S
Sam Keller
Co-founder & Programme Director
Former engineering lead. Has attended every major design and engineering conference since 2010 and is still looking for the perfect one.
Who we are
About ASSEMBLY.
ASSEMBLY is an independent conference built by practitioners, for practitioners. We started it in 2023 because we wanted the conference we wished existed.
Why we built it.
The founding team had attended dozens of conferences between us. We loved the energy. We loved the serendipitous hallway conversations. But we kept coming home feeling like we'd missed something — like the most interesting thoughts never quite made it to the main stage.
So in 2023, we booked a venue, cold-emailed twelve people we admired, and ran the first ASSEMBLY with 600 attendees in a repurposed warehouse in Austin. We were terrified. It sold out in three weeks.
2024 doubled to 800. The talks got longer and more honest. The Q&As got uncomfortable in the best possible way. 2025 added the Engineering track. And 2026 is the biggest yet: 1,200 seats, The Paramount Theatre, and the strongest programme we've ever put together.
ASSEMBLY exists because we believe the people building software deserve a room of their own. Not a trade show. Not a summit. A gathering.
What we believe.
Practitioner-first
Every speaker is selected because they do the work. No celebrity keynotes, no company announcements dressed up as talks. If someone is on the ASSEMBLY stage, it's because they have something real to say.
Honest trade-offs
We encourage speakers to talk about what didn't work, what they would do differently, and where the real costs are. Conference culture loves success stories. We're more interested in the messy middle.
Community over scale
We cap at 1,200 attendees by design. We want a room where you actually meet people, not a hallway you can get lost in. Quality of connection matters more to us than headcount.
No paid placements
Sponsors support the event financially; they don't buy their way onto the stage. We maintain editorial independence over the programme and have turned down offers that would compromise it.
The organising team.
C
Cora Ibeji
Co-founder & Operations Lead
Events professional with 15 years of experience across festivals, summits, and tech conferences. ASSEMBLY is her favourite project.
D
Dev Murthy
Creative Director
Brand designer and ASSEMBLY's entire creative department of one. Has strong opinions about the font choices and is not afraid to defend them.
Common questions
FAQ.
ASSEMBLY is built for product designers, software engineers, design engineers, and product managers who care deeply about their craft. If you spend your days making software better — building it, designing it, or deciding where it goes — you belong here. Past attendees range from indie makers to senior leaders at top-tier companies.
Tickets are fully refundable up to 30 days before the event (February 12, 2026). Between 30 and 14 days prior, we'll issue a 50% refund or apply the full value as credit toward ASSEMBLY 2027. Within 14 days of the event, tickets are non-refundable but can be transferred to another attendee at any time. Contact us at tickets@assemblconf.com.
Yes, ticket transfers are free and can be done at any time up to 48 hours before the event. Log in to your registration portal and update the attendee name and email. The new attendee will receive a fresh confirmation.
All main stage talks will be recorded and made available to ticket holders approximately three weeks after the event. Breakout sessions may be recorded depending on speaker preference. Workshops will not be recorded, as the interactive format doesn't translate well to video.
The Paramount Theatre is fully wheelchair accessible with ramp access, accessible restrooms, and reserved seating areas near the stage. We provide live captions on the main stage. If you have specific accessibility needs, email us at access@assemblconf.com and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
There's no dress code. Come however you're comfortable. Most attendees opt for smart-casual — jeans and a nice top is perfectly appropriate. Austin in March is warm but unpredictable; a light layer is always useful.
Yes. We have a limited number of sponsorship packages available at the Platinum, Gold, and Silver tiers, as well as community sponsorships for indie/open-source projects. Download our sponsor prospectus at sponsors.assemblconf.com or email hello@assemblconf.com.
We follow current CDC and local Austin Public Health guidelines. At minimum, we will have hand sanitizing stations throughout the venue. We ask that attendees who are feeling unwell stay home — contact us and we'll arrange a ticket transfer or credit.
The Team ticket covers 5 people at a 20% discount. For groups of 10 or more, we offer custom enterprise packages — contact us at groups@assemblconf.com with your headcount and we'll send a proposal within 48 hours.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is approximately 8 miles from the venue. A rideshare takes 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. There is also a Cap Metro Route 100 bus that runs between the airport and downtown Austin.