How to bootstrap your first developer conference

Ory successfully hosted its inaugural Ory Summit 2021, a two-day virtual event bringing together developers to explore the use of Ory's open-source identity infrastructure products. Despite limited resources, the event was executed with efficiency, offering presentations that can be rewatched online. The summit aimed to strengthen the Ory Developer Community by facilitating dialogue and idea exchange, with sessions that included talks, workshops, and Q&A panels. Key strategies for organizing such events included understanding the audience, ensuring robust internet connectivity, employing simple and effective tech stacks like YouTube for streaming and Slack for communication, and maintaining a backup plan for unforeseen circumstances. The event emphasized the importance of preparation through dry runs, effective promotion, and post-event analysis. The Ory team plans to build on this success with the Ory Summit 2022, potentially allowing for in-person attendance, while focusing on inclusivity, improved content diversity, and more interactive sessions.