Lisbon, Portugal – Speaking at a press conference during WebSummit 2024, CEO Paddy Cosgrave emphasized the event’s transformation and global impact, highlighting record attendance, innovative features, and its role in fostering meaningful connections among participants.
This year’s WebSummit welcomed 71,528 attendees from 153 countries, making it the largest edition to date. With 3,050 exhibiting companies, 1,066 investors, and over 953 speakers, the conference continues to solidify its reputation as the world’s premier technology gathering.
Networking Revolutionized
Meetups took center stage in this year’s event, with hundreds of curated gatherings tailored to niches ranging from robotics and manufacturing to board games and tech-savvy surfers. Cosgrave noted that meetups, integrated into the mobile app, have become a cornerstone of the Web Summit experience, fostering connections that resonate beyond the conference.
“Meetups are the heartbeat of WebSummit. Whether you’re a CTO, a startup founder, or just someone who loves tech and board games, there’s a space for you,” said Cosgrave. Attendees also engaged through WhatsApp groups, which facilitated discussions and networking, although some groups reached capacity due to high demand.
AI-Powered Accessibility
Responding to feedback, WebSummit introduced a beta feature for AI-generated talk summaries, providing condensed insights from the event’s sessions. “It’s an experimental tool, but it’s proving invaluable for attendees who can’t be everywhere at once,” Cosgrave remarked.
Lisbon’s Transformation and Global Expansion
Since moving to Lisbon in 2016, Web Summit has been instrumental in the city’s emergence as a tech hub. Cosgrave acknowledged Lisbon’s transformation from a “backpacker destination” to a global tech capital and hinted at discussions with Portuguese authorities about venue expansion and extending the event’s tenure beyond 2028.
The conference also explored opportunities to expand globally, with Africa and Asia cited as potential locations for future editions. “The growth of WebSummit in Brazil has been phenomenal, and we’re seeing similar opportunities in other regions,” Cosgrave said.
A Platform for Startups
Despite challenges in the venture capital market, Web Summit remains committed to supporting startups. The event featured a high number of bootstrapped companies, reflecting a shift towards self-funded innovation.
Porto-based Intuitivo, an education-focused digital assessment platform, emerged as the winner of the PITCH competition. The startup, already serving over 300,000 students and 35,000 teachers, stood out for its impact and scalability. “We’re making something that’s not only innovative but truly transformative,” said Intuitivo CEO João Guimarães.
Women in Tech Gains
The event celebrated progress in gender equity, with women-founded startups comprising 44% of exhibitors—a record for Web Summit. However, the accompanying Women in Tech Survey 2024 revealed persistent challenges, including pay gaps, unconscious bias, and balancing family demands with careers. The survey highlighted that while workplace conditions are improving, much work remains to achieve true equality.
Looking Ahead
As WebSummit 2024 draws to a close, its success underscores the growing appetite for innovation and collaboration across industries. With discussions of future expansions and enhancements, Web Summit continues to shape the global tech narrative, creating a space where ideas, people, and technology converge.
Cosgrave’s final remarks reflected the event’s ethos: “At its core, Web Summit is about connecting people and ideas. Whether through meetups, talks, or simply sharing a table, this is where the future is being built.”
