Lisbon, Portugal - Web Summit 2023, held in Lisbon, Portugal, saw a record attendance of more than 70,000 people from 153 countries.
This turnout reflects the technology industry's expanding global reach and influence across continents.
Why It Matters:
Since Paddy Cosgrave's tweet about the Israel-Hamas conflict, there has been a growing boycott of Web Summit by major tech companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Intel.
Web Summit changed its CEO, but the market wondered if the event could be run properly.
The Key Figures
- Record attendance: More than 70,000 attendees from 153 countries demonstrated the growth of the global technology industry.
- Startup Showcase: 2,608 startups from 93 countries across 30+ industries exhibited, demonstrating the importance of the event for emerging companies.
- Gender Diversity: Women represented 43% of attendees and over 30% of exhibiting founders, highlighting progress in gender equality.
- Investor engagement: Over 900 investors participated in more than 1,180 meetings, with a growing focus on environmental impact in investment decisions.
What They Say:
Katherine Maher, CEO of Web Summit, discussed the conference's role in driving innovation and collaboration in the technology industry.
She noted the event's historic importance in connecting business leaders, investors, and innovators.
The Next
The conference's growth and diverse agenda solidify its position as the world's leading technology forum.
With speakers such as Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales and Alibaba President Kuo Zhang, the agenda ranged from cutting-edge technology to social issues.
