reviving the legendary nomad summit

Christoph Huebner • Sep 28, 2024 • 7 min read

An e-⁠resident's journey to bring back the ultimate digital nomad gathering

Christoph Huebner and Kai Isand in Athens

The legendary Nomad Summit is back, and it's ready to reclaim its throne as the most significant event in the digital nomad community. Once the premier gathering for location-independent entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers, the summit was put on hold during the pandemic. It was the place where ideas sparked, connections were made, and businesses were born—all set against the backdrop of Chiang Mai in the mountains of Northern Thailand, the digital nomad capital of the world.

But when COVID-19 hit, the event took a severe blow. Its organiser, Johnny FD, had started marketing for the 2020 Summer edition in Tbilisi, Georgia. This was postponed twice—and ultimately cancelled. All pre-sale tickets were refunded. Life then took Johnny in a new direction, relocating to Kyiv and shifting his focus away from organising events. The summit's future was left uncertain, and for some years, it seemed like the end of an era.

Yet, this is not just a comeback story for the Nomad Summit. It’s also the story of how an Estonian e-⁠resident stepped in to bring this beloved event back to life, fuelled by a deep connection to Estonia and its vibrant e-⁠Residency programme.

Read on to hear how a chance meeting in Kyiv resulted in Nomad Summit's return. Plus, find out how you can get early bird tickets and explore partnership opportunities at Nomad Summits in 2025!

From Chiang Mai to Estonia: an e-⁠resident’s path

Hi! I'm Christoph Huebner and I'm an e-⁠resident.

I've been an active part of the e-⁠Residency community and a huge fan of the programme since 2017. I first took the stage at the Nomad Summit in Chiang Mai in January 2019 and 2020. I shared my insights on how e-⁠Residency could empower digital nomads to run their businesses compliant and with ease. In the same city in 2019, at an e-⁠residents' meetup, I met Miguel and Ignacio, the founders of Companio, who would go on to become close friends. It was a serendipitous moment that set the stage for future collaborations.

While I've stayed connected to the digital nomad scene, my path diverged from Johnny’s. That was until an unexpected encounter in Kyiv in the summer of 2023. I was in Ukraine on a mission of support, delivering vehicles to the defenders of Ukraine through convoys organised by Help99—a project featured in the e-Residency blog highlighting how e-residents rally to support Ukrainian defenders. Read more here:

How e-residents (can) help Ukrainian defenders

In a world of global connections, a story of solidarity emerges, weaving together individuals from different corners of the world in support of Ukraine's defenders.

It was during one of these visits that I crossed paths with Johnny again, rekindling a connection that would one year later lead to the revival of the Nomad Summit. Johnny FD:

“I had been asked several times to sell the brand. But I was always afraid of others meddling with the legacy and ruining the reputation. Now we have found a solution with which I feel more than happy. I will be in Chiang Mai in January and hand over the lead on stage!”

In Kyiv, presenting Johnny FD with a bottle of Vana Tallinn

A New Chapter: Collaboration Through e-⁠Residency

In 2024, I caught up with Kai Isand, another key figure in Estonia’s tech and startup scene. We first met during the Digital Nations Hackathon on Vormsi Island in 2019.

Kai is the Head of Programme for Latitude59, Estonia’s leading tech and startup conference, held in May each year. This event has grown into a major gathering for the e-⁠Residency community—a testament to the programme's power to connect like-minded individuals across borders. By 2024, Kai had embraced the digital nomad lifestyle herself.

Our chance meeting on Madeira Island in March revealed not only shared lifestyle interests but also a mutual commitment to business principles rooted in honesty and transparency.

When Johnny later offered me the opportunity to take over the Nomad Summit brand, I was initially hesitant. But after reflecting on my background in event management, including organising concerts and parties back in the old days in Berlin and my recent adventures with Dancing Latitudes across Europe (read more here), I knew I had the guts to make the summit thrive once more—if with the right team.

10 cities in 3 weeks: e-residents travel through Europe to Tallinn

The travel-loving e-residents' and digital nomads’ European journey, Dancing Latitudes started in early May from Lisbon.

