As one of the industry's biggest startup gatherings approaches, organizers are opening the door for founders, investors, and community leaders to run their own satellite gatherings around the main conference — but the application window closes soon.

In less than two months, thousands of founders, investors, and industry leaders will converge on San Francisco for the flagship conference. Around that main event, a companion side-event program lets outside hosts run their own gatherings anytime across a roughly week-long stretch, with each approved event promoted directly to conference attendees and the wider audience.

The appeal is straightforward: rather than simply attending someone else's programming, a host gets to shape the format, set the guest list, and put their own brand or thesis in front of a concentrated audience of builders and dealmakers.

Applications are open now and close on September 4, so anyone interested has a tight runway to get organized. Before starting the form, hosts should lock in a Bay Area venue, since the entire program is built around in-person meetups, and come prepared with a working title and description for their event. It's also worth reviewing the official host guide and terms and conditions ahead of time to avoid surprises later in the process.

There's no fee to apply or to run an approved event, and organizers say they'll prioritize proposals that offer clear value to founders, investors, and the broader startup community — but beyond that, hosts are encouraged to lean into whatever angle they know their audience will respond to.