Web Summit is Europe’s biggest tech conference – and you have to be there to appreciate the sheer scale of the operation.
There are more than 1,000 speakers across dozens of stages alongside pitching sessions, masterclasses and roundtables focused on technology and business knowledge.
And that’s just what is scheduled. More than 71,000 people walked through the gates in Lisbon in 2024 – almost the size of a home crowd at Old Trafford – sparking millions of conversations, connections and deals away from the bright lights.
So what is it really like to be there? And how can you stand out in a crowd?
They say a picture tells a thousand words – so here is the story of my Web Summit so far in pictures.
An accident on the motorway cut things fine in getting to Manchester Airport for the flight… but I found time to take this pic before legging it for the plane!
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was on the flight. Our story of the star helping a passenger struggling with a health emergency went viral around the world – it was even on the Portuguese TV news! Bruno is pictured here with OneFile and Circle of Trust founder Susanna Lawson, Heather Waters of GM Business Growth Hub and Howard Simms, business advisor and co-founder of Apadmi… and United and Portugal team-mate Diogo Dalot
Outside the main entrance on day one with Daniella Russo, head of client services at MP&Co
Donning BusinessCloud merch (briefly… it was 20 degrees) inside the mammoth complex
Listening to Danielle Belton, editor-in-chief at the Huffington Post, discuss the future of traditional media – and Donald Trump – with The Independent CEO Christian Broughton
The audience for their talk
Networking with Patrick Smith of Zally and Nicole Lowe of KPMG Emerging Giants at the first Night Summit event
Howard Simms with Kellie Noon of GM Business Growth Hub – which has taken its ASCEND cohort to Web Summit – unwind at the end of a long day
Some of the ASCEND cohort in Lisbon’s Time Out market with hit podcaster David Savage of Tech Talks
Susanna Lawson and her Circle of Trust co-founder Tracy Johnson meet up with Active Profile founder Anna Heyes
Amman Ahmed discusses bootstrapping his company Music For Pets – since exited to a firm in Los Angeles – on stage
Sean Brown of Versori speaking at Web Summit
A delegation from the West Midlands. Sadly the region was beaten to the European Capital of Innovation Awards crown by Italian city Turin
Meeting the inspirational serial entrepreneur Manon Dave, who has founded companies with Idris Elba and will.i.am. Stay tuned for the write-up
FinTech talk on one of the many stages at Web Summit
Is that a pink lady? Felix Robinson of Pet Trust UK and Patrick Smith show me how to stand out in a crowd. Smith told me he had dozens of connections and selfies as a result of his trainers
What’s new, pussycat? These gals also know how to grab attention in a tech conference
Chatting with FundMyPitch founder Steven Mooney
GM Business Growth Hub folk about to scatter and network like crazy
Lowering my selfie game with Lindsay Hong, CEO & co-founder of London MarTech SmartAssets
The KPMG Global Tech Innovator finalists take to the stage on Wednesday night. And the winner is…
… Rudder Wu, CTO of Thermalytica!