Ask HN: Are Tech Meetups Dead? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Are Tech Meetups Dead?

#41

Post by adrianwaj » Thu, May 28, 2026, 2:47 PM UTC

Airplane meetups would be interesting, where airlines somehow consider the people that sit next to each other. There could be an opt-in for that. Would flyers see a passenger list a few days prior to leaving? What security issues are involved? What are the fees involved? Should air travel be used for this purpose? Won't the cabin end up too noisy?

Another interesting meetup idea: Procrastination Parties.

Re: Ask HN: Are Tech Meetups Dead?

#42

Post by phendrenad2 » Thu, May 28, 2026, 3:37 PM UTC

The post-COVID scattering shouldn't be underestimated. I don't have numbers but a quick look at former coworkers of mine seems to indicate that like 70-80% moved back to their hometowns, working remotely. The only ones who are still in the major tech hubs are either Fortune 500 "golden handcuff" cases or AI company 10x engineers who are making enough to afford it.

I think after the commercial real estate companies accept reality (or perhaps are forced to accept reality via Mandani-style policies) we'll see tech workers start to migrate back.

Re: Ask HN: Are Tech Meetups Dead?

#43

Post by monocat » Thu, May 28, 2026, 4:00 PM UTC

I ran a meetup for 10 years, and right when I handed it off to my new co-organizer to take over, COVID hit. That pretty much killed it. Didn’t help that the platform we were focused on also got acquired around the same time.

A while later I tried starting another meetup around a different platform I had gotten into, but it never really went anywhere. The turn out was low and most people who showed up were mainly looking for help with their own projects.

Honestly, it felt the same at most tech events I’ve been to the last few years. A lot of people were there strictly for networking, leads, or trying to get help. Not many genuine connections. I thought I made a few, but after a couple interactions they disappeared fast. It just hasn’t felt the same. Now I'm very picky as to which ones to attend.

Maybe COVID changed people. Maybe the newer generation approaches tech meetups differently. Maybe it’s AI. I don’t know.

My favorite networking era was 2008-2012.

And yes, I’m not old.

Re: Ask HN: Are Tech Meetups Dead?

#44

Post by Songjinhao » Fri, May 29, 2026, 3:52 AM UTC

data point from china: a lot of it migrated into wechat groups years ago, even pre-covid. the "meetup" is often just a group chat that occasionally turns into a dinner. great for keeping a pulse on things, not great for actually meeting new people. feels like a different failure mode from what folks here are describing.

Re: Ask HN: Are Tech Meetups Dead?

#45

Post by bubbamack » Fri, May 29, 2026, 6:54 PM UTC

I think tech meetups still happen all the time and covid mainly caused them to occur in online and differently. Now you seem them on youtube, streaming, discord, etc. They're different from the pre-covid days but they still exist imo.