Our Story
About The Cloud & AI Summit
Nearly two decades of bringing developers together to learn, connect, and grow
The Cloud & AI Summit is a premier three-day conference focused on Microsoft Azure and AI technologies, bringing together developers, architects, and technology leaders from across the industry.
What started in 2007 as a small gathering of .NET developers in St. Louis has grown into an event drawing attendees, speakers, and sponsors from across the United States and beyond. Through multiple rebrands and nearly two decades of growth, our mission has remained constant: to provide accessible, high-quality learning opportunities for developers at every stage of their career.
We are a non-profit organization, run entirely by volunteers who are passionate about building community and sharing knowledge.
Our History
Three eras of community, learning, and growth
St. Louis Day(s) of .NET
Our conference got its start in 2007 as a one-day event called "St. Louis Day of .NET." This inaugural event drew 70 people—slightly over the capacity of our space—and was held at a facility on Washington University's campus.
The event bridged the gap between national Microsoft conferences and local developers. By 2008, we had grown to over 20 sessions. The conference eventually moved to St. Charles, MO to accommodate continued growth.
dev up
As the technology landscape evolved beyond just .NET, we rebranded to "dev up"—reflecting our expanded focus on a broader range of technologies and development practices.
The conference expanded beyond the St. Louis region, growing to 150+ sessions and attracting attendees, sponsors, and speakers from around the US. After a pandemic pause, we returned in 2022 and by 2025 were welcoming over 800 professionals.
The Cloud & AI Summit
As cloud and AI reshape our industry, we're evolving to meet the moment. Our recent content has increasingly centered on these technologies, and our rebrand to The Cloud & AI Summit reflects where the community is heading.
Our roots run deep in the Microsoft and Azure ecosystem—from our beginnings as a .NET conference to today. We're proud of that heritage and committed to continuing that focus with deeper content across Azure, AI, and the broader Microsoft technology stack.
By the Numbers
Nearly two decades of community growth
Since our first conference in 2007
At dev up 2025
Day of .NET, dev up, Cloud & AI Summit
Our Mission
We are a non-profit, volunteer-run conference dedicated to building community and advancing technical knowledge. Our goal is to provide accessible, high-quality technical education and networking opportunities for developers and technology professionals at all levels.