Months of preparation culminated in three unforgettable days that firmly established Georgia as one of the leading meeting points for technology and innovation in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Through Global Tech Weekend, thousands of founders, investors, creators and industry leaders came together to exchange knowledge, build partnerships and explore the future of technology.
From June 19 to 21, Tbilisi welcomed more than 10,000 international and local participants for the second edition of Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi, held on an even larger scale than the year before. Across three days, professionals representing more than ten industries connected through conferences, workshops, networking sessions and cultural experiences, turning the city into a regional hub for innovation.
A Movement Connecting Global Talent
Founded in Los Angeles in 2024, Global Tech Weekend quickly evolved into one of the region’s largest decentralized movements for investors, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and technology enthusiasts. The movement arrived in Georgia in 2025, bringing together more than 120 international speakers and laying the foundation for what has now become an annual gathering with an increasingly global reach.
“Our goal is to connect some of the world’s most exceptional professionals across technology and parallel industries. We believe that bringing together people who think outside the box and creating the right environment for collaboration can generate the kind of impact that transforms not only local communities, but the world itself.” says Medea Janjgava, CEO of the movement.
This year, those connections were built across specially designed spaces hosted at Global Tech Weekend’s partner spaces throughout Tbilisi.
June 19: Side Events Across the City
Global Tech Weekend began on Friday by expanding beyond a single venue and spreading across Tbilisi. Throughout the day, coworking spaces, partner offices and cultural venues hosted workshops, investment meetings, thematic discussions and networking sessions.
One of the day’s standout gatherings was hosted by D Block. On the amphitheater terrace at Stamba, Pepe Villatoro, Founder of Fuckup Nights, explored how the experience of failure can become the foundation of a global movement.
The June 19 program concluded with an exclusive Forbes Georgia × Global Tech Weekend gathering. Co-hosted by Forbes Georgia and Global Tech Weekend, the event brought together international investors, founders and leaders from the technology, finance, fashion and creative industries.
Participants included Marco Tombolini of Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Barbera of HumAIn, Jonathan Littman of JoinClubSF, Frank Villarreal of US Capital and Anthony Thomson of The Family Offices Bank. The discussions were followed by a networking session that enabled international guests and members of the local ecosystem to establish direct connections.
“The value of a major technology event is not measured solely by what is said on stage. Often, its most important outcomes begin between people who had never met before. That was the purpose of this partnership for Forbes Georgia: to create a space where the Georgian and regional ecosystem could engage directly with global expertise, capital and new opportunities,” says Shota Dighmelashvili, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Georgia.
June 20: The Flagship Event at Factory Tbilisi
The main event of Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi 2026 happened on June 20, when Factory Tbilisi transformed into the region’s largest technology gathering.
The former Coca-Cola factory became a venue unlike any other. Five themed stages hosted guests and speakers throughout the day alongside innovation and expo zones, art installations, a public library, networking and coworking spaces, an investor lounge, outdoor relaxation areas, and food and beverage pop-ups. Every part of the venue was designed to encourage learning, conversation and discovery from morning until late evening.
More than 60 startups pitched their ideas on Stage G, presenting directly to world-class investors. Visitors attended Luciano Freitas’ keynote about startup growth, while on another panel discussion angel investors shared how they evaluate opportunities and make big investment decisions.
Stage W focused on world-building and technology. Visitors heard keynote presentations from Monika Bielskyte, Founder of Protopia Futures and Nike’s first Futurist in Residence, who spoke about designing more livable futures. Stanford University lecturer Bret Waters challenged common misconceptions surrounding startup building, while Paris-based creative director Hugo Barbera shared insights from building his company humAIn.
The Theatre Stage explored creativity, culture and design. Marco Tombolini, Global Head of Business Analysis at Dolce & Gabbana Beauty, discussed data and innovation in the luxury industry. Enrico Roselli, Co-founder of Digital Fashion Academy, examined the evolution of fashion technology, while Dane Armour highlighted the growing importance of previsualization in creative production.
Future-focused conversations continued on Stage F, where Alfredo Moya, Senior Channel Sales Manager at CloudTalk, explored AI-powered go-to-market strategies. Pelin Aydiner Juchat, Director of MuleSoft Accounts at Salesforce, also shared enterprise technology insights.
Meanwhile, the Global Stage brought together experts from multiple industries. Agne Rakstikaite of Monday.com discussed implementing AI tools inside modern organizations, while a panel moderated by Sven Gerst featured Benjamin Läpple of Political Tech Summit and Vahan Martirosyan of COPA LLC.
Recognizing the excitement surrounding the FIFA Club World Cup, the organizers also welcomed one of Georgia’s most celebrated football figures, Temur Ketsbaia, current Head Coach of Dinamo Tbilisi FC and former Head Coach of the Georgian National Team. International speakers also explored how technology is reshaping sport through analytics, fan engagement and performance tracking.
With more than 150 participating brands and over 250 speakers gathered under one roof, June 20 became one of the largest technology meetups held in the region in recent years. Beyond the conference program itself, the event enabled new relationships between entrepreneurs, investors and professionals while introducing international visitors to Georgia’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem.
The day’s program continued into the evening before guests gathered at King David for the afterparty, celebrating the success of the Flagship event.
June 21: Culture, Conversations and Closing Celebrations
The final day offered participants a slower pace after two intensive days of learning and networking.
Business networking became possible through a series of cultural experiences throughout the city and at Kiketi Farm. The festival concluded with an exclusive closing ceremony, giving guests one final opportunity to strengthen the relationships formed during the weekend.
Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi 2026 marked another important milestone in Georgia’s technological development. The event strengthened opportunities for international investment, expanded global visibility for Georgian talent and created new pathways for collaboration across industries. Judging by the feedback from participants, speakers and partners, the movement continues to fulfill its mission of connecting the region with the global innovation ecosystem.
Global Tech Weekend is continuing its international expansion. To stay updated on upcoming editions and future announcements, follow the movement’s official social media channels: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
