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Web Summit

Web Summit runs the world’s largest technology events, connecting people and ideas that change the world.

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About us

Web Summit was founded in Dublin in 2009 by Paddy Cosgrave. It started as a 150-person tech conference in October 2009. Since 2009, Web Summit has gathered together over a million business people from around the world. Its flagship event is Web Summit in Lisbon, which takes place every November. During the year, Web Summit now hosts events around the world, including Web Summit Rio in South America, Web Summit Qatar in the Middle East, Collision and Web Summit Vancouver in North America, and RISE in Asia.

Web Summit’s mission has been to create software that enables meaningful connections between the CEOs, founders, investors, media, politicians and cultural figureheads who are reshaping the world.

Our timeline

Year on Year Growth Chart of Web Summit
Year on year growth of Web Summit

Our global events

Map highlighting the locations of our main events: Web Summit in Lisbon, Web Summit Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Web Summit Qatar in Doha, Web Summit Vancouver in Canada, Collision in Toronto and RISE in Hong Kong, and our head office in Dublin
Map highlighting the locations of our main events: Web Summit in Lisbon, Web Summit Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Web Summit Qatar in Doha, Web Summit Vancouver in Canada, Collision in Toronto and RISE in Hong Kong, and our head office in Dublin

They’ve spoken at our events

Elon Musk
Elon Musk
FounderSpaceX
Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Tennis Player
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds
Actor & Owner
Sam Altman
Sam Altman
CEOOpenAI
Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen
PresidentEuropean Commission
Marques Brownlee
Marques Brownlee
YouTuber & Podcaster
Olena Zelenska
Olena Zelenska
The First Lady of UkraineUkraine
Reed Hastings
Reed Hastings
Co-founder & Executive ChairmanNetflix
HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan
HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan
QueenKingdom of Jordan
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Theoretical physicistCambridge University
Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher
Editor-at-largeRecode
Bono
Bono
Musician & ActivistU2
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Author
António Guterres
António Guterres
Secretary-GeneralUnited Nations
Melanie Perkins
Melanie Perkins
Co-founder & CEOCanva

Some partners from our 2024 events

The Web Summit blog

Beltrao Coelho stand during day one of Web Summit 2021 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon

Big ideas from the worlds of tech, business and society.

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Community

Group picture of members of Operator Collective

We team up with local partners and initiatives to contribute to our dynamic tech ecosystem. Web Summit is defined by the diversity and inclusivity of its communities.

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Impact

Attendees enjoy the EcoLounge during day two of Web Summit 2018 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal

We are committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as guiding principles for our own sustainability initiatives.

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Work with us

Since starting out in 2009, Web Summit has grown to become “one of the world’s biggest and best conferences” (Inc.). Want to be part of the talented team behind it all?

 

Check out our careers page

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