Some emails are simply more exciting to receive than others. When I saw that famous “You’re in” pop up in my inbox, I got a little rush of adrenaline. I am thrilled to share with you my invitation to the highly exclusive Nutanix Tech Connect 2026, taking place this coming October 26 and 27 right at headquarters, at Nutanix HQ in San Jose in the Silicon Valley!

As you know, on a daily basis, I spend a good part of my days with my nose deep in the Nutanix ecosystem at Inetum. It’s my playground. But this trip is the opportunity to literally step through the looking glass. And for the 2nd time! (see my article recounting my 2 days at NTC Tech Connect 2024).

If massive tech gatherings like the .NEXT event are perfect for discovering public announcements surrounded by thousands of attendees, Tech Connect is its exact opposite. It’s behind the scenes. Only a select few, hand-picked from the most active members of the NTC (Nutanix Technology Champions) community, are invited. And we are not making the trip to listen to the usual marketing pitch, but to dive right into the thick of it, exchange under NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), and dissect the architecture with the people who build the platform.

What is the Nutanix Tech Connect?

A gathering of enthusiasts

Being part of the NTC program already means evolving every day within an incredible community of sharing and mutual aid. But this in-person event takes the concept even further. It was designed as an intimate gathering. Nutanix’s goal here is not to fill a convention center, but to bring together around a table a handful of enthusiasts whose voices and field experience truly matter.

Direct impact on the Nutanix roadmap

This is where we hit the ultimate goal for any systems engineer! During these two days of immersion in San Jose, we leave the sales presentations at the door. Our direct contacts? Product Management (PM) and the Research & Development (R&D) teams.

It’s a golden opportunity to transparently discuss the evolution of the AOS (Acropolis Operating System) foundation and the future capabilities of our AHV hypervisor. It is precisely during these “unfiltered” roundtables that we dissect the complex use cases we encounter on our production clusters. Knowing that our “pain points” and field feedback can directly influence the technical roadmap and shape the code for upcoming releases is simply exhilarating!

On the agenda: Two days of immersion in San Jose

The program for these two days promises to be dense. The invitation email is clear: the goal is to interact directly with engineering, product teams, and even Nutanix executives. In practical terms, this translates into interactive technical sessions where we will be able to “challenge” architectural choices. It’s the perfect time to ask those pointed questions that often go unanswered on traditional forums, and above all, to get an exclusive sneak peek (strictly under NDA!) at what is brewing in the vendor’s labs.

The other huge asset of Tech Connect is networking. Gathering physically with NTCs from all four corners of the globe is a guarantee of incredibly rich exchanges due to the diverse backgrounds of all attendees. We compare our infrastructures, share our feedback, and often find solutions to complex problems over a simple cup of coffee. This synergy among passionate experts is what makes the true strength of the Nutanix community.

Between now and the end of October, preparations will ramp up. In the coming weeks, we’ll be treated to an exclusive “Kickoff” webinar to discover the detailed agenda, planned sessions, and, hopefully, a few surprises. Then comes the time to secure flights and accommodations.

For my part, the technical preparation has already begun! I am actively compiling my notes, my observations on the latest versions of AOS, and most importantly, feedback from colleagues. Because yes, I fully intend to be the spokesperson for our French-speaking community at this event!

Thank you and see you in California!

While waiting for October, I am going to quietly start putting together my compilation of notes and observations and work on some stickers to swap with my fellow NTCs. You can count on me to give you a detailed report when I return (at least, on everything that won’t be protected by the NDA!).

To conclude, I wanted to extend a huge and sincere thank you to Angelo, as well as to all the Nutanix teams, for this exceptional opportunity and for organizing this event. The recognition from this community is a powerful driving force on a daily basis.

See you in San Jose!