Web Summit 2024, held November 11-14 in Lisbon, Portugal, reaffirmed its status as a leading global technology conference.
This year’s event attracted a record 71,528 attendees from 153 countries, including 3,050 exhibiting companies, 1,066 investors and 953 speakers.
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Key takeaways from Web Summit 2024
1. Artificial intelligence at the forefront: AI emerged as the central theme, with a 16% increase in representation compared to previous years. Discussions focused on the transformative potential of AI across various sectors, emphasizing its role in business improvement and operational efficiency.
2. Sustainability and green technology: The conference highlighted the growing importance of sustainable practices and green technologies. Startups and established companies presented innovations aimed at reducing environmental impact and promoting eco-friendly solutions.
3. Data governance and privacy: With rapid advances in AI, concerns about data governance and privacy have become significant. Experts discussed the need for strong frameworks to ensure ethical use of data and protect user privacy in an increasingly digital world.
4. Growth of the startup ecosystem: The event highlighted the vitality of the global startup ecosystem, providing a platform for emerging companies to connect with investors, industry leaders and potential partners. The PITCH competition, the culmination of the summit, brought together 105 startups vying for recognition and investment opportunities.
Promising startups at Web Summit 2024
Several startups have stood out for their innovative solutions:
Intuitive: This edutech startup based in Porto won the PITCH competition. Intuitivo offers an AI-powered platform designed to enhance educational experiences through personalized learning journeys.
Adventures: Focused on revolutionizing online education, Edventures aims to empower new entrepreneurs through immersive learning experiences using virtual reality.
Stardate: A social networking platform for astronomy enthusiasts, StarDate combines AI-based matchmaking with astrology to create meaningful, lasting connections.
pet hotels: An application that is Airbnb for animals. Swipe to find a trusted pet sitter. Already 56,000 users in Poland and the United Kingdom and the startup plans to go global
remote butler: A service that connects restaurants to a qualified network for professional remote servers via a user-friendly video calling system.
Famous Speakers at the Summit
The summit featured a series of notable speakers who shared their perspectives on technology and its intersections with various industries:
Pharrell Williams: The famous musician and entrepreneur discussed the role of creativity in technological innovation and the importance of fostering inclusive environments in the technology industry.
Tim Berners-Lee: The inventor of the World Wide Web highlighted the need for ethical considerations in the development of AI and the importance of maintaining an open and accessible Internet.
Cristiano Amon: Qualcomm CEO Amon discussed the future of mobile technology and the company’s vision for advancing AI capabilities in consumer devices.
This year again, Web Summit 2024 highlighted the dynamic interaction between technological innovation and societal needs. The focus on AI, sustainability and data governance reflects the industry’s focus on responsible and impactful advancements. The presence of promising startups highlights the continued evolution of the global technology landscape, with emerging companies poised to drive future growth and transformation.