After a few strategic conversations, I, along with Kai, decided to take the plunge. We established a new company in Estonia within days—a perfect blend of international collaboration, co-founded by an e-resident and an Estonian. This is exactly the kind of partnership that the e-Residency programme champions. It fosters closer ties between local entrepreneurs and the global network of e-⁠residents.

I believe this venture is a great example of how community works—and how easy things can be in the small Estonian ecosystem. Be honest, propose a good offer, and great things happen fast! That’s why I’ve been running my businesses in Estonia for 7 years. Since then, I spend several months every Summer there just because I fell in love with the country and its people.

Building the Future of the Nomad Summit

The next few weeks were spent planning behind the scenes. The new team welcomed a strategic partner: Philipp Weber, the main owner of the Bansko Nomad Fest. This event has grown into the largest event for digital nomads, hosting 700 attendees in Bulgaria this past June. Philipp’s involvement marked another significant milestone, bringing invaluable insights and resources to the table. And, of course, Philipp is an e-⁠resident of Estonia, too. About the venture, Weber enthused:

“The global digital nomads community is not too big and very well connected. That’s why I love it when new and old initiatives work together and support each other.”

As the relaunch approaches, Meliisa Palipea, PR and Community Manager of e-⁠Residency, has been confirmed as one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming Nomad Summit in Chiang Mai in January 2025. Her presentation will explore how to manage a large community with limited resources, offering practical lessons drawn from Estonia’s e-⁠Residency experience.

In many ways, the next summit will symbolise the renewed bridge between Estonia and Thailand. A link that dates back to the first e-⁠Residency meetups in Chiang Mai.

What Makes Thailand a Popular Remote Destination?

A guide to one of the world’s ultimate destinations for location-independent entrepreneurs.

Looking Ahead: From Thailand to Estonia

After the Chiang Mai event in January, the Nomad Summit will venture to Estonia for the first time ever. The inaugural Nomad Summit Estonia will take place in August 2025 in Pärnu, Estonia’s summer capital. The event promises to blend the vibrant digital nomad culture with Estonia’s unique charm and its extraordinary startup ecosystem. Kai Isand sneak peeks the Estonian edition:

“We will be building on a great brand which we’ll update to the 2025 version. The new Nomad Summit will have both: Inspiring talks and a lot of community interaction. The goal for the speakers is: 50 percent legends, 50 percent fresh faces who you’ve never seen on a nomad event stage before.”

The Nomad Summit website is now live, and early bird tickets are available for purchase. Special discounts are offered to e-⁠residents. Just reach out to the Nomad Summit team with your Estonian personal identification code, a link to your company website, or any other proof of your e-⁠Residency status to claim your discount.

Please to watch this video.

This is not just the return of a beloved event. It's a powerful reminder of the connections and opportunities that the e-⁠Residency program can create.

The Nomad Summit is back!

And I'm confident it's going to be better than ever—an exciting chapter for digital nomads and e-⁠residents alike.

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reviving the legendary nomad summit

From Chiang Mai to Estonia: an e-⁠resident’s path

A New Chapter: Collaboration Through e-⁠Residency

Building the Future of the Nomad Summit

Looking Ahead: From Thailand to Estonia

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From Chiang Mai to Estonia: an e-⁠resident’s path

A New Chapter: Collaboration Through e-⁠Residency

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Looking Ahead: From Thailand to Estonia

From Chiang Mai to Estonia: an e-⁠resident’s path

A New Chapter: Collaboration Through e-⁠Residency

Building the Future of the Nomad Summit

Looking Ahead: From Thailand to Estonia

More from e-Residency

Share this article:

Read next

Unforgettable 2026 events in Estonia you don’t want to miss

Moving toward cardless e-Residency with biometric mobile app

Interesting e-resident stats to celebrate our 11th anniversary

Estonia invites South African entrepreneurs to join its digital nation through e‑Residency

Study trip: Global founders explore the Estonian startup ecosystem

The very first e-resident Edward Lucas: Europe must learn to listen to Estonia

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From Chiang Mai to Estonia: an e-⁠resident’s path

A New Chapter: Collaboration Through e-⁠Residency

Building the Future of the Nomad Summit

Looking Ahead: From Thailand to Estonia