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
Startup? Join us at Web Summit 2025
ALPHA shines a spotlight on early-stage startups with outstanding potential, connecting them with the world’s most influential people and companies.
Apply for our 2025 startup program, and join us next year in Lisbon.
These investors have attended our events
Pär-Jörgen Pärson
PartnerNorthzone
Katelin Holloway
Founding PartnerSeven Seven Six
Pedro Santos Vieira
Partner500 Global
Kanu Gulati
PartnerKhosla Ventures
Marjut Falkstedt
Chief ExecutiveEuropean Investment Fund
Zach Coelius
FounderCoelius Capital
Craig Douglas
Founding PartnerWorld Fund
Cristina Fonseca
Managing PartnerIndico Capital Partners
Jordan Noone
Co-Founder & GPEmbedded Ventures
Magdi Amin
Founder & Managing PartnerAfrican Renaissance Ventures
Ertan Can
Managing PartnerMultiple Capital
Cara Tobin
PartnerClean Energy Ventures
Edith Yeung
General PartnerRace Capital
Moritz Jungmann
PartnerFuture Energy Ventures
Nanna Andersen
Chief of New Growth & VenturesH&M GroupWhat is the Web Summit startup programme?
Our startup programme – ALPHA – offers you the chance to join a global community of startups. You’ll get three tickets to Web Summit, access to Investor to Startup meetings, and be eligible to apply for PITCH competition, Startup masterclasses, Mentor Hours and more.
Some of our startup alumni
They attend and report
“The networking at Web Summit is like no other tech conference.”
“The connections you make at Web Summit are unparalleled. We met users from all over the world.”
“The Oscars for startups in Europe.”
Join Web Summit
Apply for our 2025 startup program, and join us next year in Lisbon.
"Web Summit is now the largest gathering of entrepreneurs."
– Inc.
"The world’s biggest tech event."
– Euronews
"The largest technology conference in the world.”
– Forbes
What happens when I apply?
Chat to our specialist team
One of our startup experts will be in touch to discuss your company, goals and objectives for Web Summit.
Assessment and selection
Our team dedicates countless hours to finding the most exciting, high-potential startups to join our events.
Prepare with our startup success team
Your dedicated startup success manager will work with you to help guide you through the startup journey and get the best out of attending Web Summit.
Time for Web Summit
Now for the main event Take part in PITCH, our startup battle; Mentor Hours, our advisory sessions with business leaders; investor to startup meetings, and more.
Startup activations at Web Summit
PITCH
PITCH is our startup competition that brings together the world’s leading startups for a live pitching battle. 105 of our strongest startups will be pitted against each other in a battle to be crowned the champion.
Startup Masterclasses
Learn directly from tech’s leading investors, accelerators, incubators and executives. Startup masterclasses cover the essential elements of startup success, from building a winning pitch deck and startup PR to harnessing the corporate innovation explosion.
Mentor Hours
Mentor Hours are a series of pre-scheduled, 45-minute group meetings between our high-level attendees and startups. It’s carefully designed to foster both individual and collective growth.
Investor to startup meetings
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 investors.