The WEB SUMMIT in Lisbon is the most important event dedicated to the startups and innovation in Europe and, this year, after the previous one that was “virtual” due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is finally back on stage. From the 1st to the 4th of November at the Altice Arena in Lisbon you can discover innovative trends and projects.
It is the most important tech conference in the digital world; artificial intelligence, robotics, econocomy and environment, cryptocurrencies, new payment systems, marketing, startups and multinationals: you will be able to see all of these at the Web Summit.
Born from the idea of a young Irish entrepreneur, Paddy Cosgrave, who created, in Dublin, an event where you could meet the university and research sector, the industrial reality of high-tech sectors and innovative srtatups. And he was only 20.
It is an event that, over the years, has grown a lot, from the 400 presences at the first web summit to over 70 thousand of the last edition, in 2019. Nowadays, it offers to the startups the opportunity to introduce themselves to investors and corporates through the organization of meetings and fast piching sessions.
In 2016, the Web Summit moved from Dublin to the splendid Lusitanian city, not only because of the lower costs that Portugal offers, but also because during the last decades the technology sector in this country has grown significantly. The location have been confirmed until 2027, in order to led many investors and professionals to establish their headquarters in Lisbon, which has become a reference point for startups throughout Europe.
Lisbon believed and invested in the Web Summit aiming to become the European pole of innovation. Initially the Summit should remained in Portugal only until 2018 but the expiry of the contract was extended until 2028 thanks to the agreement between the Portuguese government and the organization.
And, with this in mind, during the next months, will be inaugurated the largest campus in the world dedicated to startups, the Hub Criativo do Beato: a former military area completely renovated and ready to host services like offices, laboratories, exhibition and services, an area perfectly served and equipped with infrastructure.
From the moment you arrive at the airport, the Web Summit organizational machine manifests its efficiency: the path to get to the Altice Arena is precisely marked, from the airport to the airport to the metro, with wi-fi coverage and the possibility of registering, even during the journey, in order to enter before the arrival at the arena. It eliminates the queues and the moments of greatest turnout.
The numbers are impressive, for both visitors (who pay 850 euros for a ticket) and interventions, presentations and speeches that take place simultaneously on dozens of stages.
A huge event where future meets innovation: dozens of workshops and appointments organized by the most famous companies in the world on 14 stages that often work at the same time; Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Booking, just to name a few.
Every year hundreds of internationally renowned speakers (as it was with Stephen Hawking in 2017), 70 thousand participants and over 2000 accredited journalists and media from all over the world.
In this regard, the event app helps in the management and planning of the event: a virtual assistant.
The “digital” is a universe in continuous evolution that this important event analyses from different points of view and tries to tell its facets.
Among the speakers in the 2021 edition will be Tom Taylor in charge of Amazon’s Alexa, Daniela Braga member of the United States Presidency Task Force for AI, World Football Champion Iker Casillas, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Antonio Costa will be among the 150 speakers.
A unique opportunity to keep up with the news in the industry news, to discover future and current trends, to meet new realities and, in the case of Boatsandgo, present their business idea to the world.
The Boatsandgo team will be in the Alpha area to present their startup.
If the Web Summit is an opportunity to discover new startups and find the best investments opportunity for investors, for us is a profitable networking opportunity but also it could be useful to get closer to those who were investors and creators of products and services that are changing our world.
All of this in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, full of charm and history, which we particularly love!
Translated by Biagio Vitolo
