10 Must-Try Activities at Tech Conferences

Maximize your time, sharpen your skills, and build real connections at your next tech event

Tech conferences aren’t just back—they’re thriving. There’s energy in the air, ideas being exchanged over half-sipped coffees, and a certain serendipity that can’t be scheduled on Zoom.

You might have joined for the keynotes, the cool tech, or just to escape your inbox for a few days. But here’s the real reason to go: it’s one of the few places where smart people gather not just to listen, but to build, share, experiment, and connect. So how do you make the most of it?

Let’s walk through the experiences that turn a packed agenda into something truly memorable, helping you extract maximum value while avoiding the dreaded “what did I even accomplish here?” feeling on your flight home.

1. Attend Keynotes That Set the Mood

Start with the keynotes—not just because they kick off the day, but because they frame the big conversations happening in tech right now. Whether it’s AI, climate tech, cybersecurity, or the latest in cloud tools, these sessions bring focus and perspective. If there’s a speaker whose thoughts you admire, grab a seat early. Not just for a good view, but to feel the room when the ideas land.

At the How To Web Conference, the Build & Grow Stage hosts these powerful keynotes with 800+ attendees. As the main stage, it features industry leaders discussing product, engineering, marketing, and growth—giving you big-picture perspectives you won’t find elsewhere.

How to make the keynotes count:

• Check the speaker lineup before booking your ticket—is there someone you actually want to hear?
• Get to popular sessions 15 minutes early unless you enjoy sitting on the floor
• Tweet thoughtful comments with the conference hashtag (people notice, including speakers)
• Write down one action item per talk—not everything the speaker says
• Skip the obvious sessions for the weird ones—they often contain the real gems

Pro tip: If the keynote speaker is the CEO of a major tech company, expect 40% vision, 40% product announcement, and 20% carefully scripted “casual” conversation. Plan your note-taking accordingly.

2. Join Workshops You’ll Remember

Keynotes fill your head with big ideas, but workshops fill your toolbox with actual skills. These are the sessions where notebooks fill up, ideas turn into prototypes, and strangers turn into future collaborators. You change your status from passive listener to active learner.

How To Web Conference understands this need, offering hands-on workshops across their stages where you can develop practical skills. The Community Stage hosts collaborative discussions and presentations focused on shared experiences—perfect for those who want to build and learn by doing alongside others.

Pro tip: Usually, workshops sell out fast. Book these first when registration opens—even before figuring out your flight. Nothing stings like traveling across the country only to be waitlisted for the one workshop you actually needed.

3. Explore the Exhibition Halls

Exhibit halls are more than land of branded stress balls, awkward demos, and surprisingly useful connections — they’re idea engines. Don’t wander aimlessly between booths collecting swag you’ll throw away at the hotel—be tactical.

Questions to ask at a tech conference booth:

• “What’s the most interesting problem your product solves?” instead of “What do you do?”
• Challenge demo claims with real scenarios from your work
• Use the phrase “Can you show me how that would work for our specific case?” to separate real products from vaporware
• Skip the booths you already know (you’ve heard of Google).
• Focus on emerging tech, niche tools, or startups with a fresh take.

Pro tip: Remember the exhibit hall rule of three: 1) wear comfortable shoes, 2) bring your own water, and 3) have an exit strategy for conversations that drag on. “I need to catch the next session” works every time. 

4. Create Connections Through Natural Networking

Let’s address the elephant in the conference room: networking makes many of us want to hide in the bathroom. Yet it remains the top reason to attend these events. The good news? Conferences have evolved beyond the “here’s my card” awkwardness. So, forget stiff small talk. 

How To Web Conference excels at creating spaces for genuine connections across all four stages. From curated meetups to shared-interest lounges, you’ll find plenty of ways to connect without the pressure. Whether you’re swapping stories at a birds-of-a-feather session or chatting over a casual dinner, these moments can lead to collaborations, job offers, and even friendships. The key? Talk about what excites you, not just what your LinkedIn title says..

Pro tip: When someone asks “What do you do?” try answering with a problem you’re working on instead of your job title. “I’m trying to make machine learning models that don’t need massive datasets” beats “I’m a data scientist at Company X” every time. You’ll attract people who care about the same things, not just people collecting contacts.

5. Watch Pitch Competitions and Innovation Showcases

Pitch competitions combine the drama of reality TV with actual technology. You’ll see founders sweat through presentations, judges ask pointed questions, and occasionally witness the birth of something revolutionary. Also, they often reveal what investors are genuinely paying attention to. 

The Startup Stage at How To Web Conference is dedicated entirely to this experience, hosting focused on founder stories, startup pitches, and discussions on early-stage growth and funding. It’s the perfect place to discover the next big thing before everyone else does.

Why you should attend pitching sessions at tech conferences:

• You’ll spot trends before they hit the press
• You’ll learn what investors care about
• You’ll see both brilliant and terrible presentation techniques
• You might discover solutions to problems you’re facing
• It’s weirdly entertaining, especially when something goes wrong or when a surprise appears—if you are a Silicon Valley sitcom fan, you will know exactly what we are referring to.

