Step Conference: dates, who attends, and how founders get in
“The meeting point for the region’s boldest founders, investors, and technology leaders — two days of ideas, capital, and connections that move ecosystems forward.”
- Next edition
- Feb 3–4, 2027 · Step Dubai 2027 source
- Where
- Dubai Internet City; the 2026 venue was its Amphitheatre and Lakes area. In 2027, Day 1 uses multiple Dubai venues and the main conference day is at Dubai Internet City., Dubai, United Arab Emirates source
- Format
- in-person · 2 days (2026 completed edition and 2027 announced edition)
- Startup pass
- Step Dubai 2027 Startup Showcase: apply through the organiser’s startup application form and, if selected, take a paid showcase package. The 2027 FAQ says the same form is used for the pitch competition. For the completed 2026 edition, the organiser described applications for its startup showcase and ticket help listed a Startup Package; no 2026 package price is stated in the cited official sources. source
- Cadence
- Annual, in February (2026 held February 11–12; next announced for February 3–4, 2027)
GeneralistAIFintechPre-seedSeedSeries AGrowthFoundersInvestorsCorporatesDevelopersPressPartners
Next edition
| Dates | Feb 3–4, 2027 source |
|---|---|
| Edition | Step Dubai 2027 |
| Venue | Dubai Internet City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates source |
| Timezone | Asia/Dubai |
| Tickets | stepconference.com source |
Ticket tiers as published
| Tier | Price | Includes | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step Dubai ticket entry price source | — | — | 2026 |
| Standard pass source | — | Standard passes include main-stage programming, Day 2 sessions at Dubai Internet City, the Startup Showcase floor, networking lounges, and the evening reception. | 2027 |
| Founder pass source | — | The FAQ says Founder passes unlock the Investor Meetings Lounge and curated 1:1 meetings; other inclusions are not itemized there. | 2027 |
| Investor pass source | — | Dedicated investor pass tier with Investor Meetings Lounge access, curated meetings, and investor-only programming. | 2027 |
| Student rate source | — | — | 2027 |
| Standard Startup Showcase package source | $375 (2027). The page advertises a 50% discount, but states “until November 29” without a year. | Two all-access tickets; 1m branded startup booth for one day; 1:1 investor meetings; pitch-competition selection opportunity; website logo; mentorship-roundtable booking; stage, content, workshop, satellite-event, and community-meetup access. | 2027 |
| Premium Startup Showcase package source | $625 (2027). The page advertises a 50% discount, but states “until November 29” without a year. | Four all-access tickets; 1m branded startup booth for two days; 1:1 investor meetings; pitch-competition selection opportunity; website logo; mentorship-roundtable booking; stage, content, workshop, satellite-event, and community-meetup access. | 2027 |
| Spotlight Startup Showcase package source | $1,125 (2027). The page advertises a 50% discount, but states “until November 29” without a year. | Six all-access tickets; 2m branded startup booth for two days; 1:1 investor meetings; online introductions to two investors of the startup’s choice; social-media coverage; increased pitch-competition selection chance; website logo; mentorship-roundtable booking; stage, content, workshop, satellite-event, and community-meetup access. | 2027 |
How founders get in
Step describes Step Dubai 2027 as a working conference: curated startup demos, pre-curated 1:1 investor meetings, keynotes and fireside chats, founder and investor panels, and small-group networking intended to lead to concrete introductions and deals. The completed 2026 edition listed four content tracks.
- For general attendance at Step Dubai 2027, buy a pass through the organiser’s ticket page; the FAQ says discounted founder, investor, and student rates are released in waves. General attendance does not require an application.
- To participate as a startup, apply to the curated Startup Showcase using the organiser’s startup application page. The 2027 FAQ says selected startups receive demo space, investor matchmaking, and discounted team passes; it directs pitch-competition applicants to the same form.
- Choose a 2027 showcase package: Standard ($375), Premium ($625), or Spotlight ($1,125). The published inclusions differ by booth size and duration, number of team passes, and added visibility or investor introductions.
- The 2027 FAQ says Step focuses on pre-seed through Series B startups; earlier or later-stage applications are reviewed case by case. The published showcase page does not give an application deadline.
- If selected for the 2027 pitch competition, pitch in the Day 1 round; the three finalists pitch on the Day 2 main stage. The organiser says the same showcase form is used to apply.
