The Web Summit convened an impressive 70,236 participants worldwide at Lisbon’s Altice Arena, engaging in forward-thinking discussions and exchanges. This diverse assembly comprising CEOs, startups, investors, policymakers, and creatives immersed themselves in 1,180 investor-to-startup meetings, 70 masterclasses, 17 PITCH competition rounds, 25 evening events, and Night Summit revelries across Lisbon’s vibrant neighbourhoods.
Expanding the event’s floor space by an innovative five percent, Web Summit spanned around 215,000 square meters, akin to 1,099 tennis courts.
Addressing an audience of 11,000 attendees during the Opening Night at Altice Arena, Katherine Maher, Web Summit’s CEO, emphasized the event’s role as a catalyst for remarkable endeavours over the past decade. Maher expressed commitment to fostering critical conversations on technology, society, and innovation, aiming to propel impactful initiatives and connections.
An unprecedented 2,608 startups from 93 countries showcased pioneering innovations during the three-day affair, selected from a pool of applicants spanning over 30 diverse industries.
Notably, more than 250 startups participated in the Impact program, dedicated to positive community, industry, and ecosystem contributions. Additionally, over 800 startups engaged in nearly 100 Mentor Hours sessions, with industries such as SaaS, AI, health tech, fintech, and sustainability at the forefront.
The representation of women surged significantly this year, with 43 percent of attendees and over 38 percent of speakers being women—marking the event’s highest female speaker percentage to date. Furthermore, one-third of exhibiting startup founders were women.
Despite strides, Web Summit’s State of Gender Equity in Tech report highlighted prevalent gender disparities, revealing challenges in combating workplace inequality and addressing instances of sexism.
The event welcomed 321 global partners exploring business prospects and novel technologies, while 32 countries and 17 regional/local investment agencies sent delegations to foster international collaborations.
Collaborating with 37 community partners, including organizations like the Amos Bursary, Djassi Africa, and Lean In Portugal, Web Summit remains committed to supporting underrepresented groups within the technology sector.
A notable contingent of 906 investors from 52 countries participated, engaging in 1,180 investor-to-startup meetings, underscoring the event’s significance as a hub for investment opportunities.
Ahead of the summit, Web Summit’s partnership with PitchBook revealed insights: 63.1 percent of investors prioritize environmental impact, while 62.2 percent acknowledge the disruptive potential of AI and machine learning. However, the representation of women in senior management roles has slightly decreased.
Featuring 806 speakers from 50 countries and drawing 2,129 media representatives from 69 countries, Web Summit’s 27 tracks spotlighted industry leaders such as Signal’s Meredith Whitaker, Kyiv Digital ambassador Wladamir Klitschko, security consultant Chelsea Manning, Alibaba.com’s Kuo Zhang, and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.
