Voxxed Days prepares for the tenth edition

Federico Yankelevich, CEO of Exteso and organiser of Voxxed Days Ticino, shares the story of the event, launched in 2015 by two local developers and now a key reference for the tech community. With a focus on innovation and networking, the tenth edition also celebrates 30 years of Java.

Created as a spin-off of Devoxx, Voxxed Days are technology events dedicated to local developer communities and focused on Java, Web Mobile and JVM languages that bring together internationally and locally renowned speakers, industry leaders and software engineers. Participants share a strong desire to learn, network, train, and find inspiration throughout a day filled with independent conferences organised by developers for developers.

A story that, in retrospect, can be called a success story that saw Federico Yankelevich, CEO of the company Exteso and organiser of Voxxed Days Ticino from their first edition, personally involved. "In May 2013, together with my colleague Celestino Bellone, we managed to convince our employer at the time to let us attend a Devoxx conference in England: a three-day event dedicated to developers like us", - says Yankelevich. "I remember it as a wonderful experience, where we learned many new things, especially topics that truly interested us. The great aspect of this event is that you can choose the talks that resonate with you, and afterwards, you can exchange impressions and opinions or catch up on any talks you missed by watching the videos posted on YouTube. When we returned, we made sure to share our experience with our colleagues. On the last day in the UK, we were so enthusiastic that we approached Mark Hazell, the organiser of Devoxx UK, to ask if we could organise a similar event back home. We knew there were quite a few developers in Ticino but limited opportunities for exchange. Although we caught him off guard amidst the conference, he didn't turn us down. Instead, he reminded us that we were developers, not event organisers and that we might be underestimating the commitment to planning such an event. However, he assured us that he would take some time to consider our proposal."

Three months later, Federico Yankelevich and Celestino Bellone received an unexpected email in which the creators of Devoxx announced the creation of a sub-brand, Voxxed, for small local conferences in Europe and around the world, inspired by the main event.

"That email got us so excited. After an initial test run by Devoxx in Vienna, it was finally our turn to launch what we proudly call the first real Voxxed event with continuity. We spent 2014 preparing for this, aiming to be ready by May 2015. We had to learn to improvise as event organisers. While we felt confident about the content and speakers, we were perhaps a bit inexperienced about other important aspects, such as securing sponsors, managing logistics, and handling audio-visual technology. To promote the event, we reduced our work rate. We spent one day a week in a Fiat Panda up and down Canton, knocking on the doors of companies where we knew there was at least one developer to deliver the event flyer. The initial reactions we received were somewhat sceptical. However, being able to introduce ourselves as developers to other developers helped build confidence. The first edition, despite a few youthful mistakes, was a success, attracting 299 registrants and receiving extremely positive feedback from the Ticino community."

A story born from an improbable premise can only have an equally improbable sequel. In fact, at the end of the day, in the same way that Federico Yankelevich and Celestino Bellone had appeared before the organiser of Devoxx UK, a group of developers from Lucerne approached them.

"They were quite amazed, not to say a little annoyed, that such an event was being organised in Ticino and not in another city in Switzerland. We told them that from our side, there was no objection to others proposing it, but they insisted that it should be us. A year later, we opened Voxxed Days in Zurich, and the same scene as in 2015 came up again. This time, some CERN developers demanded that we hold the event in Geneva as well. In 2017, the first edition of Voxxed Days was held at CERN."

Over time, Voxxed Days has established a significant presence in the development world thanks to a programme that is rigorously reviewed by Programme Committees. These committees evaluate speakers meticulously, ensuring the quality and accuracy of the presentations. Over nine editions, this rigour has allowed organisers to host industry celebrities. "It's quite unimaginable to think about, but we had Jürgen Höller at the opening of one of our editions. His name may not resonate with those outside the industry, but his contribution to our event was truly disruptive. It's akin to having Bono Vox come to Ticino to inaugurate a middle school concert. Last year, we had Venkat Subramaniam, whom I have considered an inspiration since I first saw him on stage in 2013. For this year, we are still in the planning stages, but we are aiming very high – hopefully, we will be able to pull off a major surprise!"

Besides the guest stars, how have Voxxed Days changed over the years?

"In contrast to Devoxx, which has always catered specifically to the Java community, we have aimed for a more general approach that is less focused on a single technology. A local event must address the needs of its community, adapting to the developers and the technologies they utilise in their daily work. Additionally, we have seen a shift in sponsorship; whereas previously, our sponsors were large companies seeking to enhance their profile, today, local organisations recognise our event as an opportunity to promote their skills and make themselves known. Finally, we have noticed that Voxxed Days provides a chance to reconnect with school or college classmates and former co-workers. Participants often attend because they know they will have the chance to connect with many people from our industry whom they wouldn't usually meet. Unsurprisingly, the final toast is always a heartfelt and engaging moment. Additionally, for the past few years, we have offered in-depth workshops the day before the event. This provides a great opportunity to learn from some of the speakers who come to Lugano for the event. This year, we are organising three very interesting workshops. More information can be found on the website."

From Federico Yankelevich words it is is to understand that Voxxed Days is in relatively good health. "Last year, we reached a total of 1,250 participants across three events in Switzerland, with 400 attending in Ticino—a record we hope to match again this year. Our speakers are also eager to participate. Even though they do not receive compensation, they recognise that Voxxed offers a valuable opportunity to gain exposure and create new connections. The premises to make this 10th edition memorable are all there, we want it to be a party for the whole Insubric community, where we will celebrate 10 editions and 30 years of Java. We will have interesting talks on applied AI, with very concrete and practical examples of how to integrate it into one's own applications, and I can anticipate that the speakers already selected are top-notch."

And what future does Federico Yankelevich see for Voxxed Days?

"One important message I want to convey from the stage is directed toward younger colleagues. We hope that our event will one day become theirs, allowing them to take charge and evolve it to meet their needs. This message fits into the larger conversation about what Ticino could become in the development world.

We are fortunate to be located in an ideal region that allows for a balance between private and professional life. Now, we need to create opportunities beyond work and expand our local community. We live in a place of great natural beauty that challenges our tendency toward a sedentary lifestyle. Being close to Zurich and Milan, we have exciting new opportunities emerging in the industry. Our goal now is to encourage younger developers to pursue their careers here. This is one of the reasons we have worked closely with SUPSI and USI over the years."