| Startup programme | Step Dubai 2027 Startup Showcase: apply through the organiser’s startup application form and, if selected, take a paid showcase package. The 2027 FAQ says the same form is used for the pitch competition. For the completed 2026 edition, the organiser described applications for its startup showcase and ticket help listed a Startup Package; no 2026 package price is stated in the cited official sources. source |
|---|---|
| Includes | 2027 Standard: two all-access tickets, a branded 1m booth for one day, and 1:1 investor meetings, plus access to content, workshops, and community events. Premium: four all-access tickets and a branded 1m booth for two days, plus investor meetings and programme access. Spotlight: six all-access tickets, a branded 2m booth for two days, investor meetings, online introductions to two investors of the startup’s choice, and social-media coverage, plus programme access. |
| Eligibility | 2027: pre-seed through Series B startups are the stated focus; earlier- or later-stage applications are reviewed case by case. The organiser describes the showcase as curated. |
| Scholarships / free passes | No founder scholarship or general founder free-pass programme is specified on the cited official pages. The organiser says approved investors received complimentary access for 2026, and Step Dubai 2027 volunteers receive free event access. |
| Students | Step Dubai 2026 ticket information names a Student Pass but gives no price in the cited official material. For Step Dubai 2027, the FAQ says discounted student rates are released in waves; it does not give a price or detailed student-pass inclusions. |
| Sponsoring | The official Step Dubai 2027 pages invite companies to sponsor or exhibit, but do not publish named sponsorship tiers or prices. |
| Investor pass | For 2026, investors applied through the organiser’s investor-interest form and were reviewed; approved investors received complimentary access. For 2027, register through the organiser’s investor programme for approval and access to the dedicated pass, lounge, and curated meetings. source |
| Investor eligibility | The 2026 investor programme was open to venture capital firms, angel investors, corporate venture capital firms, family offices, and accelerators or incubators with investment arms. For 2027, the FAQ identifies active VCs, angels, and corporate venture arms; access is subject to approval. |
| Press | For Step Dubai 2027, credentialed journalists, podcasters, and creators can apply for press access through the organiser’s stated press application route, providing their publication, audience, and intended coverage. No fee is stated. |
| Application required | No, tickets are purchased |
Step Dubai Pitch Competition (2027)
| Format | The 2027 competition runs across both event days: selected startups pitch in a Day 1 round to investor judges, then three finalists pitch on the Day 2 main stage. The competition page says 30 selected startups pitch live and are assessed on innovation and product, market opportunity, execution and traction, team strength, and investment potential. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | 2027: selected startups pitch in the competition; startup applications use the Startup Showcase form. The stated startup-stage focus is pre-seed through Series B, with earlier or later stages reviewed case by case. |
Past winners
- No Step Dubai 2026 winner is identified in the official 2026 agenda material cited here.
Meeting investors there
Founders apply to the Startup Showcase; selected startups are eligible for investor meetings. The organiser says its team matches startups and investors using investment preferences, then shares meeting schedules before the event. The 2027 pages describe the Investor Meetings Lounge as the venue for scheduled meetings. source
| Formats | 2026: curated matchmaking for 1:1 meetings between approved investors and startups selected from the showcase; investor preferences are collected and a personalized schedule is shared in advance. · 2027: a dedicated Investor Meetings Lounge with pre-curated, scheduled 1:1 meetings between qualified investors and vetted startups; matches are based on stage, sector, geography, and check size. |
|---|
Investor firms the organiser lists (Completed edition: Step Dubai 2026 (2026-02-11 to 2026-02-12); next announced edition: Step Dubai 2027 (2027-02-03 to 2027-02-04).)
Khosla Venturesa16zLG Technology VenturesLux CapitalInsight PartnersMighty CapitalAlumni VenturesEndeavor CatalystBlitzscaling VenturesE14 Fund
Before you go: the hub's cold email to VCs playbook covers the pre-event outreach that fills a meeting calendar, and Causo matches your stage and thesis to the funds in its database so you know who to ask for a meeting.
Who speaks (Completed edition: Step Dubai 2026 (2026-02-11 to 2026-02-12); next announced edition: Step Dubai 2027 (2027-02-03 to 2027-02-04).)
- Fadi Ghandour, Speaker, Step Dubai 2026 · Wamda
Full lineup: official speakers page.
Notable past speakers
- H.E. Khalfan Belhoul · Dubai Future Foundation
- Fadi Ghandour · Wamda
- Michael Lahyani · Property Finder
- Ammar Malik · TECOM
- Bassem Youssef, Comedian
- Amjad Masad · Replit
- H.E. Alia Bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship
- Mudassir Sheikha · Careem
- Hosam Arab · Tabby
Sponsors and partners
Partner 8
Google CloudAWSTeslaMicrosoftDeelIntercomAtlassianVisa
Media partners: Augustus Media, Lovin Dubai, Smashi Business, Odeum Studio
Full list: official partners page.
