Rakuten Optimism 2026

Rakuten’s annual event bringing together over 1,000 marketers across retail, finance and travel and a premier networking opportunity for anyone connected to Rakuten International. Rakuten Optimism leaves attendees with new connections, partnerships and industry insights.

1,000+

Attendees

5,000+

Meetings

Loyalty
Measurement
Partnerships
Personalization
Publisher Marketing
Targeting
Affiliate Marketing
Artificial Intelligence
Cash Back
Compliance
Customer Experience
First-Party Data
Incrementally
Influencer Marketing
Innovation

Get Inspired

Doing business *can* be fun. Get inspired by top marketing and brand leaders as they share the latest industry insights and trends. Then party with the best in the industry.

Connect

Connect and network with peers and other digital marketing experts. Access an elevated networking experience ahead of the event with early conversations, meeting pre-scheduling and sponsor interactions.

Celebrate

We’ll celebrate the industry’s best with an award ceremony. Then unwind with your choice of happy hours, wellness activities and more.

Headliners

Tune in as industry-leading marketers reveal powerful insights and emerging trends that will ignite your creativity.

Amit Patel
Rakuten International
CEO & President

With 20+ years in digital marketing and e-commerce, Patel joined Rakuten Rewards in 2010 and became CEO in 2017. In 2019, he was named Rakuten Americas CEO, with the division rebranding in 2023 as Rakuten International. Under his leadership, Rakuten Rewards rebranded from Ebates and grew into a leading membership program connecting consumers with top brands.

Guy Raz
"How I Built This" & Built-It Productions
Host & Founder

Guy Raz is a pioneering podcaster behind iconic shows like How I Built This, TED Radio Hour, and Wow in the World. The New York Times calls him “one of the most popular podcasters in history.” His award-winning programs reach 19 million listeners each month worldwide.

Adam Mamawala
Comedian & Emcee

Eric Seufert
Hercules Media
Analyst

Zack Kass
OpenAI
Former Head of GTM

Who you’ll meet

Network with over 1,000 digital marketing experts. Optimism brings together advertisers, affiliate marketing publishers, agencies and partners. Be inspired by representatives from hundreds of companies, make connections and celebrate wins together.

Advertiser, brands and retail

Match your brand with the right affiliate publishers.

As an advertiser you are looking for publishers and partners that drive new consumer growth, and explore new markets, verticals and territories. Matching your brand with the right affiliate publishers is what we do, including through the power of our Rakuten platform.

Our network hosts global top-tier partners:

Cash Back, loyalty and rewards
Coupon, vouchers and rebates
Social, influencers and creators
Content and subnetworks
Search engine marketing

Agencies

Access our unique ecosystem of exclusive consumer brands and top-tier partners.

As an agency, you represent brands and stores looking for highly targeted, highly valuable customers. Our unique ecosystem of exclusive consumer brands and top-tier partners makes it easy.

While at Optimism, you will have the opportunity to have valuable face-to-face time with both your brands and partners at once.

Partners & Publishers

Connect brands with audiences when and where it counts.

As a partner in our network, you help connect brands with audiences when and where it counts.

While at Optimism, you will have the opportunity to meet with a variety of brands, including:

Retail: apparel/accessories, beauty, footwear, home/housewares, electronics
Luxury: mostly apparel/accessories and jewelry
Travel: airlines, hotels, OTAs, cruises
Finance: credit cards, banking, loans
Global: work with programs that span across regions

Official sponsors

Gold Level Partners

Give your brand the spotlight. All eyes will be on Optimism 2026, so maximize your exposure with one of our many sponsorship options. See how you can make a splash or reach out to our team for a bespoke opportunity.

Become a sponsor