Attending AI conferences can be overwhelming without clear goals. Whether you're looking to meet industry leaders, gain technical knowledge, secure funding, or form partnerships, choosing the right event is key. The RAISE Summit, happening on 8–9 July 2026 in Paris, is a standout example, designed to cater to all these objectives. Here's why:

• Networking: Over 9,000 attendees, including 80% C-level executives and founders, with tools like an AI-powered meeting platform and exclusive events like the Royal Dinner.
• Learning: Tracks tailored to specific interests (e.g., infrastructure, applications, regulations, AGI) and sessions led by industry leaders.
• Investment: €5 million Startup Competition, €200,000 Hackathon, and curated investor meetings.
• Partnerships: 2,000 companies represented, CxO Summit, and Side Events Week for informal collaborations.

With its structured approach (the "4F Compass") and focus on actionable outcomes, RAISE ensures you leave with meaningful connections, insights, or deals. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of how to maximize your conference experience.

How To Network At Conferences

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AI Conferences for Networking

Attending AI conferences is about more than just swapping business cards - it's about forming meaningful connections with industry leaders. Take the RAISE Summit, for example. Scheduled for 8–9 July 2026, this event is set to host over 9,000 attendees, with more than 80% being C-level executives, founders, or investors managing assets exceeding €600 billion ^[1][5]. This creates a prime environment for forging deals, launching pilots, and building strategic partnerships.

The summit's structure is tailored to encourage these interactions. A dedicated networking app is available to all ticket holders, helping attendees schedule meetings and identify key players ahead of the event ^[6]. For those looking for more exclusive networking opportunities, VIP and VIP MAX ticket holders (€1,899 and €3,499, excluding VAT) gain access to private lounges ideal for high-level discussions. Additionally, Executive and VIP guests are invited to the Royal Dinner, a formal event designed to connect AI leaders and enterprise executives ^[6].

But the networking doesn’t stop there. Side Events Week turns Paris into an AI hub, with exclusive dinners, meetups, workshops, and parties ^[1]. These informal settings often lead to more authentic and lasting relationships. The Official Ecosystem Party, open to PRO, VIP, and VIP MAX attendees, adds another layer of social networking opportunities. Below, we dive into the summit's key networking features.

Networking Features at RAISE Summit

The RAISE Summit offers a variety of tools and events to help attendees connect effectively. For instance, an AI-powered matching platform ensures high-value one-on-one meetings by automatically pairing participants based on their profiles and objectives ^[5].

For founders, the Startup Competition is a standout opportunity. With a €5 million prize pool, it attracts over 1,000 startups, offering direct exposure to investors and corporate partners ^[1]. VIP ticket holders also gain access to exclusive pitch decks and developer profiles, while the global AI hackathon, featuring a €200,000 prize pool and over 8,000 participants, provides another avenue for technical founders to engage with enterprise leaders ^[1][6].

The CxO Summit, an invitation-only event, is the pinnacle of executive networking. This closed-door forum gathers Fortune 1000 C-suite leaders to discuss strategies and explore partnerships. As co-founder Hadrien de Cournon puts it:

"The CxO Summit exists so companies don't just talk about AI, they leave RAISE with real partnerships, pilots, and signed deals." ^[5]

The 2025 edition brought together 822 CEOs from 168 Fortune 500 companies ^[5]. Networking is further streamlined through the 4F Compass tracks - Foundation, Frontier, Friction, and Future - which ensure that discussions align with your professional interests.

How to Get the Most from Networking

To maximize your networking efforts, start by using the app to schedule meetings and identify key players before the event. The AI-powered matching platform refines these connections, ensuring your one-on-one meetings are productive ^[1][5][6]. Waiting until you arrive on-site could mean missing out on valuable opportunities due to packed schedules.

If you're a founder or developer, make the most of the Startup Competition and Hackathon. These events provide structured platforms to showcase your work to investors and corporate leaders actively seeking new ideas ^[1].

Don't overlook Side Events Week. These city-wide activities - dinners, workshops, and meetups - offer a more relaxed setting, fostering deeper and more genuine connections.

Focus your time on the 4F Compass tracks that align with your goals. This targeted approach not only saves time but also ensures your conversations are relevant, making follow-ups more impactful ^[3].

Finally, if forming high-level partnerships or securing investments is your priority, upgrading to a VIP ticket can be worth it. Benefits like access to pitch decks and developer profiles significantly boost your visibility among decision-makers ^[6].

