Dubai - EMERGE, one of the largest international tech conferences in the New East, has been acquired by tech founder and investor Alexander Smbatyan. This strategic move aims to further EMERGE's mission of helping startups and tech talent from emerging markets scale globally. The acquisition marks a full exit for its co-founder & CEO Alina Nilsson, and a partial exit for co-founder & CBDO Anna Sholina. The next conference will take place this autumn in Yerevan.
About Alexander Smbatyan
Alexander Smbatyan, a tech entrepreneur and investor, is now the Chairman of EMERGE. He is committed to leveraging the conference to connect and support the tech ecosystem across Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Turkiye, MENA, and Central Asia.
“Since its establishment in 2018, EMERGE has grown to become the biggest startup conference in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. With over 20,000 attendees over the years, this event continues to bring together founders, community leaders, larger companies, and investors from across the “New East” – a region that offers a great deal of investment, business expansion, and HR opportunities. Empowering talented people and strong leaders is my personal lifetime mission and EMERGE is a perfect platform to accomplish it. Now in its sixth year, EMERGE has become a unique hub for world-class professionals and companies to meet and anticipate the trends of the future,” Smbatyan said.
Leadership Transition
The acquisition marks a full exit for co-founder & CEO Alina Nilsson, and a partial exit for co-founder & CBDO Anna Sholina, who will remain a minority shareholder and continue to support EMERGE with her expertise.
EMERGE’s Journey and Impact
Since its inception in 2018, EMERGE has grown to become a significant tech conference, hosting events in Minsk, Yerevan, Dubai, and Istanbul, along with online events during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has built a community of over 20,000 members from 100+ countries, including thousands of startups and hundreds of investors. The conference has facilitated over $30 million in startup funding.
Prominent Speakers and Partners
EMERGE has featured speakers from TechCrunch, Grammarly, Bolt, Pinterest, Snap, TikTok, Binance, and Netflix, and has partnered with Google, AWS, Microsoft, InDrive, Semrush, Flint Capital, Vestel Ventures, and Social Discovery Group, as well as government innovation agencies like Startup Lithuania and Magnetic Latvia. The recent EMERGE event also received support from the Mayor of Istanbul and Erol Özgüner, Chief Innovations Officer at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Upcoming Event in Yerevan
The next EMERGE conference is set for this autumn in Yerevan, bringing together startups, tech talent, investors, and ecosystem players. Under Smbatyan’s leadership, EMERGE aims to continue its growth and innovation, strengthening its role as a key hub for the tech community in the New East.
Media Contact
Company Name: EMERGE
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email
Country: United Arab Emirates
Website: https://emergeconf.io/
