● Speaker handbook · AenixCon 2026

Everything you need to give a great talk

Thanks for speaking at AenixCon. This is an online conference, so a little preparation goes a long way. Read this once end-to-end — it covers dates, formats, slides, recording, your tech setup, and the ground rules.

Submit a talk Jump to tech setup →

Key dates

Your timeline as a speaker

  • November 1, 2026CFP closesLast day to submit, 23:59 Anywhere-on-Earth.
  • November 5, 2026DecisionsEveryone hears back. If accepted, you'll get a confirmation form and this handbook.
  • Mid–late NovemberSlides & abstract finalFinal title, abstract and speaker bio locked for the website and program.
  • Late November → early DecemberTech check & dry-runA scheduled 20-minute rehearsal on the event platform — mandatory.
  • December 10–11, 2026ShowtimeJoin your green room 30 minutes before your session.

Formats & timing

Know your slot

Conference talk — ~30 min

Target ~22–24 minutes of content + 6–8 minutes of live Q&A. We'll keep time and moderate questions for you.

Lightning talk — ~10 min

One idea, tightly delivered. No live Q&A; questions move to the networking room.

Panel / fireside — 30–40 min

A moderator guides the conversation. We'll align on questions with you beforehand.

Sessions are live by default. If you prefer, you may pre-record the talk and join live for Q&A — tell us during confirmation.

Slides & content

Make it useful, make it yours

  • 16:9 aspect ratio. Use the AenixCon slide template (sent on acceptance) or your own clean deck.
  • Lead with the takeaway. Tell people early what they'll be able to do afterward.
  • Big, legible text. Assume people watch on a laptop; small fonts and dense diagrams don't survive streaming.
  • Show real things. Config, code, dashboards, numbers — depth is why people came.
  • Community-first, not a pitch. It's fine to mention your product where relevant; a 30-minute ad is not.
  • Credit sources. Cite projects, papers and people; respect licenses on images and logos.
  • Have a demo backup. Record a short screencast in case a live demo misbehaves on the day.
  • Send slides 48h ahead. As a PDF backup, so we can keep the show running if your connection drops.

Online tech setup

The part that makes or breaks an online talk

Most problems at online events are audio and network, not content. Please treat this section as a checklist.

  • Wired internet if at all possible — or sit right next to the router. Have a phone hotspot as backup.
  • A headset or external mic. Laptop speakers cause echo; a $20 headset beats a $2,000 laptop mic.
  • Quiet room — mute notifications, close chat apps, silence the phone, tell people not to walk in.
  • Good, front-facing light. A window or lamp in front of you, not behind.
  • Use a laptop/desktop, not a phone or tablet, for screen-sharing.
  • Close heavy apps before you present; share a single window, not your whole desktop.
  • Attend the dry-run. We'll test your audio, screen-share and slides on the real platform.
  • Join early. Be in the green room 30 minutes before your slot; a host will be with you.
A member of the AenixCon team is in every room to run the timer, moderate Q&A, and jump in if anything breaks. You are never alone on stage.

Recording & consent

Everything is recorded

We record all sessions and publish them after the event. Ticket holders get the videos, and we may cut talks into shorter clips, quote you in write-ups, and feature slides. By speaking you grant AenixCon permission to record, edit and publish your session and materials, with attribution. If any part of your talk can't be recorded (e.g. a sensitive customer demo), tell us in advance and we'll pause the capture.

What you get

Speaker perks

  • Your own recording, clips and slides to reuse
  • A speaker card and promo kit for social
  • A spot in the fireside/interview stream if you want it
  • Direct support from the AenixCon team before and during
  • The gratitude of a lot of engineers who learned something

Help us fill the room

Promoting your talk

🖼️

Speaker card

We'll send a personalized graphic with your name, photo and talk title — post it anywhere.

#️⃣

Hashtag

Use #AenixCon and tag @aenix. We'll amplify your posts.

🔗

One link

Point people at the program page — the free ticket is one click from there.

Ground rules

Code of Conduct

AenixCon is dedicated to a harassment-free, welcoming experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion or technology choices.

  • Be respectful. Critique ideas, not people.
  • No harassment, discrimination or personal attacks — in talks, chat or networking rooms.
  • Keep content professional; no offensive imagery or language in slides or demos.
  • Respect privacy — don't share others' data or private conversations.

Reporting

If you experience or witness unacceptable behavior, contact the organizers immediately at conduct@aenix.io. Reports are handled confidentially. Organizers may warn, mute, remove or ban anyone violating this policy.

This Code of Conduct applies to all attendees, speakers, sponsors and organizers, across every session, chat and networking space.

Adapted in spirit from the CNCF Community Code of Conduct.

Ready to submit?

The CFP closes November 1, and everyone hears back by November 5.

Submit your talk → See the draft program

Questions? cfp@aenix.io