"As things become more virtual, I think it's increasingly important for people to come together. The serendipity that can happen when you're together in a physical space is life-changing." – Chamath Palihapitiya, Co-founder, Social Capital ^[6]

AI Conferences for Learning

AI conferences are dynamic spaces where attendees dive into the latest advancements, practical strategies, and industry trends. One standout event is the RAISE Summit, scheduled in Paris on 8–9 July 2026. Featuring over 350 speakers, it offers a mix of keynote speeches, fireside chats, panel discussions, and technical workshops - all structured around the 4F Compass Framework: Foundation, Frontier, Friction, and Future ^[1]. Each session is crafted to align with specific strategic and technical goals, making the content both practical and impactful.

This educational focus is complemented by robust networking opportunities, ensuring attendees leave with actionable insights. The summit doesn’t stop at theory - real-world achievements take center stage. For instance, in July 2025, Anton Osika, CEO of Lovable, shared how his company reached $75 million in Annual Recurring Revenue within just seven months by leveraging agentic coding strategies ^[4]. Additionally, industry-focused tracks tackle AI applications in healthcare (like genomics and personalized medicine), finance (SaaS and growth economics), cybersecurity (offensive security), and real estate. Meanwhile, the CxO Summit, a closed-door forum, provides leadership strategies for executives, and the MACHINA Summit on 7 July 2026 zeroes in on physical AI and robotics.

For those looking to deepen their learning, VIP ticket holders (€1,899 excluding VAT) gain access to exclusive industrial reports that explore AI innovation and adoption trends. The Supernova Zone offers live demos and technical sessions, diving into the nuts and bolts of hardware and software integrations.

Educational Content at RAISE Summit

The RAISE Summit strikes a balance between strategic and technical AI topics. Its tracks are designed to cater to a variety of interests and expertise levels:

• Foundation Track: Focuses on compute as capital, sovereign cloud infrastructure, data provenance, and the energy‐compute nexus. These sessions are ideal for builders, infrastructure providers, and investors ^[3].
• Frontier Track: Covers agentic systems, AI adoption frameworks, open-source innovations, and enterprise governance. Perfect for developers, product managers, and innovators.
• Friction Track: Tackles challenges like ROI, compliance, cyber resilience, and workforce transformation. Geared toward regulators, C-suite executives, and security officers.
• Future Track: Explores AGI pathways, sustainable AI, multimodal AI, and exponential growth, drawing in visionaries, researchers, and long-term strategists.

Some standout sessions include "Molecules at Wafer-Scale", presented by GSK and Cerebras for life sciences, and "The AI Evolution", featuring BlackRock and Hugging Face for finance. These sessions show how AI is reshaping industries in concrete ways.

"The fastest-growing AI Tech conference in Europe, and maybe in history" – Eric Schmidt, Former CEO and Chairman of Google ^[1]

The 2025 edition of the summit attracted 822 CEOs from 168 Fortune 500 companies, ensuring a mix of high-level strategy and practical application. The event also hosts a Startup Competition with a €5 million prize pool, spotlighting the top 10 AI-native startups and their innovative pitches.

These tracks ensure a structured approach to learning, allowing attendees to focus on their specific interests.

How to Make the Most of Learning Sessions

To get the most out of the summit, start by using the 4F Compass Framework to define your learning goals. If you're focused on infrastructure and capital, stick to the Foundation track. For those exploring transformative applications, the Frontier track is a better fit. Pre-selecting sessions through the official tracks will help you stay aligned with your technical or strategic priorities.

For hands-on workshops, come prepared with a laptop. Interactive sessions like "Build Your Own Sales Agent" or "Agentic Pipelines" require active participation. Research the speakers - leaders from companies like Groq, Cerebras, and Hugging Face - so you can ask targeted questions during Q&A segments.

CxO-level sessions are tailored for high-level strategic insights rather than technical details, making them invaluable for post-event planning. If you’re a VIP ticket holder, use the industrial reports to enhance your learning with data-driven insights.

Don’t miss Side Events Week, which features city-wide workshops and meetups. These smaller gatherings allow for deeper discussions on key topics in a more informal setting.

"Energy, innovation, AI" – Daniel Dines, CEO and Founder of UiPath ^[1]

This collaborative energy extends beyond the main venue, turning Paris into a hub for knowledge exchange throughout the event.

AI Conferences for Investment

For investors and startups, the RAISE Summit stands out as a dynamic platform for securing funding and forging meaningful connections. AI conferences are much more than networking events - they’re where startups meet capital, and the RAISE Summit, scheduled for 8–9 July 2026 in Paris, exemplifies this. With over 9,000 attendees and 2,000 companies represented, it creates a high-energy environment ripe for investment discussions and deal-making opportunities^[1].

