After a busy 2024 filled with global events and member activations, ACT | The App Association kicked off 2025 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas – one of the largest trade shows for technology and startups in the world. Recognizing the global reach of events like CES, we hosted Tech on Ice, a networking event at the Las Vegas Golden Knights hockey game that brought together innovators, investors, and policymakers from around the globe.

A Global Gathering of Innovators

Tech on Ice gathered tech enthusiasts from over a dozen countries, including South Korea, Germany, Japan, Zimbabwe, and Finland, highlighting the truly global nature of innovation. The event provided a space for startup founders to talk with investors, innovation managers to connect with small businesses, and government officials to learn more about entrepreneurs driving the app economy forward.

At the App Association, we pride ourselves on creating opportunities for our members to participate in a vibrant global community of innovative independent developers and startups from around the world. Tech on Ice was an example of this mission in action, facilitating meaningful conversations and connections that will continue long after CES.

Members Making Waves

While we approached this event as an opportunity to forge new connections, it also gave us the chance to reconnect with some of our incredible members who are contributing great things to the app economy and to the CES show floor! One of our attendees, Vincenzo Maresca of member company Viber Alert, showcased a groundbreaking smart motorcycle seat that uses vibrations to communicate with the rider. At their CES booth, attendees got to sit on the Viber Alert seat and experience first-hand how this technology enhances safety by reducing the need for riders to check their instrument panels. The excitement Vincenzo’s booth generated in the first few days at CES convinced quite a few of our Tech on Ice attendees to stop by the Viber Alert booth the following day to experience the demo for themselves.

We were also joined by Ohto Pentikäinen of member company Doublepoint, a Finland-based company whose innovative software allows wearable devices to control other smart devices such as outlets, computers or televisions with simple hand gestures. Doublepoint’s technology was a highlight for many at both Tech on Ice and CES, and their demo allowed attendees to experience first-hand how the software they’ve created for wearable devices offers a glimpse into the future of intuitive wearable technology.

Member Kunal Chandiramani also joined us to share his experience building an e-commerce startup in India that connects rural sellers with urban retailers. His story sparked lively discussions—and quite a few follow-up questions—about scaling innovation in emerging markets, leading to conversations that continued well beyond our event (and CES).

Moving Forward

Tech on Ice was a fantastic event that underscored the importance of bringing together diverse small business perspectives to drive progress and build incredible technology, products, and solutions. It allowed us to talk about the needs and struggles that entrepreneurs and small businesses face in many different areas of the world, helping us to better represent their interests in the future so that we can continue to create economic and regulatory environments that reward and inspire innovation – we can’t wait to do it again next year!

Curious about our events like this around globe? Email Brad Simonich here.