Corporate Events, Incentives, Conference Management | First Event

Global Hybrid Blockchain Conference Cardano Summit 2023

Client

Overview

The Cardano Foundation is a leader in blockchain innovation and community building. Their annual Cardano Summit is a flagship gathering for blockchain professionals, investors, developers, and enthusiasts worldwide.

The 2023 edition aimed to be the biggest and most impactful yet, hosted live in Dubai and streamed globally, with additional community-led events taking place in 27 cities. The summit’s mission was to unite the Cardano community, reinforce the Foundation’s position as a thought leader in the blockchain industry, and provide a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration.

Two speakers sit on stage, facing an audience at a large indoor event during Cardano Summit 2023. Bright spotlights shine across the room, highlighting the speakers and creating a dynamic atmosphere as the audience watches attentively. A group socializes at an indoor conference, gathered before a large screen showcasing “Cardano Summit 2023” visuals and two men’s images, highlighting the excitement of the Cardano Summit 2023 event. Two people talk at a booth with “Cardano Foundation” branding during Cardano Summit 2023. The area is lit with blue and purple lights, with brochures on the counter, stools, and a display in the background. A large group of people in formal attire attend the Cardano Summit 2023 outdoor evening event with round dinner tables, city skyscrapers, and illuminated buildings in the background. Some guests mingle or sit at their tables.

The Challenge

The scale of the summit meant every detail mattered – from UAE compliance for speakers, content, and equipment, to ensuring smooth AV for 40+ sessions, to uniting a global community through engaging digital experiences.

Building on an already strong event legacy, the Cardano Foundation wanted the 2023 summit to:

  • Sell out all in-person tickets and drive maximum virtual attendance.

  • Deliver a seamless hybrid experience that connected delegates across the world.

  • Create unique, high-impact moments to strengthen the brand’s industry leadership position.

  • Manage the complex operational and regulatory requirements of hosting a multi-day, multi-location event in Dubai.

  • Provide a consistent, recognisable brand experience across all delegate touchpoints – from creative and marketing to live event production.

The Event in a Snapshot

8,000+

Virtual Attendees

27

Community-led Events

53k

YouTube On-demand Views

Programme

Highlights

  • Day 0: Cardano Market, Battle of the Builders, and VIP networking reception
  • Day 1: “Operational Resilience in Education” theme, desert dining and entertainment experience in the 5th largest desert in the world
  • Day 2: “Adoption and Impact” theme, Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony at the iconic Burj Khalifa

Our Solution

We acted as a full event management partner, deploying every First Event department to deliver the summit across creative, operations, marketing, web & app development, AV, and virtual streaming.

Key Deliverables:

  1. Creative & Branding

    We developed a bold, instantly recognisable event brand rolled out across signage, print collateral, the website, mobile app, menus, and social media. Every asset reflected Cardano’s values and vision for the summit.

  2. Operations

    Our operations team managed all logistics for multiple venues and experiences, ensuring regulatory compliance in Dubai. This included speaker briefings, content vetting, permit management for AV equipment, and onsite delegate guidance.

  3. Marketing

    We created a multi-channel campaign to drive ticket sales and engagement, spanning pre-event promotions, onsite content capture, social media reels, post-event highlights, targeted email campaigns, paid ads, and analytics tracking.

  4. Web & App Development

    We built a dedicated summit app to facilitate networking, with features such as personalised agendas, AI-powered FAQs, interactive maps, and a live-stream function for hybrid and virtual audiences. The app also hosted the Faces of Cardano photo wall – a community mural of 1,056 attendee images.

  5. Digital, Virtual AV & Tech

    We delivered seamless AV for all 40 speaker sessions, managed live-streaming to 27 community events worldwide, and ensured on-demand availability of content post-summit.

What

We Learned

  • Integrating creative, marketing, operations, and tech under one team ensures consistency and quality
  • Hybrid events thrive when digital attendees are offered equally engaging, interactive experiences
  • Unique, high-profile venues like the Burj Khalifa can elevate an event’s prestige and memorability
  • Compliance and cultural understanding are crucial when delivering events in international locations

Event Success

40

Sessions

163

Speakers

1,277

In-app Networking Connections

Why

It Worked

The Cardano Summit 2023 achieved record-breaking results and met every key objective:

  • Sell-out success – Every in-person and virtual ticket was allocated, with waiting lists for each activity.
  • Global reach – 8,000+ virtual attendees and participation from 27 community-led events.
  • High engagement – 376,733 social impressions, 52k website views, and 53k YouTube on-demand views.
  • Community building – 1,277 networking connections and 413 in-app chat messages, plus a 34% increase in Faces of Cardano engagement vs 2022.
  • Flawless hybrid delivery – Smooth streaming and AV for 40 sessions and 163 speakers.
A large crowd dressed formally is seated at round tables outdoors at night, dining and socializing under bright lights during the Cardano Summit 2023, with modern glass buildings in the background. A lively outdoor evening event in the desert with string lights, people socializing, and a glowing CARDANO sign on a sand dune in the background. Tents and seating areas set the scene for Cardano Summit 2023 under the night sky.

“The First Event team felt like a true extension of our own. Their collaborative approach, proactive problem-solving, attention to detail, and logistical expertise made the Cardano Summit 2023 planning process both efficient and enjoyable. Their unwavering focus on our vision helped us realise a truly successful event.”

Modern building with Cardano signage and banners for Cardano Summit 2023. Lit steps lead to glass doors; the event welcomes participants to the Cardano Summit 2023. Exterior is illuminated in the early evening. Four panelists sit on stage under bright lights at Cardano Summit 2023, discussing The Power of Blockchain for Good. Logos for EMURGO, Input Output, and Cardano Foundation are displayed on the backdrop.

Explore More

Want to see how we create an unmissable event? Explore our conference services or get in touch with our expert event team.