By around this time of year, most of you are used to hearing about this year’s Web 2 Summit theme, its initial lineup of speakers, and any other related goings on, like our annual VIP dinners or perhaps some crazy map I’ve dreamt up. It’s become a familiar ritual in early spring, and many of you have been asking what’s up with this year’s event, in particular given the success of both last year’s theme (The Data Frame) and its amazing lineup of speakers and attendees.
Truth is, we’re not going to do the Web 2 Summit this year, and I’m writing this post to explain why. For the most part, it has to do with my book, the subject of which was outlined in my previous post. As the person who focuses on the core product – the programming on the stage – I just could not pull off both writing a book and creating a pitch-perfect onstage program. It takes months and months of hard work to execute a conference like Web 2 (and not just by me). My partners at O’Reilly and UBM TechWeb are full to the brink with other conferences, and after months of discussions about how we might route around this problem, we all agreed there really wasn’t a way to do it. It’s not fun being the guy who stops the party, but in this case, I have to step up and take responsibility.
That’s not to say we won’t be back – we’re keeping our options open there. For now, the Web 2 Summit is on hiatus. Each of the partners will continue to produce conferences (I am doing five for FM this year alone, and have ideas about others in the works). We’re just letting the Web 2 Summit lay fallow for a year.
I want to note that the partnership the three of us have enjoyed these past eight years has been nothing short of extraordinary. It’s quite unusual for a three-way venture to work, much less thrive as Web 2 Summit has. I am deeply grateful to Tim O’Reilly, Tony Uphoff, and their teams. I also want to note that this decision has nothing to do with any debate or disagreement between us – it’s really due to my desire to focus my time on FM and my new book.
Taking this year off will give all of us a chance to reflect on what we’ve done, consider our options going forward, and then take action. Expect to hear from us again in the next few months, and thanks for being part of the Web 2 Summit community.
It was an extraordinary conference and will be missed tremendously. It was an event that helped build an industry and bring together the innovators of this community, and I look forward to the iterations ahead.
Thanks so much!
Whoa, saddened
Yeah me too. But I’ll be back with other conference(s).just have to write this book
BAD decision. The one unmissable conference each year… this had better be one awesome book.
Very sorry you feel that way. I know it’ll make some people unhappy.
Necessity is the mother of all reinvention! For years, you’ve provided all with a great seat at the innovators table with Web2.0, its time for some reciprocity – fully support your new course and conference leap year!
Aim for the fences with your new book!
Thanks for sharing!
I think I was one of frequent attendance to the conference. I was looking forward to see what is a theme for each year since it gives me great sense what is hot and what is coming… “web2.0” still matters as concept and the trend you figured out for each year does make sense every time and guided us well. Great job for industry and everyone working in this industry. I look forward to see your come back on renewed Web2.0 summit in 2013.
thanks, there will be news for 2013
thanks, john. i really look forward the news in 2013 !!
I love that my startup runs out of Switzerland, Germany and UK, but you refer to one thing I would like to see 🙂
What thing is that?
Sorry – Web 2 Summit – Thought it was clear 🙂
Ah. You’ll see another conference like this from me. No doubt.
Here you
can see the vision of search in the year 2027 by Mindbreeze
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtbhKRmz4Lc A very cool video