The 2025 Teslar User Conference: Event Highlights & Behind the Scenes

This October—one month ago today—we hosted our annual Teslar User Conference in downtown Bentonville, AR! This two-day event featured a full lineup of keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions all designed to bring Teslar bankers together and help them get the most out of their investment.

Planning this event is one of my team’s biggest projects every year, so I’m excited to give you some behind-the-scenes perspective on how it all comes together AND share some of our favorite moments from this year’s event!

Event planning has proven itself to be one of my favorite puzzles. It’s challenging, fast-paced, and a little chaotic at times, but once everything clicks into place and it’s go-time, you see people learn something new, make connections, and genuinely enjoy themselves--it makes all the effort worth it. It’s the best!

But pulling off an event like the Teslar User Conference is truly a team effort that requires all hands on deck. Every department at Teslar plays a role, from leading sessions to supporting logistics to engaging with attendees. I personally think it’s one of the things that makes our conference great!

Inside the Planning Process: A Conference Built Around Our Users

Planning the event, deciding what to do, session topics, and how to create an engaging environment--it’s a team effort. At Teslar, everyone’s voice is heard, and this is no exception. We ask the people who talk to customers every day: What are bankers asking for? Where do they need more clarity? What questions keep coming up? Those insights shape our agenda and guide which sessions we bring to life.

Speaking of feedback—I personally read every single survey response, and other leaders, all the way up to the CEO, review it too. We take that input seriously and do everything we can to incorporate requests, big or small, as long as they align with our vision and make sense for the broader group.

Some of the changes we made this year came directly from your comments—from big things like adding more breakout sessions all the way down to little things like offering more non-soda drink options.

We never want you to come back to the conference and have it feel like a totally different event. Our goal is for it to feel familiar and consistent, while still evolving with your needs. So, while we hear tons of great ideas, we strategically integrate and try them out slowly, building on what works and keeping the elements you love most.

Highlights from This Year’s Event

Keynote Sessions

This year’s keynotes focused on Teslar’s product evolution, AI and automation in banking, and our short-term roadmap. Attendees valued the opportunity to hear directly from Teslar’s CEO and leadership team, noting that transparency and open discussion build confidence and trust. One attendee shared, “It’s refreshing to hear directly from the owner of the company. It builds trust in the product we’re using.”

Learning Labs

Something new tried out this year wound up being a fan favorite! Bankers appreciated the hands-on format that allowed them to practice directly in Teslar and apply what they learned in real time. Comments like “It was my favorite part of the conference; being able to learn hands-on made it all click” were echoed throughout survey feedback.

Roundtable Sessions

The Roundtable sessions (another new session type this year!) proved to be another favorite. Attendees described it as open, collaborative, and full of real-world takeaways. As one participant put it, “I learned just as much if not more in the roundtables than I did in other breakouts.”

Networking and Community
Networking was consistently praised as a highlight of the conference. From structured roundtables to casual trivia night conversations, attendees valued the opportunity to connect with peers and the Teslar team. One attendee wrote, “Every Teslar employee I talked to was friendly and engaging,” while another noted, “It makes a world of difference to have them know our names and be willing to talk about anything.”

Thank You

While I may help pull the details together, this event truly belongs to the entire Teslar team. From the facilitators leading Learning Labs to the engineers showcasing new features and leadership participating in open Q&A, every department plays a role in creating an experience that reflects who we are as a company.

To everyone who attended this year—thank you! Your engagement, curiosity, and honest feedback make this event what it is and drive us to keep improving year after year.

We’re already planning for what’s next, continuing to refine the balance of learning, networking, and fun that makes this community so special.

What We’re Thinking for Next Year

It’s a good problem to have, but we’ve pretty much outgrown our event venue at the Ledger in Bentonville. I’m a little bummed—there’s something special about hosting the conference in a space that feels like us, not a stuffy convention center with patterned carpet and no personality.

We are already hard at work finding the best location for us. One that’s comfortable, accessible, and still reflects the energy and experience you’ve come to expect from our events.

We’re also digesting all your feedback to see what new ideas we can bring to life. You shared some thoughtful suggestions that we can’t wait to explore further.

And one of my favorite announcements from this year’s event—the Teslar User Conference has a new name! Starting next year, you’ll join us for TUNE: the Teslar User Networking Event. Think of the possibilities… we’re already working on the puns.

Stay tuned for details on TUNE 26 in the coming months. We can’t wait to welcome you back for more learning, collaboration, and connection!