Guest blog by Shuli Yu, Founder of Yush
One of the hardest things about deciding whether to attend an event – especially if you’re new to a community – is knowing what it will actually feel like.
You can read speaker bios and scan sponsor logos, but that doesn’t tell you what kind of conversations happen in the corners, how it feels to walk into the room, or whether it’s your kind of crowd.
That’s exactly why we created Yush, a platform to capture real-time, human reactions from attendees at events, using photos, comments, and emojis. Think of it as a Pinterest-style version of Trustpilot for events: highly visual, unfiltered, and built to capture the moments that actually happen. And earlier this year, we brought Yush to Tectonic’s Night Summit in April to help the community reflect on the night, in their own words.
So what did they say?
“Epic People.” “Warm Vibes.” “Seeing Each Other Bloom!”
We captured over 100 real-time reactions at TecTonic Night Summit in May 2025 – short quotes, one-word signs, and spontaneous photos and the picture that emerges is clear:
This is the vibe! Come if you’re into:
- ⚡ Energy & local flavour – a buzzing, maker-led marketplace (not just talks)
- 🕹️ Hands-on moments – interactive exhibits, playful demos, try-it-now prototypes
- 💬 Community-first – welcoming, low-ego conversations; people who want to help
- 🔗 Serendipitous connection – networking that actually turns into intros and ideas
- 🎯 Practical support – quick mentoring chats alongside the fun
It’s probably not for you if you expect:
- 🗣️ Long keynotes or a sit-and-listen conference
- 📃 Rigid agendas and quiet halls
- 💼 Salesy booths with little chance to touch, talk, or co-create
A few quotes from the night say it best:
“Fun vibe + mentoring.” · “EPIC PEOPLE.” · “SEEING EACH OTHER BLOOM!!”, “Community!”, “Meeting innovative people!”
Want to see it through the crowd’s eyes? Explore the Night Summit reactions gallery.
It’s one of the best ways to get a feel for what the event is really like — unfiltered, candid, and community-driven.
Turning Feedback into Action
The insights from that night didn’t just live in a dashboard – the Tectonic team used them to help shape the upcoming Year-End Exchange on 10 December.
For example, many attendees said the best part of the event was the people it attracted. They valued the spontaneous conversations and unexpected collisions, but some also wanted more structure to help those connections happen, so this time around, Tectonic is partnering with Generative Connections to deliver AI-powered networking to help attendees get matched to others with aligned goals, challenges or offers.
Other bits of feedback we received included:
- Some said they loved the mix of startup demos, games, and interactive elements. The response? Tectonic is leaning into this even more with more creative activations at the next event.
- A few people mentioned the venue noise made it harder to have deeper chats, so quieter zones are being planned for December.
- Many commented on how valuable the mentoring sessions were. This time, those sessions are expanding, with free access to 1:1 office hour slots with experts across startups, tech, product, marketing, fundraising, and other ecosystem advisors.
- The Creator’s Courtyard was a hit, so it’s coming back bigger, with a larger market square format with not just startups, but local food, drink, and gift vendors to bring the festive spirit 🎄.
This is what it looks like when event feedback is not just collected, but used.
A Quick Note to Exhibitors and Organisers
If you’re running a booth or sponsoring an event, and you’re wondering whether people are engaging with your space, Yush is designed to help you answer that. It makes it easy for attendees to drop quick reactions, photos or comments about your stall, and gives you back something more useful than just a footfall estimate.
We’ll be back again at the Year-End Exchange in December to help capture that energy, and share it with everyone who’s part of the night.
Want to Know if Tectonic is For You?
The easiest way to tell is to look at what the people in the room said last time. Their reactions are the best reflection of what makes the event special and whether it’s your scene too.
If you’re thinking about joining us for the Year-End Exchange, my suggestion is: come along, see it for yourself, and add your voice to the mix.
Hope to see you there!
Save your spot for the TecTonic Night Summit: Year-End Exchange on 10 December here.