The summit’s structure is designed to maximize its investment focus. Tracks like Foundation feature sessions such as "Financing the AI Boom" and "Compute as Capital", diving into how infrastructure and compute power are becoming pivotal assets in the AI sector^[1][3]. Meanwhile, the Friction track zeroes in on topics like "Value Realisation & Capital Allocation", ensuring founders understand return-on-investment expectations before pitching.

What sets RAISE apart is its targeted approach to connecting startups with the right investors. Invitation-only meetings and curated sessions ensure that meaningful interactions replace generic networking^[2].

"RAISE isn't just another Paris tech soirée. It's where capital markets intersect with the AI tech builders who actually ship code." – John Furrier, Co-founder, SiliconANGLE^[7]

This intentional design provides startups with tailored opportunities to secure venture interest.

How RAISE Summit Connects Startups with Investors

The Global Startup Competition is the summit’s centerpiece, boasting a €5 million prize pool - one of Europe’s largest^[1]. Out of 1,000 applicants, only 10 finalists pitch on the main stage, gaining invaluable visibility before top-tier investors like Sequoia Capital, NVIDIA, and 20vc. During the 2025 edition, this competition took place on Day 1 at 17:00, judged by a panel including Serge Lemonde (NVIDIA), Julien Bek (Sequoia Capital), and Vassili de Rosen (RAISE Summit)^[4]. Additional pitching sessions were held in the Supernova Zone, featuring judges like Gabriel Hubert (Dust) and Sarah Benhamou (BGV)^[4].

For early-stage teams, the Global Hackathon offers another entry point, with a €200K prize pool and participation from over 8,000 individuals in a hybrid format^[1]. Beyond competitions, the summit’s "Schedule a Meeting" feature allows startups to pre-arrange discussions with investors, ensuring time is spent on meaningful conversations.

Startups with limited funding and under four years of operation can benefit from the STARTUP ticket (€599 excluding VAT), which includes access to networking tools, food and drink, and live competition pitches. For a more premium experience, the VIP MAX ticket (€3,499 excluding VAT) offers exclusive perks like the Versailles VIP Dinner, where intimate settings encourage deeper discussions with investors^[2][8].

The summit also attracts a broad range of investors, from venture capital firms like Balderton Capital and Index Ventures to representatives from Founders Fund and Kima Ventures^[4].

Preparing for Investment Meetings

Success at the RAISE Summit starts with preparation. Startups competing for attention need to align their pitches with the 4F Compass Framework: Foundation, Frontier, Friction, and Future^[3]. For instance, if your startup focuses on infrastructure, highlight how your solution addresses compute needs or sovereign cloud strategies. If you’re developing agentic systems, emphasize practical applications and measurable ROI. Investors are keen on execution and scalability, so your pitch should clearly outline these aspects.

Researching the judges and investors attending the event is equally critical. Knowing that past juries have included representatives from NVIDIA and Sequoia Capital allows you to tailor your pitch to their preferences^[4]. For example, investors speaking on "Financing the AI Boom" may be drawn to capital-intensive projects, while those on panels about agentic systems might prioritize autonomous capabilities.

Technical founders should prepare to discuss topics like infrastructure scaling, compute power, and energy efficiency - key areas of focus at the summit^[1][3]. Be ready with concrete answers about your startup’s requirements and how you plan to scale effectively.

The "Schedule a Meeting" feature is a must-use tool. Reaching out early with a concise explanation of your startup’s value increases your chances of securing one-on-one time with investors. Premium access, like the VIP MAX ticket, further enhances these opportunities by including exclusive investor dinners and curated networking events like the Versailles VIP Dinner^[2][8].

For more informal engagement, Side Events Week offers city-wide workshops and meetups, providing a relaxed environment for conversations. These settings often lead to productive discussions, as investors see how founders approach challenges in real-time.

Finally, follow up promptly after the summit. Send any requested materials within 48 hours to maintain the momentum of your conversations. A timely response can be the difference between a fleeting interaction and a lasting partnership.

AI Conferences for Partnerships

AI conferences have evolved into critical hubs for forming partnerships across industries. A prime example is the RAISE Summit, taking place on 8–9 July 2026 at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. This event will host over 2,000 companies spanning technology, finance, healthcare, automotive, and government sectors. Impressively, 80% of attendees are C-level executives or founders, ensuring that discussions can lead directly to actionable decisions ^[1]. While funding opportunities are a major draw, the summit's primary goal is to spark lasting cross-industry collaborations.

At the heart of the event is the 4F Framework - Foundation, Frontier, Friction, and Future. This structure encourages meaningful conversations between builders, investors, regulators, and innovators ^[3]. By focusing on aligning capital, computing resources, and policy, the summit creates an environment where partnerships can thrive ^[2].

