Stéphane Paillard
Covering European fundraising, first-time fund managers, and the founders behind the rounds. Previously built event and community products across the French tech ecosystem; now runs Sesamers and hosts the Sesame Summit.
Latest from Stéphane
313 articles
The tradeshow booth playbook: exhibiting without burning the budget
When a booth is the right call, the 2.5x budget rule, design and staffing discipline, and why counting conversations instead of badge scans is…
How to work Slush: the founder’s playbook
Slush rewards preparation more than any event in Europe - here is the eight-week timeline, the matchmaking tactics, the Helsinki specifics and the mistakes…
Web Summit vs Slush: which is worth your badge?
Web Summit and Slush both land in November and could not be more different - we compare scale, investor density, cost and logistics on…
The best events for fundraising in Europe, ranked by investor density
We rank Europe's flagship startup events by investor density - computed from each event's own published figures - and explain why that number beats…
The best startup events in Europe 2027: the complete calendar
Every major European startup event in 2027, organised by quarter - with verified dates clearly separated from expected slots, and a framework for picking…
Best Startup Events for B2B SaaS Founders (Not the Obvious Ones)
TechCrunch Disrupt? Overrated. Web Summit? A $4,700 mistake I’ll never make again. I’ve burned $18K learning which startup events actually matter for B2B SaaS…
Startup Event Networking: 7 Tactics That Get You Remembered
At SaaStr 2023, I had a 12-minute conversation with a VP of Partnerships at a Series C company. No pitch. No business cards. Just…
B2B Events International Expansion: Accelerate Your Tech Partnerships Through Strategic Trade Shows and Conferences
B2B events international expansion represents one of the fastest and most effective pathways for tech startups and API SaaS companies to establish meaningful partnerships,…
Entering US Market Through B2B Events: Complete Strategy for Finding Strategic Partners
Entering US market through B2B events is the fastest path for international founders to build meaningful partnerships and establish market presence. With over 330…
How to build a startup pavilion that works: Lessons from the field
The best pavilions don’t just house startups; they create ecosystems where meaningful connections happen naturally. This isn’t just about pretty signage or strategic booth…