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DeepDive 

Your weekly immersion in AI 

As we approach DeepFest 2026, now is the time to put in a bit of preparation before you arrive in Riyadh – so you can get more from this year’s event. 

Thousands of conversations will happen over just a few days. New partnerships will begin over coffee, and investment opportunities will emerge between sessions. You never know when a career-changing introduction might happen in the queue before a keynote. 

Over the last few years we’ve seen time and time again that the people who leave with the biggest wins are the ones who arrived with a plan. 

Start putting that plan together – with three simple ways to make every conversation count. 

1. Decide what success looks like before you get here 

With hundreds of speakers, exhibitors and networking opportunities, it’s impossible to see everything. So we recommend thinking ahead to plan your experience based on your goals. 

Start by asking yourself this question: 

What would make DeepFest 2026 a success for me? 

Your answer might be: 

• Meeting potential customers.
• Finding investors.
• Learning about agentic AI or robotics.
• Exploring AI governance.
• Recruiting talent.
• Building partnerships.
• Making your business AI ready. 

Or something else. Whatever your goal, define it early so you can prioritise which sessions to attend and who you’d most like to meet. 

Aim to have the most intentional DeepFest schedule – not necessarily the busiest one. 

2. Do your homework on the people you want to meet

Some of the most valuable moments at DeepFest happen between the headline sessions. A five-minute conversation can spark a collaboration that lasts for years.

So before you arrive, spend some time researching the speakers and exhibitors that align with your interests. Read about their latest work, and think about the questions you’d genuinely like to ask. 

On that note, our best piece of advice is this: everyone at DeepFest is open to conversation, and no one expects you to know everything. So don’t worry about asking the ‘perfect’ question – think about what you’re really most curious about instead. 

Good conversations start with specificity. So for those individuals you’re particularly keen to connect with, avoid opening with “What does your company do?”, and try something like this: 

“I read about your work on AI governance. I’m curious about how you see regulation evolving over the next few years.” 

Thoughtful questions lead to memorable conversations – and a memorable conversation is far more likely to become a meaningful relationship. 

3. Don’t let the conversation end when DeepFest does

The event lasts a few days – but the opportunities can last much longer. 

After each meeting: 

• Make a quick note about what you discussed. 
• Connect on LinkedIn while the conversation is still fresh. 
• Follow up within a few days with a short message – maybe include an article you think your new contact would find interesting, or just send a simple thank you. 

Relationships require persistence to grow. The first meeting is the beginning, but you have to be prepared to put the work in after that to stay in someone else’s mind and become the person they think of when an opportunity comes up. 

The best opportunities might be the ones you didn't plan

You can’t prepare for everything – and we do know from experience that some of the most memorable moments at DeepFest will be unexpected.

There will be chance introductions and keynotes that just hit differently. You should absolutely leave room in your schedule for curiosity – explore topics outside your immediate field, and talk to people from different industries. 

But preparation gives you direction. And with direction, you're far more likely to leave DeepFest feeling you've achieved what you came for.

So start thinking about what you want to achieve – and how you’ll make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. 

Share your goals 

What are you hoping to get out of DeepFest 2026? Open this newsletter on LinkedIn and tell us in the comments.