Quant Conference 2025

Summary

In this video, Demetri previews the upcoming Quaint Quant Conference 2025, reflecting on the lessons learned from last year’s event in Dallas. He discusses plans to improve networking opportunities, refine event timing, and partner with local universities for a larger venue. Demetri seeks feedback from attendees on ideal timing (March or April), weekday vs. weekend scheduling, and speaker topics. He also invites industry professionals and academics to participate as speakers and sponsors. The conference aims to foster a stronger quant community with more engaging content and better opportunities for networking.

Takeaways

• 😀 The first-ever Quaint Quant Conference was held in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2024 with around 40-45 attendees, focusing on the Quant community in Texas.
• 😀 One of the main pieces of feedback from the first conference was the need for more networking opportunities between attendees.
• 😀 The conference was held during a holiday weekend in 2024, which led to timing challenges, and planning is being reevaluated for 2025.
• 😀 A key idea for 2025 is to structure the event with more breaks, allowing better networking between speakers and attendees.
• 😀 Post-conference social networking is being considered to facilitate more casual conversations and connections after the event ends.
• 😀 The timing of the event is being reconsidered, with potential options being late March or late April, avoiding conflicts with holidays and finals schedules.
• 😀 The conference could potentially be held on a weekday or weekend, and feedback is being sought on the best days for both industry professionals and students.
• 😀 The 2025 conference may be held at a university venue in collaboration with local institutions, potentially UTD, for a larger event space.
• 😀 The university collaboration would also help reach more students and bring in a broader audience, balancing industry professionals with academic participants.
• 😀 The conference will aim to secure sponsors, with companies encouraged to get involved to support the event and enhance its impact.
• 😀 Calls for speakers are being made, with a focus on engaging presenters who can provide valuable content and contribute to the conference’s success.

Q & A

What was the main goal of the Quaint Quant Conference 2024?

The main goal of the Quaint Quant Conference 2024 was to provide a smaller, community-focused event for those in the Quantitative Finance field, offering networking opportunities and knowledge sharing among professionals, students, and academics.

What was one of the biggest complaints from the 2024 conference?

One of the biggest complaints from the 2024 conference was the lack of networking opportunities. Attendees expressed a desire for more time to meet and interact with others in the Quant community.

Why does the organizer want to add more networking time to the 2025 conference?

The organizer wants to add more networking time because, during the 2024 conference, they were so focused on organizing the event and interacting with speakers that they missed out on meeting other attendees. They believe more networking would enhance the experience for all.

How does the organizer plan to structure the 2025 conference differently?

The organizer plans to structure the 2025 conference with more breaks between speakers, allowing for better networking. They are also considering hosting an after-conference social event, where attendees can stay and network without needing to leave the venue.

What timing issues did the organizer face with the 2024 conference?

The organizer faced timing issues in 2024 because the event was scheduled around Memorial Day, which is a holiday weekend. This led to lower attendance, especially among attendees who were traveling or had family commitments.

What is the organizer’s plan for the timing of the 2025 conference?

For the 2025 conference, the organizer is considering holding the event in late April or early May but is seeking feedback on the best time to avoid conflicts with holidays and academic schedules. They are also considering pushing the conference to March.

What are the options for the day of the week for the 2025 conference?

The organizer is considering whether the 2025 conference should be held on a weekday or weekend. They are open to feedback from both industry professionals, who may prefer weekdays, and students, who may have more availability on weekends.

What is the recommended format for speaker presentations at the conference?

The recommended format for speaker presentations is to allow 45 minutes for the main talk and 15 minutes for Q&A at the end. The organizer wants to ensure that presentations are clear, engaging, and leave time for interaction.

What is the organizer’s plan for the conference venue in 2025?

The organizer is looking to partner with a local university to host the 2025 conference, aiming for a larger venue to accommodate more attendees. This would also allow for greater student participation and create a better networking environment.

How can companies and individuals get involved with the 2025 conference?

Companies and individuals can get involved with the 2025 conference by sponsoring the event or by volunteering to be speakers. The organizer encourages those interested to reach out via LinkedIn or other contact methods provided.