Ascend 2026: Sydney AI & Startup Festival

Two days of back-to-back AI and startup sessions activated by Google Cloud, DeepMind and most of Australia's leading VCs (Blackbird, Airtree, Antler, Square Peg among the ecosystem partners). Day one is Ascend Basecamp at Google HQ: 30+ speakers across health, work, creativity, robotics and climate, a VC "Great Debate", and founder case studies. Day two spreads across Antler Haymarket, Stone & Chalk and Spice Alley: AI Builders Breakfast with DeepMind, a Sydney to Silicon Valley track, Capital Collision for founders meeting investors, an Antigravity hands-on hackathon, and the Startup Street Social afterparty. Registration is free, but seats are capped and priority goes to VC-backed founders and investors.