In 2026, investors are prioritizing deal flow density - the concentration of high-quality, pre-qualified opportunities - over sheer scale. Curated AI summits are now the go-to choice for serious deal-making, leaving broad tech fairs behind. Why? These summits focus on decision-makers, structured networking, and actionable outcomes, while large fairs often dilute value with mixed audiences and less-targeted interactions.
Key Takeaways:
- Curated Summits: Invite-only, focused on CEOs, investors, and vetted startups. Tools like AI matchmaking speed up partnerships and decisions.
- Broad Tech Fairs: Large, open-access events with diverse attendees but lack precision for deal-making. Networking often feels random.
- ROI Comparison: Curated events charge higher fees (€999–€4,599) but deliver measurable results, while broad fairs can cost up to €24,995 with less clarity on returns.
Investors managing large capital now prioritize efficient, high-value connections over visibility and scale, making curated formats the preferred choice.
How Top Investors Source Exclusive Deals
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1. Curated AI Innovation Summits
Curated AI innovation summits focus on quality over quantity, ensuring that attendees are decision-makers with the authority to act. Take the RAISE Summit 2025 as an example: it hosted 822 CEOs from 168 Fortune 500 companies, alongside investors managing over €600 billion in assets. This concentrated mix of influence and resources allows discussions to move swiftly from ideas to actionable deals.
Attendee Quality
RAISE Summit takes pride in its rigorous attendee selection process. Over 80% of its 9,000+ participants are C-level executives, founders, investors, or policymakers. This is achieved through strict application-based screening and invitation-only tracks. For instance, some events accept only 60 startups out of more than 300 applicants, ensuring a high standard for venture capitalists in attendance. Exclusive sessions like the CxO Summit are reserved for Fortune 1000 leaders, fostering strategic conversations rather than superficial networking. As Hadrien de Cournon, Co-Founder of RAISE Summit, puts it:
"The CxO Summit exists so companies don't just talk about AI, they leave RAISE with real partnerships, pilots, and signed deals".
Deal Conversion Efficiency
Curated summits excel at facilitating deals through AI-powered matchmaking platforms. These tools connect investors and startups based on specific investment goals and technical needs, eliminating the randomness of traditional networking. At the 2025 RAISE Summit, this approach led to 8,000 B2B connections. Closed-door forums further enhance trust, allowing participants to openly discuss challenges and explore partnerships without the distractions of large audiences. This setup significantly accelerates decision-making and deal finalization.
Networking Precision
The concept of "intimacy at scale" defines the networking approach at these summits. Instead of focusing on sheer attendance numbers, curated events ensure that every person in the room is relevant. Unlike open networking at broad trade fairs, this targeted approach attracts top-tier investors from firms like Sequoia, Lightspeed, and GV, who value the pre-qualified audience. The result is a virtuous cycle: high-caliber attendees draw leading speakers and investors, which in turn attracts even more serious participants.
Return on Investment (ROI)
The tiered pricing at curated summits reflects their emphasis on delivering value. For RAISE Summit 2026, PRO tickets range from €999 to €1,799, VIP tickets from €1,899 to €2,999, and VIP MAX tickets from €3,499 to €4,599. While the cost is higher than typical conferences, the ROI comes from direct access to decision-makers and the high-quality opportunities these events provide.
2. Broad Technology Fairs
Broad technology fairs thrive on scale, often prioritizing attendance numbers over targeted networking. While this approach may have worked in the past, it no longer aligns with how senior decision-makers operate today. These events attract a wide range of attendees - from early-stage entrepreneurs to casual participants - making it harder for investors to pinpoint promising opportunities in the crowd.
Attendee Quality
The open-access nature of these fairs results in a varied audience, often including many novices or aspirants. Charlie O'Donnell, Founder of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, highlights this challenge:
"If you throw [open events], you need to design the event around the fact that a lot of people in the room are going to be newbies or somewhat aspirational in their pursuits".
This mix can dilute the value for seasoned investors, who are increasingly opting out of large festivals in favor of smaller, focused discussions where their time and attention are better utilized.
Deal Conversion Efficiency
At broad fairs, deal-making tends to be slow and unstructured. Networking is often casual, and presentations are generic, leaving meaningful conversations for later. This contrasts sharply with curated summits, which emphasize structured one-on-one meetings and workshops designed to facilitate actionable outcomes.
Networking Precision
Networking at these large-scale events relies heavily on chance encounters. Without intentional matchmaking, attendees are left hoping for serendipity. Elizabeth Akanbi-Ogabi, Founder of For Working Ladies, explains:
"At large scale events it's so difficult to foster a deep connection [with investors] or even get them to pay attention to you".
This lack of pre-qualification means investors spend valuable time sorting through irrelevant connections. Many now view these events as less effective compared to industry-specific gatherings, which offer more focused networking opportunities.
