Techarena CEO: 'People aren't paying for sustainability events anymore'
28 May 2026
14:02
Techarena, one of Europe's largest tech events, is growing every year. But its sustainability offshoot, Techarena Zero, is struggling to attract sponsors and speakers.
Founder Omid Ekhlasi says it's part of a wider trend, as the focus of European tech events shifts to AI and defence.
"It's going to be up to us as a impact community to really step up," he tells Impact Loop.
Founder Omid Ekhlasi says it's part of a wider trend, as the focus of European tech events shifts to AI and defence.
"It's going to be up to us as a impact community to really step up," he tells Impact Loop.
Techarena Zero, the sustainability-focused offshoot of Stockholm's Techarena platform, has shrunk significantly since its peak two years ago – and its founder says finding sponsors willing to back standalone climate events is getting harder.
Omid Ekhlasi, founder and CEO of Techarena, tells Impact Loop that this year's edition has accepted around 400 attendees, with 250 to 300 expected throughout the day. Two years ago, the event looked very different.