SpeakUp, a Dubai-based technology startup, has quickly gained traction in the global event and public speaking industry, surpassing 30,000 users just five months after its launch. The platform offers a direct, AI-powered connection between event organisers and speakers, removing the need for traditional intermediaries and simplifying the booking process.
Since its inception, SpeakUp has experienced a near 20 percent monthly growth in users, with active participants from North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The platform allows event organisers to post speaking opportunities ranging from conferences to podcasts while verified speakers can apply directly through the platform. This streamlined system eliminates the delays typically associated with speaker bureaus or agent-led bookings.
“From the beginning, our focus was on simplifying the way speakers and organisers connect,” said Nick Zhuchkov, co-founder and CEO of SpeakUp. “We designed SpeakUp to be intuitive, fast, and borderless something that could serve everyone from grassroots podcast hosts to major international conferences.”
AI plays a central role in the platform, integrating communication, smart recommendations, and booking into a single interface. The technology matches speakers with relevant opportunities, allowing organisers to complete bookings without manual negotiations. This approach significantly reduces lead times, providing a more efficient solution for event planners.
SpeakUp’s growth is further underscored by the high-profile individuals it continues to attract, such as Uzair Merchant, a renowned director in both Hollywood and Bollywood, and Laura Buckwell, a well-known event host across the Middle East. These figures add credibility to the platform, reinforcing its potential to revolutionise the speaker engagement and event planning sectors.
“Building a tech company is never linear, but our team has remained focused on making speaker access more democratic and efficient,” Zhuchkov added. “What’s exciting now is seeing that mission resonate globally every day, we’re watching more speakers and organisers find each other without barriers.”
In recent weeks, the platform has experienced a surge in sign-ups, with more than 400 new users joining within an hour during one evening. This rapid growth signals a shift in how the industry is approaching speaker engagement, indicating that the traditional methods may soon be a thing of the past. SpeakUp’s success aligns with the growing recognition of Dubai as a tech innovation hub, as highlighted in a recent report on the city’s role in fostering startup growth here.
As the company continues to expand its product offerings and explore new partnerships across sectors such as media, education, and events, SpeakUp’s impact on the global event landscape is set to grow. With its commitment to efficiency, accessibility, and innovation, the platform seems poised to reshape the future of speaker engagements and event planning.