Startups there
Alumni the organiser highlights
- Drowzy (2020) — Identified as a STEP 2020 startup; the organiser says it secured a six-figure seed investment. source
Programme
| Tracks | Founders & Funders (2026) · Human First (2026) · AI in Finance (2026) · The AI Stack (2026) · Step Dubai 2027 advertises 4+ stages and tracks, but the cited official pages do not yet name those tracks. source |
|---|---|
| Side events | Step Dubai 2027 lists partner-organised Step Week satellite events across Dubai, including meetups, dinners, happy hours, demo nights, brunches, and film nights. The official page says the event listings are coming soon; it also invites partners to submit events for review and inclusion. |
| Hackathon | No hackathon is named in the official Step Dubai 2027 programme pages cited here; the published programme describes a startup showcase, pitch competition, investor meetings, and satellite events. |
| Call for speakers | For Step Dubai 2027, the organiser says the speaker lineup is being curated and provides a speaker-referral route. No call-for-speakers deadline or application period is published on the cited official pages. source |
| Volunteering | Step Dubai 2027 has a volunteer application. Volunteers help with attendee guidance, registration, speakers and judges, sessions, and the pitch competition; the organiser lists free event access, behind-the-scenes experience, networking, and a volunteer certificate. |
| Official app | Step Events (Android listing); Step Conference (iOS listing) |
| Hashtag | #StepDubai |
Past editions, as published
| Edition | Dates | Attendees | Investors | Startups | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 source | Feb 11–12, 2026 | 8,000+ attendees (2026; as stated on the Step Dubai event page) | — | — | |
| 2025 source | Feb 19–20, 2025 | 8,000+ global attendees over two days (2025) | Hundreds of global investors (2025) | More than 400 global startups showcasing (2025) | video |
| 2024 source | Feb 21–22, 2024 | — | — | — | |
| 2023 source | Feb 22–23, 2023 | More than 8,000 attendees (2023; announced before the event) | Hundreds of global investors (2023; announced before the event) | More than 400 global startups (2023; announced before the event) | video |
| 2020 source | Feb 11, 2020 | — | — | — | |
| 2022 source | — | — | — | — |
Cities: Dubai (2025); Dubai (2026)
Who attends
| Geography | International audience from Dubai, the broader U.S., MENA, Europe and Asia (2027) source |
|---|---|
| Roles | Founders, Investors, Corporates, Developers, Press, Partners |
| Stages | Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Growth |
Official links and socials
Travel & apps
In the press
- Step Conference 2023 to launch new Earth Track at 11th Edition — PR Newswire (Step Conference-issued press release) (2023)
- 5 Things to look forward to at Step Conference 2022 — PR Newswire (Step Conference-issued press release) (2022)
Prepare for it
- How to cold email VCs — book the meetings before you land.
- The 12-slide seed deck — what to have ready when a partner says "send me the deck".
- Pitch Deck Roaster — a slide-by-slide pass before you submit to Step Dubai Pitch Competition (2027).
- Accelerator deadlines — the application windows that open around the event.
Sources
Every fact above was read from one of these official pages on Oct 7, 2026:
- apps.apple.com/ae/app/step-conference/id1450813485
- dubai.stepconference.com
- dubai.stepconference.com/category/blog/happenings
- dubai.stepconference.com/category/partners/exhibitor-2026
- help.stepconference.com/en/articles/11703418-participate-as-an-investor
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.modelence.stepsfeventamrmo7v4ewk9.a5ecf26fe73fc
- stepcon.app.swapcard.com/event/step-dubai-2025
- stepconference.com
- stepconference.com/blog/step-conference-2024-agenda-is-live
- stepconference.com/blog/step-dubai-2025-agenda-is-live
- stepconference.com/dubai
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/about
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/faq
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/investors
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/media-partners
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/partners-list
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/pitch-competition
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/speakers
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/startups
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/startups-showcase
- stepconference.com/dubai/2027/tickets
- facebook.com/StepConferencePage
- facebook.com/StepConferencePage/posts/the-early-builders-the-big-bet-makers-the-ones-who-took-risks-before-the-playboo/1292137089611882
- facebook.com/StepConferencePage/posts/tickets-for-step-dubai-2026-start-from-99-and-the-value-goes-far-beyond-the-pric/1316475547178036
- instagram.com/reel/DTsalN6Ctot
- instagram.com/stepconference
- linkedin.com/company/step-conference
- prnewswire.com/news-releases/5-things-to-look-forward-to-at-step-conference-2022-301461337.html
- prnewswire.com/news-releases/step-conference-2023-to-launch-new-earth-track-at-11th-edition-301746520.html
- youtube.com/@stepconference
- x.com/stepconference
Step Conference: frequently asked
When is Step Conference 2027?
Step Conference 2027 runs Feb 3–4, 2027 at Dubai Internet City; the 2026 venue was its Amphitheatre and Lakes area. In 2027, Day 1 uses multiple Dubai venues and the main conference day is at Dubai Internet City., Dubai, according to the organiser's published dates.
How do startups get into Step Conference?
Step Dubai 2027 Startup Showcase: apply through the organiser’s startup application form and, if selected, take a paid showcase package. The 2027 FAQ says the same form is used for the pitch competition. For the completed 2026 edition, the organiser described applications for its startup showcase and ticket help listed a Startup Package; no 2026 package price is stated in the cited official sources. Eligibility as published: 2027: pre-seed through Series B startups are the stated focus; earlier- or later-stage applications are reviewed case by case. The organiser describes the showcase as curated.
What is Step Dubai Pitch Competition (2027)?
Step Conference's pitch competition. Eligibility: 2027: selected startups pitch in the competition; startup applications use the Startup Showcase form. The stated startup-stage focus is pre-seed through Series B, with earlier or later stages reviewed case by case.
How big is Step Conference?
8,000+ attendees announced for the 2026 edition (pre-event figure) attendees, 400+ startups announced for the 2026 edition (pre-event figure) startups, per the organiser.