"Web Summit is now the largest gathering of entrepreneurs."
– Inc.
Startup? Apply for our 2024 startup programme.
Our startup programme – ALPHA – shines a spotlight on early-stage startups with outstanding potential, connecting them with the world’s most influential people and companies.
Applications for 2024 are now open.
These investors attend
Neil Shen
Founding Managing PartnerSequoia Capital
Aileen Lee
Founder & PartnerCowboy Ventures
Alexis Ohanian
Co-founderSeven Seven Six
Vinod Khosla
FounderKhosla Ventures
Rebecca Lynn
Co-founder & General PartnerCanvas Ventures
Beezer Clarkson
Managing DirectorSapphire Ventures
Peter Thiel
ChairmanFounders Fund
Dana Settle
Founding PartnerGreycroft
Annie Lamont
Co-Founder and Managing PartnerOak HC/FT
Jan Hammer
General PartnerIndex Ventures
Connie Chan
General PartnerAndreessen Horowitz
Renata Quintini
Co-founderRenegade Partners
Ray Dalio
Founder, Co-Chief Investment Officer & Co-ChairmanBridgewater Associates
Nisa Leung
Managing PartnerQiming Venture Partners
Hans Tung
Managing PartnerGGV Capital
Amy Wu
PartnerMenlo Ventures
Jeff Jordan
General PartnerAndreessen Horowitz
Theresia Gouw
Co-founder & Managing ParterAcrew Capital
Nigel Morris
Managing Partner & Co-FounderQED Investors
Edith Yeung
General PartnerRace Capital
Reid Hoffman
Co-founderLinkedIn
Hemant Taneja
Managing PartnerGeneral Catalyst
Eileen Burbidge
DirectorFertifa
Shailesh Lakhani
Managing DirectorPeak XV
Wesley Chan
Co-founder & Managing PartnerFPV VenturesWhat 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 our ALPHA startup programme
"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 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.
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 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.
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.