PITCH
PITCH is our startup competition, bringing together the world’s leading early-stage companies for a live pitching battle. 105 of the strongest contenders will be pitted against each other to be crowned the PITCH champion.
Your startup journey
Startups at Web Summit benefit from networking opportunities with top investors and industry experts, masterclasses, competitions and Mentor Hours. Our initiatives are designed with your goals in mind.
Apply for our 2025 startup program, and join us next year in Lisbon.
What’s on offer to participating startups?
Attendees from across the globe, investors from the world’s biggest funds, top journalists and tech’s most visionary founders. You’ll find them at Web Summit.
Successful applicants to our ALPHA startup programme receive three tickets to Web Summit with full access to curated content, access to investor meetings, eligibility to apply for PITCH, masterclasses and more.
Startup activations at Web Summit
Find out more
Startup Showcase
Startup Showcase is startups’ opportunity to show off their big, new ideas. Bringing together companies from a range of industries, it shines a spotlight on their company and their vision to our attendees, investors, and international media.
Find out more
40 words
40 words gives founders a platform to introduce their company, outline their next move, or tell us why they’re ready to take off – all in just 40 words.
Mentor Hours
Mentor Hours are a series of pre-scheduled, 45-minute group meetings between our high-level attendees and startups. It’s designed to foster both individual and collective growth.
Startups and investors
Web Summit x Crunchbase funding report
$60 billion raised, with cleantech leading the funding race among startups
October 30, 2024 - 14 min read
Compete to win PITCH
Showcase your business
Meet your next investor
Accepted to our startup programme? Time to get to work
Complete your startup profile
Your startup profile is key to visibility at Web Summit and will be featured on the website and app. This is the place to showcase your product pitch, complete with links to your website and social media presence. What’s your USP? Share it with our attendees.
Apply for startup activations
There are a number of unique startup activations at Web Summit, including PITCH, Startup Showcase and Mentor Hours. Depending on your goals, you may want to apply for some or all of these. Our Web Summit startup success team helps you choose what’s best for you.
Meet with investors
Get organising. High-potential startups meet with leading investors in a series of 15-minute, pre-scheduled meetings specially designed to give their startup an edge. This is where you’ll get insider advice on making your startup irresistible to potential investors.
Sessions and Masterclasses
These dedicated startup forums allow you to gain valuable business advice, learn directly from tech executives, decision makers, accelerators and incubators, and attend extensive, in-depth discussions from industry leaders. What will you go to?
Some of our startup alumni
Maria Hahn
CEO, Nutrix | PITCH winner
Switzerland
I’ve pitched to the public before, but the size of the PITCH audience is very impressive.
Ronaldo Cohin
CEO, Jade Autism | PITCH winner
Brazil
In 2024 was very nice to go back. We’re planning on going to every Web Summit event from now on. Now, it’s part of our company’s journey. Web Summit events will forever be in our hearts.
Aaron Cassorla
Co-founder and CEO, Omnix
Chile
These events are much more than simple conferences or networking meetings, they are true catalysts for opportunities. The energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and inspiration is guaranteed.
Join Web Summit
Apply for our 2025 startup program, and join us next year in Lisbon.