Why do Tech Meetups matter for building strong local IT Communities?
In an industry as dynamic and fast-growing as IT, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. With all the changes, new technologies, work approaches, and organizational shifts, one of the most engaging and natural ways to keep pace is by connecting with your local IT communities through tech meetups. Organizing a meetup doesn’t require much—just a good idea, a top-notch speaker, a little funding, and a venue—but the benefits are countless. In some cities, dozens of meetups can be held each month, attracting hundreds or even thousands of participants eager to connect, share, and network.
What Are Tech Meetups?
First, let’s demystify the concept of tech meetups—these are often semi-formal or informal events that bring together members of local tech communities with various expertise, including developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts at different career levels. They serve as unique platforms for sharing ideas in a relaxed atmosphere, encouraging dialogue, the exchange of experiences, networking, and building a local community that supports both individuals and the broader IT sector. These events are usually free and open to all attendees.
The Benefits of Attending Tech Meetups
Learning Opportunities
Tech meetups are an inexhaustible source of the latest approaches and industry news. Experts often share their own experiences and mistakes, helping others avoid similar pitfalls. Whether it’s a general discussion about a programming language, fresh insights into a newly released framework, or a deep dive into a process that has yielded many lessons learned, these events often feature some of the most experienced professionals sharing their observations. Many meetups also offer workshops, lectures, and panel discussions, providing a variety of formats and approaches to sharing knowledge that can suit anyone's preferences.
Networking
Lately, who you know has become almost as important as what you know. Meetups are a great opportunity to connect with other professionals in your field, which can open doors to various opportunities for employment, collaboration, or finding a mentor at the start of your career.
Community
In an industry where remote work is so common, it’s easy to feel isolated. Tech meetups foster a sense of belonging among like-minded individuals who share your interests. Community support is invaluable, no matter where you are in your career—whether you’re just starting out or are an experienced senior looking for a new perspective.
Of course, there are also aspects of meetups that can make attendance challenging.
Challenges of Attending Tech Meetups
Time and Attention
Attending these events often requires you to set aside about two hours of your valuable time, in a world where time is precious this is no small feat. Organizers need to ensure that every moment of the event adds value, making the two-hour commitment feel worthwhile to attendees whose schedules are already packed.
Variation in Quality
Not every meetup will meet your expectations in terms of networking or the lessons you can learn from the presentations and workshops. However, there are usually multiple aspects that can make up for any shortcomings. Maybe the educational part doesn’t deliver, but you meet many interesting colleagues during networking, or perhaps you don’t meet anyone, but the presentation is extremely useful. And sometimes, neither happens, but you can still enjoy the refreshments provided by the organizers.
High Attendance
After a long workday, the last thing you want is to stand in a corner because there are no more seats, far from the stage and the speaker. This is probably also an indication that the lecture is interesting and high-quality (you win some, you lose some).
Endava Meetups: Bringing the IT Community Together
Endava’s Connect.IT meetups across Zagreb, Osijek, Novi Sad, Niš, Skopje, Ruse, and Sofia brought together our most experienced colleagues to deliver high-quality, interactive sessions. These events focused on innovative topics and shared valuable lessons rooted in Endava’s culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and innovation.
The overwhelming interest from hundreds of participants highlighted the relevance of topics like artificial intelligence, best practices in software development, project challenges, and career growth—from entry-level to leadership roles. We ensure our meetups align with global trends while addressing local needs, making them impactful for all attendees. Building on this success, we’re planning more meetups this fall in Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
Speaker Insights: The Value of Meetups
Lazar Mladenović, Senior Test Engineer at Endava:
"Tech meetups are vital for the IT community, especially in smaller cities where such events are less frequent. They foster a sense of belonging, provide opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from experts, and help newcomers find their path in IT."
Denis Buketa, Development Discipline Lead:
"My favorite part of meetups is engaging with the audience after a presentation and networking in a relaxed atmosphere. I’m drawn to panels with experienced speakers and talks focusing on learning from mistakes."
Dejan Joksimović, Development Consultant at Endava:
"Tech meetups are invaluable for building connections and exchanging knowledge. Being a speaker is particularly rewarding, deepening my understanding while sharing insights with others."
Vladimir Kuvandjiev, Discipline Lead at Endava Bulgaria:
"Making software requires collaboration, and meetups are great for fostering conversations that strengthen the community. I attend to learn from others’ experiences and avoid similar mistakes."
Laurentiu Spilca, Principal Development Consultant at Endava Romania:
"Networking, sharing ideas, and building connections are the main reasons I attend meetups. It’s a great way to stay updated on trends, gain inspiration, and learn from others’ perspectives."
The Essential Role of Tech Meetups in IT
Tech meetups are much more than just gatherings and conferences that we attend once or a few times a year—they are a key part of the IT ecosystem, serving as the connective tissue of the IT community by providing opportunities for learning and mutual support. They offer individuals the chance to learn, connect, and grow while providing companies with expert platforms to showcase best practices, and interesting and innovative projects, and support recruitment efforts. By actively participating, both companies and individuals contribute to the development of local IT communities, ensuring a positive energy flow, faster information exchange, and the development of new ideas.
So, whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, meet new people, or contribute to your local IT scene, our Endava Connect.IT meetups and others like them are here for you.
