From Police-Shut Meetup to 53K Attendees: The TBE Story

Toby, founder of The Best Event (TBE), shares the remarkable evolution of his grassroots Web3 meetup in Singapore—from a small apartment gathering of 20 friends to a global phenomenon with 53,000 attendees in 2025. What began as 'Web3 with Toby' quickly outgrew his apartment, prompting police intervention due to crowd size and leading to a rebrand and expansion beyond the original format. TBE has since become a data-driven, curated experience focused on creating real business outcomes—what Toby calls a 'deal hub'—rather than just spectacle. The event’s success lies in its unique blend of high-quality networking, entertainment, and a proprietary tech platform (TBX) that enables pre-event matchmaking between sponsors and attendees based on intent and goals. This system has yielded a 93% response rate on introductions and helped sponsors generate leads before the event even begins. Looking ahead, TBE plans to launch its own standalone summit in 2026, with a focus on curation over scale, aiming for a 2,000–3,000 person event in a stable, supportive location like Singapore or Thailand, backed by government and ecosystem partners. The venture fund behind TBE also benefits directly, using the events as a primary deal flow funnel for investments. The episode critiques the current state of crypto side events, arguing that the sheer volume—often 500–700 per conference—is meaningless without quality. Many are poorly attended, underfunded, and lack clear KPIs, making them a drain on time and resources. Toby emphasizes that successful events must be intentional: sponsors and attendees need clear objectives, structured planning, and data-driven coordination. He warns against last-minute decisions and advocates for strategic, curated participation over chasing every side event. The future of TBE is not about size, but impact—building a sustainable, high-value ecosystem where events serve as a catalyst for real deals, innovation, and community growth, all while supporting the broader Web3 economy.