Return on Investment (ROI)
The unstructured nature of broad fairs further impacts their value. Despite attracting a less-targeted audience, these events often charge high fees - some tickets reaching up to €24,995 - while delivering a lower ROI compared to curated summits. For investors managing large capital, the returns rarely justify the expense when compared to more focused events with decision-ready participants.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Curated AI Summits vs Broad Tech Fairs: Investment ROI Comparison
This section takes a closer look at the benefits and trade-offs of curated AI summits versus broad tech fairs, building on the earlier event analyses.
Each format offers unique perks. Curated AI summits excel in fostering high-quality decision-making environments. Using AI-powered matchmaking platforms, these events ensure that 1:1 meetings are highly targeted and aligned with specific investment theses.
On the other hand, broad tech fairs provide unmatched scale and visibility. With thousands of participants, they offer opportunities for brand exposure and a chance to observe overarching industry trends. However, this openness can become a drawback. As Daisy Onubogu from Backed VC puts it:
"The emperor's not wearing any clothes and none of us want to admit it - so meanwhile, we're all still there."
For investors, the high ticket prices - sometimes reaching €24,995 - can be hard to justify, especially when the attendee pool includes individuals with varying levels of expertise, from novices to seasoned professionals.
| Criteria | Curated AI Summits | Broad Tech Fairs |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Deal-making, ROI, and strategic partnerships | Networking, general exposure, and brand equity |
| Attendee Profile | Predominantly C-suite leaders | Mixed: students, mid-level employees, early founders |
| Deal Flow Quality | Pre-qualified startups matched to investor theses | Unstructured - connections often lack depth |
| Networking Style | Structured 1:1 meetings and private sessions | Serendipitous encounters and informal chats |
| Content Focus | In-depth discussions on focused topics (e.g., Agentic AI, Foundation models) | Broad panels with more generic insights |
For investors aiming for rapid, high-quality deal flow, the financial and strategic advantages of curated summits stand out. For instance, RAISE 2025 facilitated 8,000 B2B connections and brought together 840 venture capitalists managing over €570 billion in assets. In contrast, broad tech fairs, while impressive in scale, often require investors to sift through less relevant contacts. For those managing significant capital, environments that prioritize clarity, insight, and actionable decisions offer a clear edge. These distinctions make curated summits particularly appealing for investors focused on precision and efficiency in deal flow.
Conclusion
For investors managing substantial capital, the decision between event formats ultimately revolves around one key factor: deal flow density. This refers to the concentration of pre-qualified, investment-ready opportunities that ensure every interaction has strategic value.
While large-scale tech fairs offer breadth, focused events like RAISE deliver a sharper edge by assembling a highly curated group of decision-makers and vetted startups. The 2025 edition is a prime example of prioritizing quality over quantity, creating an environment tailored for serious deal-making.
Investors should prioritize events that incorporate AI-powered matchmaking, exclusive invitation-only sessions, and thoroughly vetted startups. These elements help shift the balance of time spent - from sifting through irrelevant contacts to making meaningful strategic decisions.
This shift represents a new approach to capital deployment, where the focus moves from sheer volume to genuine value. As investor schedules increasingly align with this trend, curated formats are set to redefine the future of AI venture dealmaking.
FAQs
Why do investors achieve better returns at curated summits compared to large tech fairs?
Curated summits offer targeted networking opportunities, access to carefully selected startups, and deep dives into the latest AI advancements, making them an excellent choice for investors seeking better returns on investment. These events are structured to connect investors directly with startups that show strong potential, streamlining the process and fostering more impactful connections.
Unlike large-scale tech expos, curated summits focus on delivering quality over quantity. This setup allows participants to zero in on the most promising ventures, aligning perfectly with the investor's need for efficiency and precision when exploring scalable and innovative opportunities.
How do AI matchmaking tools improve networking and deal-making at curated summits?
AI-powered matchmaking tools are transforming networking at curated summits by delivering precise and efficient connections between investors and startups. By leveraging advanced algorithms, these tools analyse participants' profiles, interests, and objectives to suggest highly relevant matches. For example, at events like the RAISE Summit, attendees can use these tools to schedule impactful 1:1 meetings, saving time while improving the quality of their interactions.
With a focus on targeted connections, these AI-driven systems enhance deal flow by ensuring investors meet startups that align with their strategic goals. This results in more meaningful conversations, stronger engagement, and a greater chance of forming successful partnerships - all while optimising ROI and simplifying the entire networking process.
Why do curated summits attract more relevant attendees than broad tech fairs?
Curated summits like the RAISE Summit stand out because they focus on quality over quantity when it comes to attendees. By implementing a thorough vetting process, these events attract top-tier participants, including senior executives, company founders, and investors managing substantial portfolios. This deliberate selection creates an environment filled with key decision-makers, paving the way for meaningful connections, strategic partnerships, and high-value deals.
What sets these summits apart even further are their exclusive features, such as invitation-only networking lounges, customized roundtable discussions, and AI-driven meeting tools. These perks help attendees connect with the right individuals quickly and effectively, ensuring their time is spent meeting people who align with their goals. This precise, targeted approach makes curated summits a much more impactful setting for professional growth and deal-making than larger, less focused tech events.
