We’re thrilled to feature a special story from MVP Patrick Koch, who takes us behind the scenes of organizing the very first DevOpsDays Graz. From an idea sparked at an aftershow party to a full-scale conference with 180 attendees, Patrick shares the challenges, triumphs, and best practices that made this community-driven event a success. This blog is more than an event recap—it’s a testament to collaboration, passion, and the power of the MVP community. Dive in to discover how a dedicated team turned a vision into reality and what lessons can inspire your next big initiative.
By Guest Blogger Patrick Koch
The very first DevOpsDays Graz wrapped up in early September—a milestone for our local tech community and a personal adventure I’ll never forget. Just months ago, I couldn’t have imagined organizing a full conference, but with an incredible team and strong MVP support, we made it happen. As an MVP, I wanted to bring a distinct “MVP touch” to the event, and this post shares our story, the challenges we faced, and the best practices we discovered along the way.
How It All Started
Discussion with DevOpsDays organizers during the event.“Hey Patrick, why don’t you organize DevOpsDays Graz?” Those words from my friend—and now fellow MVP—Kerim Satirli at DevOpsDays Ljubljana sparked an idea that became reality. My quick response was: “Sure, that would be awesome!”—without fully realizing the scope of what lay ahead.
The first step was building a reliable team. I reached out to Linda Kolb, Sandra Niederl, and Bernd Hirschmann—friends and colleagues with whom I’ve organized community events for years. Sandra, Bernd, and I have been running the Microsoft Developer User Group for a decade, and Linda shares the same passion for community engagement. Within a month, we agreed: Graz deserved its own DevOpsDays.
The MVP Factor
From the start, I knew MVP involvement would make a difference. MVP and RD Rainer Stropek, a local hero known for his outstanding talks, and Kerim Satirli, passionate about Infrastructure as Code, joined forces with us. Kerim even delivered a keynote and workshops on IaC—exactly the kind of content we envisioned. Their expertise and energy gave the event a unique flavor and reinforced the value of MVPs in shaping community experiences.
The ‘Europasaal’ was buzzing and packed during Conference Day.Building from Scratch
Organizing a conference is like managing a massive backlog—except this time, it wasn’t just our company tasks but a whole new set of responsibilities:
- Legal setup: We founded an association to act as the official organizer and protect volunteers from liability.
- Website & Call for Speakers: Designed, launched, and promoted to attract diverse voices.
- Sponsors & Budgeting: Negotiated partnerships and managed costs with zero financial reserves.
- Venue & Catering: Scouted locations, arranged food and drinks, and handled logistics.
- Marketing: Relied on social media and personal outreach to drive ticket sales.
Every step brought surprises—from insurance requirements to last-minute ticket pushes. But the passion kept us going.
Impact and Insights
Over 100 attendees on workshop day, bringing real conference vibes.The result? ~180 attendees, strong feedback from partners and participants, and a sense of pride in what we achieved with minimal marketing budget. For me, this experience was more than event planning—it was about understanding community needs, creating value, and strengthening my role as a Developer Advocate.
Best Practices for Future Organizers
If you’re thinking about hosting a community conference, here are three lessons we learned:
- Start early: Announce and promote as soon as possible. More lead time means more ticket sales and less stress.
- Talk to suppliers: Catering was our biggest variable cost. Accurate estimates matter when you have no reference points.
- Secure legal footing: Form an association and get insurance to reduce risk and present a professional image.
Closing Thoughts
Looking back, I’m glad we didn’t let the risks hold us back. Instead, we poured our full passion into the project—and it paid off. Huge thanks to everyone who supported us! We hope this inspires others to bring DevOpsDays to their cities and strengthen local tech communities.
Would you like to know more about DevOps Graz?
Check out our aftershow movie and visit our LinkedIn page for highlights and updates!
Microsoft