As an organisation, a global event series, and a network bringing world leaders and entrepreneurs together, we strive to empower our staff and community to work towards a more sustainable future. We’re dedicated to contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We’re committed to making our events more diverse and inclusive by fostering networking opportunities, building mentorship programmes, and increasing diversity and inclusion at our events through targeted community ticketing initiatives.
Since 2022, for example, our Indigenous Attendee Program has amplified the voices of Indigenous communities to help build a more inclusive tech ecosystem.
With the help of our women in tech programme, we have increased the number of women at our events from 25 percent of attendees in 2013 to a steady 42 percent. We want to grow from there in 2023 and beyond.
We believe sustainable consumption is crucial to conserving the climate. To that end, we have effectively eliminated single-use plastics from our events.
Our stages are built using sustainable materials that are redistributed and reused after the event concludes.
We also aim to reduce food waste at our events. Where limited food waste is unavoidable, we redistribute it through partner organisations such as Zero Desperdicio.
Food redistributed to organisations across our events in Lisbon and Toronto in 2022
Single-use (500ml) water bottles eliminated as a result of our refillable water stations in 2022
CO2 avoided as a result of our food redistribution in Europe and North America in 2022
We celebrate emerging companies striving to achieve the UN SDGs. Every year, hundreds of startups take part in our Impact initiative.
Our planet:tech stage showcases the world’s leading innovators, companies and activists as they discuss solutions to the global environmental crisis.
Since 2021, Web Summit has been an official nominator of the Earthshot Prize, a global environmental reward initiative designed to help repair our planet.
Every year through our developer programme, we distribute complimentary Web Summit tickets to the most active developers and open-source contributors in our network.
Our learning and development team at Web Summit provides weekly training, classes and guidance for all employees.
Our scholarship programme unites up to 300 students and recent graduates who demonstrate an ambition to change the future.
Web Summit is dedicated to providing an enjoyable, respectful and safe experience for everyone.
We have 200 employees based in Ireland – nearly 60 percent of a global workforce of almost 320 people.
The Portugal-based Web Summit team has grown from four members of staff to 90 in six years, and the Lisbon office hosts team members of 12 nationalities.
We have enhanced Ireland-based benefits, including increased annual leave, employer pension contributions, and a wellbeing benefit that provides financial supports for long-term sick leave.
We have fully embraced a hybrid working model, globally, giving employees flexibility to choose whether to work in the office or from home.
At each of our events, in each of our host cities, we source local contractors to assist us in the build and running of our events, thereby supporting local jobs and enterprise.
In 2021, Web Summit became a signatory of Lisbon’s Corporate Mobility Pact – an initiative focused on improving and transforming city mobility.
In 2020, Web Summit donated €1 million to support Covid-19 response projects in Ireland and Portugal.
– The Atlantic
– Politico
