DigitalMara joined the global business and tech community at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon, engaging in four days of communication and valuable insights. This year’s summit highlighted groundbreaking advancements in AI, automation, and sustainability. Our team returned with fresh perspectives and meaningful new connections. Here’s a brief follow-up.
Key facts about Web Summit 2024
- The event continues to grow in popularity, with organizers reporting 71,528 attendees from 153 countries.
- The number of exhibiting startups surpassed last year’s numbers and set a record. Highlights include 250 startups from the USA, 300 from the UK, 300 from Germany, 170 from Spain, and 50 from Serbia.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the most represented industry at the summit. Notably, 43% of investors believe that AI and Machine Learning will be the most disruptive technologies in the next 5–10 years.
- The Web Summit hosted 62 trade delegations representing 36 countries. Numerous country and city stands at the exhibition served as platforms to attract new partners and investments.
- The event emphasized equity and inclusivity: 42% of attendees, 37% of speakers, and 44% of startup founders were women.
- Notable partners exhibiting at the event included IBM, Adobe, Meta, Huawei, SAP, Dell, Qualcomm, Visa, American Express, Niantic, PitchBook, EDP, and KPMG.
As an influential event, the conference placed significant emphasis on how technology is addressing critical global challenges such as climate change, healthcare, and education. A substantial portion of startups and investors participated in the Web Summit under the Impact Program, which supports sustainable development goals. Key areas of focus included AgriTech, CleanTech, and renewable energy.
This year, the Web Summit hosted hundreds of community meetups across Lisbon, powered by their Summit Engine. This initiative reflected their renewed focus on fostering meaningful communities through meetups centered around shared backgrounds, interests, and goals. Participants had the opportunity to forge truly valuable connections.
Intuitivo, a Portuguese startup, emerged as the winner of Web Summit’s prestigious PITCH competition, outperforming 105 other startups, including U.S.-based finalists GovGPT and Scoutz. Intuitivo is revolutionizing education by automating the creation and grading of assessments, saving teachers 40% of their time and benefiting more than 300,000 students worldwide.
AI
Speakers highlighted AI’s transformative potential to revolutionize industries through innovations like predictive analytics and intelligent automation. However, they also stressed the critical importance of building trust and ensuring transparency in AI applications. Ethical concerns, including algorithmic bias and the misuse of AI-generated data, were central to the discussions, with experts advocating for greater accountability and the establishment of clear guidelines to foster user confidence.
Automation
The discourse on automation focused on its ability to streamline operations and boost productivity across industries. Speakers highlighted the importance of addressing the socio-economic implications, particularly concerning workforce displacement. They also advocated for proactive measures, such as reskilling programs and supportive policies, to facilitate a smooth transition for affected workers.
Sustainability
The integration of sustainable practices emerged as a critical theme, with discussions highlighting the role of technology in driving environmental responsibility. Innovations in CleanTech and AI were presented as pivotal in advancing sustainability goals, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts between the tech industry and policymakers to foster a sustainable future.
DigitalMara
Our team Kseniya Litvinchuk, COO, and Maryia Zhurba, Head of Technology Partnerships, attended Web Summit and shared their impressions:
“Web Summit is an excellent venue for meaningful networking and collaboration. Engaging with diverse professionals and thought leaders allowed us to forge connections that will drive future partnerships and opportunities.”
“Attending the Web Summit provides a clear view of where industries are headed, as it brings together cutting-edge technological products and services, key challenges, and innovative solutions with transformative potential.”
Our team engaged with a vibrant community of innovators, forming meaningful relationships that hold the potential to evolve into impactful collaborations. We explored exhibits from various companies and discovered startups showcasing groundbreaking ideas. The experience at the Web Summit was enriching and highly impactful.
