Geekcon was inspired in 2005 by Kinnernet, Yossi Vardi’s famous unconference in Israel. Many of us decided that we need to meet more then once a year and focus on the geekier and dirtier side of technology. Soon after, we had the first Geekcon with around 80 participants spending 36 hours (some with no sleep) building, discussing and creating whatever came to our minds. Since then, Geekcon has developed a format where more then 100 people come together once a year for a weekend of technical creativity. What’s now known as the maker movement around the world.

Our participants have spanned the breadth of Israel’s hi-tech industry with s sprinkling of artists, designers and hackers. Geekcon has been sponsored throughout the years by VC firms, hitech companies and businesses, and has been featured on TV and newspapers in Israel and abroad.

http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2011/12/start/hackfest-by-the-sea