CloserStill Media Expands in U.S. With Acquisition of AI Event

April 2, 2025

In its second Q1 deal, London-based independent event producer CloserStill Media has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Ai4, touted as the largest AI event in the U.S. Earlier this year, CloserStill Media acquired Digital Health Intelligence (DHI), adding Rewired, DHI’s flagship digital health event in the UK, to its healthcare portfolio.

JEGI CLARITY, an M&A advisory firm for the global media, marketing, information and technology industries, represented Ai4 in the transaction, but terms were not disclosed.

Backstory: Launched in 2018, Ai4 was co-founded by Michael Weiss and Marcus Jecklin, who were joined by industry veteran Michelle Troop in 2019. Ai4 is targeted across industries for organizations harnessing AI to drive innovation and transformation. The event serves as a platform for AI/ML experts, IT leadership, business CxOs, and Fortune 500 decision-makers to explore the full AI value chain--from infrastructure to applications.

Context: CloserStill Media specializes in content-driven events for B2B and professional communities. With operations and 800 staff in the U.K., U.S., Germany, Spain, and Singapore, the company operates events serving the business technologies, healthcare, and future transport and Infrastructure sectors across the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Big picture: Ai4 will integrate into CloserStill’s business technology portfolio, which includes its flagship Tech Week series in the UK. This move bolsters CloserStill’s presence and reach in the U.S. and marks its first major technology event in North America.

Deeper dive: “We are delighted to be working with the team at Ai4 to accelerate its growth even further,” said CloserStill CEO Gareth Bowhill. “The co-founders and team have built an outstanding platform, and we are committed to accelerating its future together with them. This acquisition marks a significant strategic step for CloserStill by expanding our global technology portfolio deeper into the North American market.”

What’s next: “We are excited about this next chapter for Ai4,” said Ai4 CRO Michelle Troop. “CloserStill’s approach to growth and event innovation aligns perfectly with ours. Their proven history of expanding renowned tech events makes them the ideal partner. We look forward to working together to take Ai4 to even greater heights.”

What they’re saying: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the Ai4 Las Vegas event into our U.S. portfolio,” said CloserStill President North America Yancy Weinrich. “This acquisition represents an exciting step forward in our commitment to advancing our tech portfolio. We are equally delighted to collaborate with Michael, Michelle, and Marcus, three incredibly talented experts in the event and AI sectors, whose knowledge and vision will be instrumental in shaping the future of Ai4.”

Other partnerships: In addition to Ai4, CloserStill Media acquired a majority stake in Partnership Network Events (PNE) Ltd and Elite Exhibitions, producer of cruise ship design trade shows in the U.S. and Europe, in 2024. 

Looking ahead: In 2025, the three-day conference-led event is set to take place August 11-13 at the MGM in Las Vegas, before moving to The Venetian Las Vegas in 2026. The 2025 edition of Ai4, which is on pace to attract more than 8,000 delegates and 250+ exhibitors, will host more than 600 speakers across 50+ conference tracks, as well as a new 1-to-1 meeting and networking program.

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