The combined value of the Central and Eastern European startup ecosystem has grown 15.5x since 2014. That’s more than double the growth rate of Western Europe over the same period, according to Dealroom’s 2025 CEE report. Compass AI & Tech Summit built two new programs around that momentum. The Compass Tech Leaders Program and the Compass Startup Program give senior technology leaders and early-stage founders complimentary access to the Summit. Each program also includes a community built around the applicant’s stage and role.
Compass AI & Tech Summit brings together CTOs, CIOs, AI leaders, engineering teams, and startup founders from across the region for two days of technical depth and real-world insight. However, a conference badge only gets you in the room. The two new Community Programs focus on who you meet once you’re there – and on what happens after the closing keynote.
What Are the Compass Community Programs?
The Compass Community Programs are curated membership tracks. Each one gives qualifying applicants a complimentary pass to Compass AI & Tech Summit, plus networking built for their stage and role. Instead of a one-size-fits-all ticket, CraftHub matches each program to the people it actually serves. Senior tech leadership sits on one side. Early-stage startups sit on the other.
We review applications for both programs in monthly selection rounds, so there’s no single deadline to worry about. Apply whenever you’re ready.
The Compass Tech Leaders Program: For CTOs, CIOs, and Heads of Engineering
The Compass Tech Leaders Program targets senior technology decision-makers who want more out of an event than a seat in the audience.
What’s included:
- Up to 2 complimentary Tech Leader Passes (subject to approval)
- An invitation to the exclusive Tech Leaders Forum
- High-value networking with CTOs, CIOs, Heads of Engineering, AI leaders, startups, and investors
- Full access to Compass community networking and world-class conference sessions
Who should apply: CTOs, CIOs, VP Engineering, VP Technology, Heads of Engineering, Chief Architects, Heads of AI, and other senior technology leaders. In short, anyone who wants to exchange real-world engineering challenges with peers who face the same problems.
The Compass Startup Program: For Early-Stage AI & Tech Companies
The Compass Startup Program bridges early-stage tech innovators with enterprise leaders, investors, and seasoned founders. Together, they form the Compass community – a high-impact ecosystem built to accelerate teams developing their own proprietary technology products.
What’s included:
- Up to 2 complimentary Summit Passes per selected startup
- Networking with enterprise technology leaders, investors, and fellow founders
- Full access to Compass community sessions and networking
Eligibility criteria:
- The startup must develop its own technology product or software
- Revenue in the previous financial year must not exceed €250,000
- Total funding raised to date must not exceed €2 million
Why This Matters: Community Over a Conference Badge
A ticket gets you into the room. A community gets you the right conversations once you’re there. That’s the core idea behind both programs. Instead of leaving networking to chance, CraftHub pre-builds the connections that matter. As a result, enterprise leaders meet the startups solving their problems, and engineering leaders compare notes with peers who’ve hit the same walls scaling AI adoption, platform teams, or developer experience initiatives.
This same community-first approach has shaped Compass AI & Tech Summit’s growth. In fact, CraftHub has already written about why the Summit matters more than ever for practitioners building real-world AI products. The Tech Leaders and Startup Programs simply take that same idea one step further. Together, they make access more structured and more intentional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are applications reviewed? We review applications for both the Tech Leaders Program and the Startup Program in monthly selection rounds.
What exactly does the complimentary pass cover? It covers conference admission for the Compass AI & Tech Summit. However, it doesn’t include travel, accommodation, meals, or other personal expenses.
Can a startup apply if it has already raised funding? Yes, as long as total funding raised does not exceed €2 million and previous-year revenue does not exceed €250,000.
Is there a limit on how many people from one company can apply? Both programs offer up to 2 complimentary passes per approved applicant (Tech Leader or startup).
Ready to Join the Compass Community?
Whether you’re leading engineering at scale or building the next AI-native startup, the Compass Community Programs put you in front of the people who move your work forward.