sales recruiting firm in the U.S..  We have retained & contingency search and about 50+ clients over the last 12 years.   Many clients are pre-seed to C round.  We recruit sales talent such as VPs of Sales, Sales Directors / Managers, Enterprise Sales Reps, Inside Sales Reps, Sales Engineers, and Customer Success Managers. 

RepSheet.ai is a unique solution we developed that solves many of the pain points with Champion Recruiting.  Sales resumes are not working anymore – no one is certifying the accuracy of the data.  

Q: Undoubtedly, you have significant experience with everything happening right there in the heart of the tech world. What are the top tech conferences to attend on the West Coast over a year? Imagine you are speaking for a tech founder, executive, or anyone interested in technology?

I have attended those events for years, many since their first editions. Any big shows at the Moscone Center in San Francisco are top tech events.  DreamForce is big.  The RSA Conference and the DataBricks Show are things you should not miss.   Apple / Google have their developer shows.  TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is where you’ll find a place for every startup stage. Plug and Play has two significant events in Silicon Valley a year and in my opinion, Plug and Play Summit is a must for any tech founder.

Vegas has huge tech shows like the Consumer Electronics Show in January.  Every tech company in the Bay Area likes to do their sales kickoffs in Vegas since it is a short flight for their teams. I don’t know the LA or Seattle trade show scene, but I should look into it.  

Tech Crunch Disrupt Conference
Tech Crunch Disrupt Conference
Q: Why is attending these conferences so important?

It is essential to understand the latest in tech and to network. It’s not just about presentations and speakers – those are great, too. The networking you are getting there is invaluable and is what you should actually seek. You never know if the person next to you is a simple engineer or the next great billionaire who develops a new AI tool.

Q: As a veteran of these events, what advice would you give to a tech executive outside the U.S.? What is the best “repertoire” or strategy for attending these conferences?

Making the perfect checklist out of these events would vary from one company to another. If you are new in the market, you should be at a few cheaper shows in a 10′ x 10′ booth so tech execs can start to see your company’s name.  Angel Launch is for startups and is very inexpensive.  TechCrunch Disrupt is reasonable.  SaaStr is also reasonable.  For the bigger shows, you can guerilla market it with sales reps in T-shirts with your company logo. If you spend some money on tickets, you’d better make the most awareness out of it. But remember, every tech conference has an after-party – make sure you are there. It will be the after party where the most connections are going to happen.

Q: What were the top three events you attended this year, and what were your key takeaways?

TechCrunch Disrupt is an excellent value in San Francisco since there are a lot of early startups with A and B funding.  They also do a good job at the show of colorizing the booths of the top winning companies per Tech Crunch.

DreamForce is big, but the big action is not paying to stand in line to see Hollywood entertainers like Matthew McConey hang with Benioff.  It’s all the execs and booths at the top hotels and restaurants surrounding DreamForce where deals get cut. Make sure you hit those.

SaaStr was a show I went to in San Mateo, and even if it’s the big SaaS show, it’s on a lower budget.  If you are a fresh company or a startup, you might be able to have a 10′ x 10′ there this year because of reasonable pricing.

Q: You mentioned that you attended the Plug and Play Summit and have an office there. Why is it essential to have a presence at this event? If you are a software company from Eastern Europe, what benefits could you gain from being involved?

Plug and Play is a perfect place to have an office because it is very popular among VCs and the American public in general.  When President Obama came to the Valley, he went straight to Plug and Play.  A lot of U.S. government and foreign government politicians like to tour Plug and Play so they can build incubators back in their countries.  The main reason to pay to have a table there for $500 a month is the 2 massive Silicon Valley Summits a year at Plug and Play.  About 3,000 to 5,000 people go to the event, which costs $3000 for each 3-day event.  Thus, most companies just rent a table so they can also be there year-round.  

Other hotter incubators are Draper HeroCity, with their crypto success with CoinBase, and a few in San Francisco, which tend to be more SaaS and AI.  Plug and Play is more semiconductor and hardware tech startups with co-founders.

Mark at Plug and Play Summit Tech Conference
Q: You hear many stories in the tech world. What do you think everyone is looking for right now?

The talk is all about AI.  Even lemonade stands in the Bay Area have AI so the kids can go and play. Recently, I heard that SalesForce was hiring 1000 to 2000 reps just to sell their new AI.  What will probably happen with AI is that tech companies will all copy each other, and Fortune 500 companies will just buy the AI from the tech companies they are used to buying from and partnering with.  If your company buys mainly from Microsoft, you’ll buy OpenAI and Microsoft.  If your company buys Salesforce, you’ll stay in that ecosystem.  It’s just too hard to get out of working with a big tech company once they get their hooks in.

Q: If you were to give advice to a tech founder looking for the best software partners this year, what would you tell them?

For example, with my Rep Sheet, the best partner is Softbinator, a European software development company. We met here in Silicon Valley. They understand the U.S. market and have perfectly tailored their business model to fit our needs. Their coding skills were exceptional, and their price point was unbeatable. To me, they were like the Costco of software development in the U.S.—premium products, great service, and outstanding value.

My advice? Always aim for the best. It’s easy to be tempted by the cheapest option, but the true game-changer is finding a partner with the best ecosystem for your specific industry. That’s what makes all the difference. 

Make the Most of 2025’s Tech Opportunities

As we navigate through 2025, the tech landscape continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, making it imperative for professionals to stay connected and informed. Attending key conferences is not just a chance to absorb new knowledge but also an opportunity to forge meaningful connections that can elevate careers and businesses. 

From major events like DreamForce and the RSA CyberSecurity Show to the more intimate Plug and Play Summit, there’s no shortage of opportunities to engage with innovators and leaders in the field. Remember, the true value of these gatherings lies not only in the presentations and panels but also in the relationships you cultivate. 

As Mark Stevenson wisely notes, any interaction could spark your next big idea or partnership. So plan your agenda, refine your networking strategy, and embrace every opportunity—including those informal after-parties—where genuine connections often happen.

Whether you’re a founder, executive, or tech enthusiast, these events can open doors to success in this ever-evolving industry. Mark your calendar and dive into the vibrant Bay Area tech scene—your next breakthrough might be just one conversation away.