Innovation with intention: harnessing the power of tech and AI at TNW 2025

On 19 and 20 June 2025, The Next Web Conference (TNW) returned to Amsterdam for its 19th edition, this time taking place at NDSM Loods in Amsterdam Noord. With nearly 4,500 attendees spanning startups, corporates, investors, policymakers, and creatives, the event focused not only on the future of technology, but also its responsibility to society.

This year’s programme explored a wide range of topics: building ethical AI, promoting inclusive innovation, and addressing challenges such as climate change, digital access, and mental health. Across three content tracks, immersive experiences, and interactive showcases, TNW 2025 invited participants to engage with questions that define the role of tech in our changing world. The choice to host the conference at NDSM Loods aligned with TNW’s ethos of experimentation and creativity. A former shipyard turned cultural hub, the industrial setting offered room for connection and discovery.

Shaping the future with sustainable-tech solutions

Throughout the programme, the theme of tech with consequence guided the discussion. From digitising agritech and tackling algorithmic bias to AI storytelling and climate-resilient cities, the emphasis was on how technology can be harnessed to help tackle some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century.

Speakers and participants repeatedly returned to the question of long-term responsibility, considering how sustainability, ethics, and social impact can be embedded into all stages of tech development. This ethos was reflected not only in the programme content but also in the event’s operations: TNW partnered with Food Line Up to implement reusable tableware and reduce single-use waste, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability in practice as well as in conversation. Panels such as “Disrupting the Food Chain” explored how hybrid seeds, traceability, and accelerated regulatory reform could help reshape food systems to better withstand climate-related disruptions. The Venture Hub served as a key gathering space for early-stage founders and investors focused on impact, with expert talks and informal matchmaking sessions covering topics from AI and fintech to energy innovation and the circular economy.

Across every stage and hallway, the message was clear: technology must be aligned with long-term social and environmental benefit.

Road to TNW: welcoming new voices to the tech scene

Ahead of the conference, the Road to TNW series brought the TNW spirit into local communities with events in Nieuw-West, Zuidoost, and Noord, three city districts in Amsterdam known for their creativity and emerging talent. As part of a broader city initiative to support inclusive innovation and economic opportunity across all areas of Amsterdam, these sessions featured local entrepreneurs, community panels, and networking moments aimed at sharing knowledge and strengthening connections.

Led by ACB, TNW, Amsterdam Trade & Invest, and the City of Amsterdam’s Digitalization and Innovation Team, the programme gave away six free conference tickets to underrepresented tech professionals. The initiative highlighted how broader participation can help ensure tech reflects the communities it serves.

ACB's contribution to an evolving tech ecosystem

Guided by a commitment to enabling conferences with lasting impact, the Amsterdam Convention Bureau played a key role in supporting TNW 2025. In close collaboration with local partners, ACB helped shape the event through stakeholder coordination, city-wide visibility initiatives, and by connecting the conference to Amsterdam’s broader innovation ecosystem. As the city’s tech and AI sectors continue to grow, ACB remains dedicated to advancing the role of technology-focused conferences. Together, we can help create a responsible, inclusive tech future.

Amsterdam is increasingly recognised as a hub for responsible innovation, supporting a wide range of applications - from generative AI accelerating carbon capture research to digital systems optimising sustainable energy use. The city provides a strong foundation for both scientific advancement and real-world implementation. Events like TNW contribute to this momentum by linking global developments with local expertise and creating opportunities for creative collaboration to tackle shared global challenges.