Partnership Opportunities at RAISE Summit

The RAISE Summit offers diverse settings to foster collaborations. For instance, the Global AI Hackathon brings together over 8,000 participants in a hybrid format, with a €200,000 prize pool. This allows companies to witness technical talent solving real-world challenges. Similarly, the Startup Competition connects more than 1,000 AI-focused startups with established organizations, offering a €5M prize pool as an incentive for innovation-driven partnerships ^[1].

Additionally, specialized sub-summits provide tailored opportunities for collaboration:

• CxO Summit: A closed-door forum for executives to discuss strategic frameworks.
• MACHINA Summit: Focused on AI applications in robotics and physical systems ^[2].

The summit boasts a proven track record of fostering partnerships. For example, during the 2025 edition, Danielle Belgrave (GSK) and Natalia Vassilieva (Cerebras) shared insights in their fireside chat, "Molecules at Wafer-Scale", showcasing how their collaboration accelerated drug discovery using high-performance computing ^[4]. Beyond the main event, Side Events Week enriches networking opportunities with city-wide workshops, exclusive dinners, and informal meetups throughout Paris ^[1].

How to Build Partnerships at Conferences

The RAISE Summit equips attendees with tools to turn networking into strategic partnerships. Here's how to make the most of these opportunities:

• Schedule Meetings in Advance: Use the "Schedule a Meeting" feature to plan discussions before the event. Craft a concise 30-second pitch highlighting your goals, whether you're seeking technical expertise, market access, or infrastructure support.
• Research Attendees: Leverage the conference app or LinkedIn to identify organizations that align with your needs.
• Target Specific Tracks: Attend sessions that match your objectives - Foundation sessions for infrastructure, Frontier talks for industry-specific applications.
• Engage with Exhibitors: Conversations at booths often lead to deeper discussions and potential collaborations.

Premium ticket holders gain access to exclusive networking opportunities, while the STARTUP ticket (€599 excluding VAT) offers tools to connect with peers and attend competition pitches, where partnerships often take shape organically.

To solidify connections, follow up within 48 hours with personalized messages referencing specific discussions. Share relevant insights and add new contacts to your CRM for consistent engagement. Building strong partnerships requires effort beyond the initial meeting.

"Form partnerships that influence AI strategy and deployment, bypassing generic networking to focus on high-density deal-making." – RAISE Summit ^[2]

How to Choose and Prepare for an AI Conference

Selecting the right AI conference depends on your goals. The RAISE Summit, scheduled for 8–9 July 2026 at Le Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, is designed with decision-makers in mind. With 80% of attendees being C-level executives or founders ^[1], the event focuses on delivering measurable results for participants.

The summit's 4F Compass helps attendees identify sessions tailored to their interests, whether it's building infrastructure, exploring investments, or addressing regulations ^[3]. For those focused on investments, the Startup Competition offers a €5 million prize pool, attracting investors managing over €600 billion in assets ^[5]. Additionally, an AI-powered matching platform facilitates one-on-one meetings with potential partners, making it ideal for those seeking strategic collaborations ^[5]. In 2025, the event brought together 822 CEOs and representatives from 168 Fortune 500 companies ^[5].

"We are curating RAISE as the essential platform for the Fortune 1000 C-suite to connect directly with the frontier builders and policymakers... This is not a forum for observing trends; it is where strategy is set, and capital is committed." – Hadrien de Cournon, Co-Founder of RAISE Summit ^[5]

The RAISE Summit is designed to turn strategic planning into actionable outcomes.

Practical Tips for Attending Conferences in France

When attending conferences in Paris, remember that dates follow the DD/MM/YYYY format, and transactions are in euros (€). Book your accommodation early, as the venue, Le Carrousel du Louvre, is centrally located and attracts many visitors ^[1].

The Side Events Week extends the networking experience with exclusive dinners, workshops, and parties across Paris from 6–10 July ^[1]. On 7 July 2026, the MACHINA Summit will spotlight AI applications in robotics and physical systems ^[2].

In France, business culture values scheduled meetings over impromptu ones. The summit's "Book a Meeting" platform allows participants to arrange discussions in advance ^[1][2].

Ticket prices vary based on access levels, so check the official schedule for details. Be aware that standard rates increase after 17 April 2026 for PRO tickets and after 16 April 2026 for VIP options.

Conference Preparation Checklist

Start your preparations weeks ahead. Identify your primary goal - whether it's deal-making, recruiting talent, or securing funding. This focus will guide your participation, whether you're attending the closed-door CxO Summit, the €200,000 Hackathon for technical talent, or the Startup Competition ^[2].