Pro Tip: Come early, grab a seat and engage in the action to feel the adrenaline. Trust us, whatever the outcomes, you will have a few great stories to tell when you get back to the office.

6. Dive Into Specialized Track Sessions

General content is easy to find online. What’s harder to come by? The experts’ takes shared off-the-record, or implementation stories filled with lessons learned. The specialized tracks are where these live. Find the ones that speak to your challenges or your curiosity, and don’t be afraid to attend a session outside your comfort zone—you’ll grow faster than you expect.

Pro Tip: Look for speakers who have job titles indicating they do the work, not just talk about it. Mix advanced sessions in your field with introductory sessions in connected areas to build both depth and breadth.

7. Engage in Roundtables and Q&As

Panels are where perspectives collide—in the best way. Instead of one person with slides, you’ll hear a group of practitioners trade ideas, challenge assumptions, and sometimes debate about the future.

Getting value from panels:

• Look for panels with diverse viewpoints, not five people saying the same thing
• Follow up with the most insightful panelists afterward with a specific question

How To Web Conference has dedicated an entire stage to this concept—the Q&A Stage. With just 20 attendees, it creates an intimate setting where you can ask follow-up questions to speakers in a more personal environment. This format breaks down the barriers between presenters and audience, leading to honest conversations.

Pro Tip: Sit near a microphone if you want to ask something 

8. Participate in Hackathons That Push Boundaries

For those who love to build, hackathons are the conference’s adrenaline rush. You’re given a challenge, a ticking clock, and a room full of driven people. The result? Bold ideas, fast iteration, and sometimes even real solutions. It’s not just about winning—it’s about the energy of making something from nothing in record time.

Pro Tip: Don’t go solo. Form a team with diverse skills to maximize your chances of success. And pack protein bars; the provided pizza will only get you so far during a 24-hour coding marathon. They’re intense but produce stories you’ll tell for years. “Remember when we built that thing in 24 hours running purely on energy drinks and determination?” Yes, yes you will.

9. Earn Certifications That Add Value

From cloud platforms to project management, many conferences offer official certifications that you can put to use right away. A bonus: learning in this setting often feels more practical and less like studying for an exam.

Pro Tip: Ask yourself – “Will this certification help me next month, or just look nice on LinkedIn?” The best ones give you skills you’ll use immediately, not just resume padding. 

10. Leverage Virtual Experience Integration

Even primarily physical conferences now include digital elements. Rather than seeing these as second-class options, smart attendees use them to enhance their experience.

Tools that amplify physical attendance at tech conferences:

• Conference apps that help you schedule without conflicts
• Virtual networking platforms for connecting with people you missed in person
• Session recordings for when you can’t clone yourself to attend two talks at once
• Digital Q&A tools that get your questions answered even in packed rooms
• Online communities that extend conversations beyond the conference dates
• Virtual exhibit access for revisiting booths you rushed through

Pro tip: Consider conference apps as your personal assistant. They’ll alert you to session changes, help you find that person whose name you forgot, and remind you of the booth you wanted to visit. 

Making the Most of Your Tech Conference Investment

You’ve spent money, time, and energy on this conference. Don’t waste it. Here’s how to ensure you get actual value, not just a lanyard collection:

• Define success before you go and decide what are the three things that would make this trip worthwhile
• Block time between sessions as the hallway conversations might beat the scheduled content
• Put down your phone during talks 
• Talk to speakers after their sessions, because they’re usually eager to dive deeper with engaged attendees
• Connect with new contacts within 48 hours
• Try one new tool within a week of returning, before the inspiration fades
• Share what you learned with your team to cement your own understanding

That’s how great tech events echo long after the badge comes off.

The Secret to Event Success: Be Present!

Have you ever returned from a conference feeling like you were there but not really there? You attended sessions but checked email during them. You met people but forgot their names instantly. You collected badges but missed insights.

The difference between wasting time at conferences and getting life-changing value boils down to presence. Put away distractions. Ask real questions. Listen actively. Take notes by hand. Make eye contact. Engage authentically.

Tech conferences throw thousands of people, ideas, and products into a pressure cooker of innovation. The magic happens when you fully immerse yourself in that environment instead of just passing through it.

Looking Ahead – How to Web Conference 2025

If you’re looking for a conference that’s built around real takeaways—not just trends—mark your calendar for How to Web Conference 2025. From founders to builders deep in the code, this is where knowledge meets action. Every speaker brings experience you can apply. Every session is designed with purpose. And the balance between inspiration and implementation is just right.

The workshops won’t teach you what you could Google—they’ll show you what experienced practitioners wish someone had told them years ago. The networking events are designed for introverts and extroverts alike. And whether you’re new to tech or a decade in, you’ll walk away with something tangible. Insights. Tools. People. Maybe even a breakthrough or two.

So if you’re ready for a tech conference that respects your time, feeds your curiosity, and keeps it real, grab your tickets for How To Web Conference now, while Very Early Bird pricing still applies – howtoweb.co/tickets. Your future self will thank you. 

Just remember to pack those comfortable shoes. Everything changes fast in tech, but conference floors? Still hard as ever.