Why it matters: The seventh edition of VivaTech, a global tech gathering held in Paris from June 14-17, closed with a record attendance of more than 150,000 visitors from 174 countries, underscoring its growing importance as a global meeting place for the technology and startup sectors.
The Key Points:
- The four-day event featured a high-profile lineup of speakers, including Elon Musk and Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff.
- It reached 919 million people on social media, generating over six billion impressions.
- This year's edition focused on critical areas such as artificial intelligence, climate tech, and diversity and inclusion in tech and also featured a particular segment on the "Future of Sport."
- At the event, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a €6 billion investment plan for startups with a positive impact and a €500 million commitment to artificial intelligence.
- The Republic of Korea, with its thriving tech ecosystem, was celebrated at VivaTech 2023. The country's Minister of SMEs and Startups, Lee Young, was among the attendees.
The Big Picture: The event signifies the vital role VivaTech plays in the global tech landscape, serving as a critical nexus for connecting startups with investment opportunities.
The conference provided a platform for more than 1,700 investment funds and recognized promising startups across Europe at the Next Unicorn Awards.
The event also hosted the AfricaTech Awards, spotlighting the most innovative startups in the Climate Tech, Health Tech, and Fintech sectors.
VivaTech, supported by major partners such as Google, BNP Paribas, and LVMH, confirmed its next edition for May 22-25, 2024, cementing its place as a hub for tech innovation and investment.