Leverage the summit's structured networking and learning opportunities. Research the speakers and use the event app to schedule key meetings. With a high percentage of C-level attendees, pre-arranged discussions can lead to impactful connections ^[1]. Register early for Side Events Week activities, as spots for exclusive dinners and workshops fill up quickly ^[1].

Prepare a concise pitch that clearly communicates your objectives, whether they are technical, market-driven, or infrastructure-related. If you're a startup, applying for the Startup Competition offers a chance to gain visibility among influential investors ^[9].

Following Up After the Conference

Once the conference concludes, act quickly to maintain momentum. Send follow-up messages within 48 hours, referencing specific conversations to reinforce your connections. Sharing relevant resources or insights can show genuine interest and help solidify relationships.

Track your success through tangible results. As Hadrien de Cournon highlights, the CxO Summit is designed to ensure participants leave with "real partnerships, pilots, and signed deals" ^[5]. Monitor progress on partnerships, pilot projects, and investment discussions initiated at the event.

Keep your new contacts organised in a CRM system for ongoing communication. Join the RAISE community to continue networking with innovators and leaders from Paris ^[1]. Turning post-conference opportunities into long-term success requires consistent engagement.

Finally, summarise your learnings and share actionable insights with your team. Use the 4F framework to categorise your takeaways, whether they involve infrastructure strategies from Foundation tracks or compliance solutions from Friction sessions ^[3].

Conclusion

Throughout this guide, we’ve highlighted how to select an AI conference that aligns with your professional goals and event preferences. The 4F Compass - covering Foundation, Frontier, Friction, and Future tracks - ensures that sessions are tailored to meet your objectives ^[3].

The RAISE Summit stands out by focusing on actionable outcomes rather than passive observation. With over 80% of attendees in C-level roles ^[2], discussions are designed to drive decisions. As Hadrien de Cournon, Co-Founder of RAISE Summit, explains:

"This is not a forum for observing trends; it is where strategy is set, and capital is committed" ^[5].

Key initiatives like the €5 million Startup Competition, the exclusive CxO Summit, and the €200,000 Hackathon provide investors, executives, and tech leaders with opportunities to achieve measurable results ^[1][2]. The 2025 summit brought together 822 CEOs and representatives from 168 Fortune 500 companies, alongside investors managing €600 billion in assets ^[5], underscoring the strategic value of connections made here. For those pursuing partnerships, the AI-powered matching platform and Side Events Week offer extended networking opportunities beyond the main event.

Scheduled for 8–9 July 2026 at Le Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, the RAISE Summit combines networking, learning, investment, and partnerships. With over 9,000 attendees and 2,000+ companies expected ^[2], the scale and seniority of the event create a platform for turning plans into signed agreements. By aligning capital, compute, and policy, the summit ensures participants leave with real progress. Make the most of this opportunity to transform connections into concrete results.

FAQs

Which ticket should I choose for my goal?

The best ticket for you depends on what you aim to achieve:

• If your focus is on networking and staying updated on industry trends, the PRO ticket (€999 + VAT) is a solid choice. It includes access to exhibitions, workshops, and networking apps.
• Looking for VIP perks? The Premium ticket (€1,899 + VAT) adds extras like access to a VIP lounge and an exclusive dinner.
• For those seeking top-tier exclusivity, the MAX Delegate (€2,199) offers the most extensive range of benefits.

Think about your goals - whether it's networking, making investments, or gaining knowledge - before making your decision.

How do I get investor meetings at RAISE?

Getting investor meetings at the RAISE Summit starts with leveraging the event's networking tools effectively. Here’s how you can make the most of them:

• Set Up Your Profile: Fill out your profile in the official event app completely. Include details about your interests, goals, and what you’re looking for. This helps the app’s AI-powered matchmaking suggest the right connections for you.
• Explore and Connect: Use the app to browse through suggested connections. Send meeting requests to investors who align with your goals and schedule one-on-one meetings directly.
• Attend Networking Events: Don’t miss out on pre-event sessions or exclusive gatherings like founder nights. These are excellent opportunities to build relationships in a more casual setting.
• Act Early: Buying your ticket early and actively participating in the event will increase your visibility and chances of securing meaningful investor meetings.

By being proactive and using the tools available, you can maximise your opportunities to connect with the right investors.

What is the 4F Compass and how do I use it?

The 4F Compass is a framework introduced at the RAISE Summit to examine where AI stands today and where it's headed. It revolves around four main areas: Foundation, Frontier, Friction, and Future. These pillars shape conversations about AI technologies, emerging trends, obstacles, and opportunities. The framework serves as a tool to help participants better understand AI's evolution and align their strategies with new advancements.

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