Earlier this July, Berlin once again became the capital of code, hosting WeAreDevelopers World Congress 2025, Europe’s largest developer conference and one of the most anticipated global tech gatherings. With 15,000+ developers, 500 speakers, and 20 stages packed into three intense days, the atmosphere at Messe Berlin was electric, fast-paced, and brimming with innovation. And this year, we had the privilege of being part of the experience in a meaningful way. Our colleague, Steliana Moraru, Head of Growth and Digital Marketing, moderated the Emerging Technologies stage.
The Energy of Innovation
WeAreDevelopers is not your typical tech event. It's a festival for developers, built by developers. From live coding sessions and technical deep-dives to open conversations on the future of AI, the event delivers more than content, it delivers community. This year, the overarching theme was clear: AI is no longer an emerging trend. It's the foundation reshaping the entire industry.
Each stage and talk reflected that reality. We explored bleeding-edge topics that are no longer confined to R&D labs, but are already redefining how software, platforms, and business models evolve. From AI agents collaborating in autonomous systems to breakthroughs in quantum computing and privacy-first development tools, the conversations were bold, nuanced, and rooted in real-world application.
Moderating the Future
The event felt like a behind-the-scenes look at how rapidly the role of the developer is changing. Today’s devs are not just coders; they are architects of change, orchestrators of intelligent systems, and translators between technology and impact.
Some of the standout sessions explored:
How AI agents are moving from static assistants to autonomous decision-makers;
Cross-discipline applications of generative AI in design, marketing, and operations;
Ethical tech building and the rising responsibility of developers in a world of algorithmic influence;
Startups reimagining productivity and collaboration tools in an AI-first landscape.
What stood out most was the urgency and excitement. Speakers weren’t talking about hypotheticals. They were building, testing, deploying and sharing their learnings with the community in real time.
A Platform Built in the Balkans, Scaling Globally
WeAreDevelopers’ story is also a story of Eastern and Southeastern Europe’s growing influence in tech. Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and headquartered in Vienna, the team behind the event, led by Sead Ahmetovic and Naida Vikalo, has grown the Congress into a powerhouse platform. Their Balkan roots remain visible in the authentic energy, and their global vision is more ambitious than ever.
At this year’s event, the team announced their boldest step yet: the launch of WeAreDevelopers North America in 2026, in partnership with Docker. From Berlin to across the Atlantic, the spirit of high-energy, developer-first gatherings is going global — and we couldn’t be more excited.
From Booths to Bridges: Conversations That Matter
Beyond the stages, the event buzzed with conversations between founders, dev teams, and tech providers. From API builders and cloud-native architects to privacy-first video innovators and gaming legends like John Romero, the interactions were raw, honest, and rich in insight. We met developers integrating AI into healthcare, CTOs reshaping productivity stacks, and engineers rethinking data architecture for real-time collaboration.
The expo floor became a living lab for innovation. The HR Leaders Summit brought critical conversations on AI hiring, inclusion, and workplace wellbeing into the fold. And at every corner of the venue — from the rooftop coffee stations to hallway coding sprints — you could feel the pulse of something greater than a conference: a movement.
Reflections and Looking Ahead
As we reflect on WeAreDevelopers 2025, one thing is clear: The future isn’t just written in code, it’s shaped in communities like this. Moderating the Emerging Technologies stage was an honor and a learning experience that will shape how we approach both product and people in the months ahead.
We left Berlin inspired, grateful, and more committed than ever to staying ahead of the curve, not just by watching trends unfold, but by helping build what’s next.
To everyone who stopped by our stage, challenged our thinking, and shared your ideas: thank you. Let’s keep building, together.
Photos credit @We are Developers
