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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To apply to host a side event, start with the conference organizer’s official page for the current edition, check its eligibility and deadlines, then submit a focused event proposal that explains the audience, value, venue, goals, and execution plan. The process differs by conference: some accept independent host applications, while others offer side events only through a partner program.
How to apply to host a conference side event
- Find the official side-event page. Use the conference’s current-edition website to confirm whether it accepts independent hosts, requires approval, and links to a dedicated application. A general ticket purchase or speaker proposal is not necessarily the right route.
- Check the rules before choosing a date or venue. Verify the application deadline, event dates, permitted location, format, time windows, age restrictions, and any limit on events per host. These rules can change from one edition to another.
- Shape a clear concept for the conference community. Describe what attendees will do or learn, who the event is for, and why your organization can convene that audience. Formats used for TechCrunch Disrupt side events have included roundtables, VC office hours, workshops, dinners, happy hours, panels, and meetups. TechCrunch Events says it prioritizes events that provide meaningful value to founders, investors, and the startup community; that is organizer guidance, not a promise of acceptance.
- Prepare the application materials. Gather a concise title and description, a proposed venue, the event’s goals and vision, and practical details such as format and logistical needs. Read any host guide and terms supplied by the conference, then tailor the application to its actual questions.
- Work out the budget and responsibilities. Identify who will pay for the venue, food and drink, staffing, registration, promotion, and other operational needs. A free application does not mean the event is free to produce.
- Submit early and wait for written approval. An application may not guarantee approval, an official listing, or promotion. Do not describe your event as official until the organizer confirms approval and the terms that apply.
- Confirm whether the opportunity is actually partner-led. If the organizer offers side events through its partnerships team rather than an open application, ask about eligibility, what support is included, and which responsibilities remain yours.
What to put in a strong proposal
Make the proposal easy to assess by connecting the event format to a specific audience need. A general promise to “network” is less informative than explaining who will attend, what they will discuss or practice, and what a useful outcome looks like.
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- Audience: Name the founders, investors, operators, or other community members you want to bring together.
- Value and format: Explain the activity and why it suits that audience, such as a practical workshop or a moderated founder roundtable.
- Host fit: Show why your organization is well placed to convene the people and deliver the proposed experience.
- Venue and logistics: State what is arranged and what remains to be confirmed, including capacity and any organizer-specific location requirements.
- Goals and execution: Describe what the event aims to achieve and how you will handle registration, attendee communication, staffing, and operations.
Compare the application route with the partner route
These examples illustrate why applicants should check the current program rather than assume every conference works the same way.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11| Factor | TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 host application | Slush Partner Side Events |
|---|---|---|
| How to pursue it | Independent hosts applied through the TechCrunch side-event process; application did not guarantee approval. | Slush presents side events as a partner opportunity and directs interested organizations to its partnerships team. |
| Venue and support | Hosts were responsible for developing and executing their event and covering its costs. | Slush describes a venue wing, trained volunteer support, and targeted invitations as part of its partner side-event offering. |
| Audience scale | Not stated as a side-event attendance target on the cited application materials. | Slush says its Partner Side Events are designed to bring together 50–350 people. |
| Promotion or reach | TechCrunch could list approved events on its page, agenda, app, attendee emails, or articles at its discretion. Hosts received a 25% pass discount code to share, not automatic complimentary passes. | Slush describes targeted invitations; the partner page reports that 85% of partners in 2025 met their business goals, an organizer-reported figure rather than a guarantee for an individual event. |
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: a dated example, not a current application window
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 was scheduled for October 13–15 in San Francisco. Its side-event program prioritized October 10–16. For that edition, conference-day events had to start at 5 p.m. PT or later; events had to be in person and in San Francisco; and they had to be 18+, or 21+ if alcohol was served. These were Disrupt 2026 rules, not general requirements for startup conferences.
#1 Best Overall
The official side-event page listed September 4, 2026 as the application deadline. TechCrunch Events subsequently announced on September 8 that applications would remain open through 11:59 p.m. PT that day and called it the final deadline. As of October 3, 2026, that application period had closed. For a future edition or another conference, check the organizer’s current page rather than relying on these dates.
TechCrunch’s August 31, 2026 application announcement said there was no fee to apply or participate in the program, but hosts remained responsible for event costs and execution. It recommended selecting a venue, preparing a title and description, reviewing the Host Guide and Host Terms, and explaining the event’s vision, goals, and logistical needs. The side-event page assigned hosts responsibility for promotion, registration, attendee communications, operations, and legal matters. TechCrunch could promote approved events through its channels at its discretion; inclusion was not guaranteed.
Rank #2
Questions to ask before committing
- Is the program open to independent hosts, or is it limited to sponsors and partners?
- What exactly counts as approval, and is an official listing or promotion a separate decision?
- Which dates, locations, start times, formats, and age rules apply to this edition?
- Who pays for the venue and event operations, and who manages registration and attendee communications?
- What organizer support is included, and what must the host arrange independently?
- Are pass discounts or promotional channels available, and are they guaranteed or discretionary?
Slush as a partner-led contrast
Slush’s official partner page describes its Partner Side Events as an opportunity for organizations working with Slush, rather than presenting a general public host application. It says Slush supplies a venue wing, trained volunteer support, and targeted invitations, and advises interested organizations to contact its partnerships team. Its page describes the events as designed for 50–350 people. Separately, Slush reports that 85% of its partners in 2025 met their business goals; this is Slush’s reported partner figure, not an outcome guarantee for a side-event applicant.
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