Building PyCon Togo 2026: What We’re Learning from PyCon Colombi

In short: we are not asking for money, we are offering opportunity.

Start Local, Then Expand

Beyond strategy, we were also guided on where to look first.

A strong recommendation was to prioritize local companies and ecosystems before expanding globally.

This includes:

Local tech companies and startups
Telecom operators
Banks and fintechs
Universities and training institutions

Building strong local partnerships:

Increases sponsorship success rates
Builds long-term trust
Strengthens the local tech ecosystem

As we are preparing PyCon Togo 2026, this approach is already shaping how we identify and engage potential partners.

Building with Financial Discipline

Another lesson: sustainability requires structure.

From PyCon Colombia’s experience:

~50% of funding comes from sponsors
~50% from ticket sales

Budgets are carefully allocated across:

Logistics and catering
Speaker support (travel, accommodation)
Media and streaming
Community experiences

They also plan for contingencies.

As we are preparing PyCon Togo 2026, we are applying the same level of discipline to ensure long-term sustainability.

Rejection Is Part of the Process

Outreach to sponsors comes with uncertainty.

Not every company will say yes.

What matters:

Staying professional
Following up
Learning from feedback
Iterating on the approach

Each interaction improves the next one.

Start Early, Move Intentionally

A practical recommendation we are actively applying:

Start sponsor outreach 5–6 months before the event.

This creates time to:

Build relationships
Refine proposals
Secure commitments

Why This Matters

This exchange confirmed something important:

PyCon Togo is not being built in isolation.

It is part of a broader global ecosystem where communities share knowledge, support each other, and grow together.

Acknowledgment

We sincerely thank PyCon Colombia and John Roa for their openness and willingness to share practical, experience-driven insights.

Their support is helping shape PyCon Togo 2026.

Join Us

PyCon Togo 2026 will take place in August 2026.

As we are preparing this second edition, we invite:

Companies
Developers
Students
Community builders

to be part of the journey.