Program

Nomad Summit is back!

Our flagship event in Chiang Mai, January 2025 is designed to inspire, connect, and empower builders.

We kick off with two high-energy conference days, 18-19 January, where keynotes from successful founders and interactive panels provide inspiration and ignite ideas.

This isn’t just about listening – it’s about action. We invite everyone who is ready to create to take part in the Buildathon pitching session, form teams and build something great.

As organisers, we want to provide the foundation, but it’s the energy and contributions of the community that bring Nomad Summit to life. Join us to connect, create, and be part of a movement driven by the power of building – together.

Main Themes

01

Building success

Nomad Summit focuses on empowering indie hackers and aspiring business owners to create profitable ventures. This theme will spotlight business leaders who have successfully scaled remote-first companies, sharing their invaluable insights and firsthand experiences.

02

Building a life of freedom

Digital nomads and remote workers must balance personal well-being with professional success, often across time zones. These sessions will explore essential strategies for cultivating a resilient mindset, building global communities, and raising a family while on the move.

03

Building ideas into action

This theme introduces the hackathon at Nomad Summit. Whether it’s a tech solution, a social initiative, or a collaborative platform, the hackathon provides a hands-on space to bring concepts to life and validate them with the support of like-minded creators. We call it a buildathon.

Who is this for?

Nomad Summit attracts a diverse, ambitious group of digital pioneers—individuals who recognize themselves as builders, creators, and innovators in pursuit of freedom and impact.

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Digital nomads and Remote workers who are drawn to events that offer community and growth 

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Techies, Builders and Hackathon enthusiasts who love rapid problem-solving and team collaboration

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Indie hackers and aspiring founders who are looking to connect with like-minded people and learn from each other

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Freelancers evolving into founders who are looking for inspiration to transform their freelance work into something bigger

Agenda

Conference program January 17-19, 2025

January 17th

Day 0

Welcome evening

18.00 Networking and drinks

January 18th

Day 1

Inspirational Stories & Idea Pitches

9.30-10.30 Coffee and registration
10.15-10.30 Opening words
10.30-11.15 Opening keynote “Building Success. The story of a indie hacker.”
11.15-12.00 Fireside chat “Building success strategies.”
12.00-13.15 Lunch buffet + networking

13.15-14.00 Keynote “Building the new startup playbook”

14.00-14.45 Keynote “Building global communities. The e-Residency story”

14.45-15.45 The Buildathon: Idea pitches

We gather idea submissions before the event from people who would like to build something together during the week. Can be a tech solution but can also be an idea for a social initiative or a collaborative platform. The criteria: you have an idea you want to build + you are looking for people to join your team. 

15.45-16.45 Coffee break. & The Buildathon: team formation

16.45-17.30 Closing conversation. “Building in Thailand. The local builder’s community.” + Wrap-up.

Official Afterparty

January 19th

Day 2

Building Knowledge & Mindset

10.00-11.00 Morning coffee

11.00-11.45 Keynote. “Building with new tools. Rapid prototyping with AI tools.”

11.45-12.30 Keynote. “Building for growth: staying indie vs raising VC money” 

12.30-14.00 Lunch buffet + networking

14.00-14.45 “Building a sense of freedom and family”

14.45-15.30 “Building a strong mindset. Mistakes and Millions: Lessons from a Retired Digital Nomad.”

15.30-17.00 Unconference sessions. Buildathon building sessions. + Coffee/snacks available. 

17.00-17.30 Wrap-up in the main hall.

Nomad Summit Pool Party

Buildathon

… is a hackathon for builders. During the Nomad Summit, we invite digital nomads, indie hackers, techies, creators and problem-solvers come together to make ideas real.

How does it work?

The Buildathon kicks off with idea pitches, where attendees can present their concepts, form teams, and start building. Over 3 days, teams will collaborate, receive mentorship, and participate in regular check-ins. On Wednesday, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch your project, showcasing what you’ve built and the impact it can make.

Why should you take part?

Hackathons are an environment for creativity and efficiency. Have an idea but haven’t done anything about it? Invite people to help you validate and build it together. Want to use your skills to build something impactful? Listen to the ideas and join someone’s team. Ideas cost nothing, executing with an agile, diverse team is the way to success. 

What kind of ideas are we looking for?

We welcome ideas across various fields, from tech solutions and social initiatives to community platforms. If you’re passionate about building something impactful, innovative, and meaningful, the Buildathon is the perfect place to bring it to life.

Next steps?

If you have an idea and would like to pitch, please send an email to [email protected] with a short description.

JANUARY 20-26, 2025

Nomad Week

The excitement doesn’t stop with the main conference on Saturday and Sunday—it’s about a full week of side events that offer unique opportunities for networking, learning, and community-building. 

Side events at the Nomad Week are the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into the topics that matter to you and meet incredible people in the community. We’re expecting over 400 attendees, and even more from the Chiang Mai digital nomad scene.

Workshop groups at the Nomad Summit

Host your own side event!

Whether you’re a digital nomad, remote worker, or location-independent entrepreneur, this is your chance to organize and attend specialized events that interest you.

Speakers

Join a thriving community of digital nomads as we bring together visionary speakers from around the globe to inspire, connect, and share insights.

Nomad Summit: Portrait of Johnny FD

Johnny FD

Founder of Nomad Summit

Mistakes and Millions: Lessons from a Retired Digital Nomad.

Meliisa Palipea

Melissa Palipea

PR & Community Manager at e-Residency

Learnings from managing a large community with limited resources: Meliisa has been managing 100k+ community of the e-Residency program of Estonia for the last 5 years.

Meliisa Palipea

Doris Dario

Relocation & Travel Coach

Doris is a veteran digital nomad with over 20 years of experience in global talent management. Since becoming a mother she has explored 50 countries together with her three children. Today she helps bold families to holistically prepare for intense travels or a relocation abroad.
Speaker and raised hands

MAYBE YOU?

Apply as a speaker!

Write to us [email protected]

Ready to meet everyone in Thailand?