Cloud marketplace events and communities to watch in 2025

Cloud marketplaces aren’t slowing down on innovation in 2025, making it essential for cloud sales and GTM leaders like you to stay connected and informed. This year brings an impressive lineup of events and thriving communities designed to help cloud practitioners at every level advance their expertise and expand their networks. From intimate regional gatherings to major international conferences, these platforms offer valuable opportunities to explore emerging trends, share insights, and build meaningful connections. Whether your focus is cloud sales strategy, technical implementation, or partnership development, here's your guide to the most valuable cloud marketplace events and communities for the year ahead.

‍Marquee cloud conferences and events line-up: 2025

‍Clazar Cloud Sales Insider Tour 

Jan 16 - Mar 18 

San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Chicago, and New York. 

Clazar is hosting its first-ever multi-city tour to unite a community of forward-thinking GTM professionals. Join fellow cloud sales innovators for exclusive, intimate dinners across select cities. Compare notes on winning marketplace strategies, GenAI tactics, and hyperscaler innovations transforming your roadmap, all while enjoying a gourmet meal. 

Channel Partner Conference and Expo

March 24-27

Las Vegas

The conference and expo is expected to feature over 300 vendors, cutting-edge networking opportunities, and pivotal sessions focused on emerging industry trends. Centered in Las Vegas, the event will deliver critical insights for IT professionals, with a special emphasis on AI integration, managed services, and strategic business growth. Attendees can expect keynotes and workshops led by industry experts, covering essential topics like generative AI adoption, cybersecurity navigation, cloud optimization, and transforming sales strategies in a dynamic technological landscape.

Google Cloud Next

April 9–11

Las Vegas

Google Cloud Next is a premier technology conference where industry leaders and innovators converge to explore cutting-edge AI technologies, product launches, and transformative digital strategies. Spanning an expansive exhibition space, the event offers attendees immersive experiences through lightning talks, live demos, and interactive workshops, providing opportunities to learn about the latest technological advancements, network with global peers, and discover innovative ways to drive business growth and operational efficiency.

Catalyst

May 13–15

Seattle‍

Partnership Leaders’ annual conference Catalyst returns with a roster of world-class speakers and powerful networking opportunities. The event is expected to feature thought leadership openers, case-study sessions with real-life insights, and curated networking sessions with industry experts and potential partners. 

Ultimate Partner Live Summit

October/November

Location TBD

Ultimate Partner's marquee event unites the entire UPX community with leading voices in ecosystem growth. Attendees have the opportunity to gain insider knowledge from industry pioneers and award-winning Microsoft partners who are actively shaping tomorrow's digital landscape. 

Microsoft Ignite

November 17 onwards

San Francisco 

Microsoft Ignite, now merged with Inspire, returns to showcase the latest Microsoft technology & cloud innovations, AI advancements, and productivity tools. As always, the event will feature keynote speeches, hands-on labs, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, as is expected to attract over 200,000 digital and in-person participants. 

AWS re:Invent 

December 1 – 5

Las Vegas

AWS re:Invent returns as the conference season's culmination, featuring keynotes from AWS leadership like Matt Garman and Andy Jassy. The event provides strategic technological insights through innovation talks on cutting-edge AWS services and detailed breakout sessions where technical experts explore complex cloud architectures, deployment strategies, and AWS service mechanics, enabling attendees to gain comprehensive, direct knowledge from service creators.

‍Cloud marketplace and partnership communities  

‍Cloud People.

Cloud People is a professional network for cloud business leaders, facilitating connections among those who partner with major cloud providers. The community aims to foster collaboration through in-person events, workshops, and peer knowledge exchange focused on cloud partnership ecosystem development.

CADy Shack

Co-founded by Michael Musselman and Brett Fountain, CADy Shack is the largest global Partner Alliance Community for AWS Cloud Alliance Directors, representing more than 500 AWS Partners across 16 countries. This free community offers benefits like members-only events and Zoom sessions for knowledge sharing on how to simplify and amplify your partnership with AWS. It has also instituted the first global professional certification for AWS Cloud Alliance Directors –  the CAD Certification from the CADy Shack CAD Academy

Partner Insights

Founded by Roman Kirsanov, Partner Insights, helps GTM leaders accelerate cloud sales growth through multiple resource formats including expert-led cohort sessions, marketplace mastery courses, daily data-driven insights, and the Partner Insights newsletter. Partner Insights also hosts exclusive invite-only live events for knowledge sharing on hyperscaler updates and their strategic impact. 

Partnership Leaders

Partnership Leaders empower partnership professionals by providing essential resources and networking opportunities. As a global community of over 1,850 top partner experts, the organization drives career growth through community engagement, strategic networking events, and professional development resources. Their mission is to enable partner teams to maximize organizational revenue and success by creating a collaborative ecosystem that shares industry expertise and connects top talent across the partnership landscape. 

Ultimate Partner

Founded by Vince Menzione, Ultimate Partner, is a media, events, and advisory community enabling businesses to transform their cloud sales strategy and drive ecosystem-led growth. The Ultimate Partner umbrella encompasses live events, the Ultimate Guide to Partnering newsletter and a podcast currently featuring over 250 high-quality episodes with partnership and ecosystems experts. 

As cloud technologies and marketplaces continue to shape the future of business, staying connected with the broader ecosystem remains crucial for success. The events and communities highlighted here offer more than just networking opportunities – they provide essential platforms for understanding market dynamics, forming strategic partnerships, and driving innovation. From AWS re:Invent and Google Cloud Next to specialized communities like CADy Shack and Cloud People, each venue offers unique perspectives and valuable connections. Keep this list in mind as you plan your calendar and gameplan for 2025!