Flink Forward events celebrate the vibrant Apache Flink® community and the innovation happening across the streaming data ecosystem. These conferences give practitioners and enthusiasts a space to share their experiences, inspire others, and build lasting connections. Each year, a Program Chair (this year, Ben Gamble, Field CTO at Ververica) is tasked with assembling a Program Committee made up of leaders and innovators from across industries. These committee members review community talk submissions and help shape the core content of the event.
I caught up with Erik Schmiegelow, CEO and co-founder of Hivemind Technologies AG, and one of this year’s Flink Forward Program Committee members, to discuss his perspective on the state of streaming data and why events like Flink Forward are essential for the community.
My tech journey has been driven by a fascination with how data can transform businesses. Over the years, I saw how batch-oriented systems were holding companies back, slowing down both decision-making and innovation. That inspired me to co-found Hivemind, with the goal of building reliable, scalable, and real-time data platforms. It's all about making fast, impactful data accessible for companies that want to stay ahead. We’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of streaming technology and helping organizations unlock the full potential of their data.
Flink Forward taps into a unique audience of forward-thinkers, experts, and practitioners in the streaming space. Sharing your experience or technical insights can inspire others, spark collaboration, and even lead to innovation. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to connect with a passionate community, gain visibility for your work, and experience all of this in the vibrant city of Barcelona. The future of data is real-time—this is your chance to be part of it.
Cloud infrastructure innovations—like Kubernetes, fast storage, and scalable compute—are the backbone of real-time AI. They enable data to flow seamlessly and models to process and react instantly. This agility is crucial for businesses that want to make real-time decisions based on live data. In essence, cloud advancements give us the tools to turn AI use cases from mere Proof of Concepts (PoCs) into practical, value-driving business applications.
One area that deserves more attention is operational simplicity—topics like observability, automated scaling, and ease of deployment are becoming increasingly important as streaming architectures grow more complex. Simplifying operations is key to broader adoption. I would like to see talk submissions that explore how hybrid and multi-cloud setups can be optimized for streaming workloads.
Authenticity and real-world insights. When speakers share genuine experiences, real challenges, and lessons learned, they resonate much more than abstract concepts. A clear story—what worked, what didn’t, and what was gained—tends to make a talk memorable. Passion and honesty can really inspire the audience and foster a sense of community.
Yes, I believe more focus on operational aspects—like observability, automated recovery, and deployment strategies—would be highly beneficial. Simplifying operations allows more organizations to deploy streaming solutions confidently at scale. Also, guidance on managing hybrid or multi-cloud environments in a streamlined way is increasingly relevant.
Just go for it. Choose a problem you’ve faced, a project you’re proud of, or a lesson learned. Keep it straightforward and genuine. You don’t need to be a professional speaker—authenticity and clarity matter more than perfection. Your experience might resonate more than you think and can help others facing similar challenges.
Every use case adds value because it broadens what’s possible in the streaming world. Maybe you’re working on a niche application or a new approach—that’s exactly the kind of insight the community benefits from. Sharing your story not only helps others learn but can also open new doors for your own projects.
Do you have a great streaming data story to share? We want to hear it! The Call for Speakers is now open! Submit your talk before 11:59 (CEST), May 15th, 2025, to be considered as a speaker at Flink Forward Barcelona 2025!