We didn't know if it would be entertaining, instructive, interesting, exhausting, or a complete waste of our time. We thought it would probably be a mix of all of those things. Amidst the 60’000 attendees, the 1’500 startups, the 2’000 journalists, and the 1’000 or so speakers, we tuned our mindsets to low expectations and constructive optimism. Now, that is exactly what one needs at these Web Summit events. For some context, here is how we got in. We signed up because their Web Summit ALPHA Program offer was compelling: 850 euros for 3 attendees + a booth for one day. Pricing seduced us going.

After sending our application, we quickly received a request for a call from a Web Summit Startup Team coordinator. I took the call without really knowing what it was about. Basically, you pitch your company and justify your development stages, and that’s about it. We were accepted, but seeing the sheer number of ALPHA’s attending, I now know my wit and my unparalleled orator skills made little difference in their decision to take us in. You then receive access to your company profile which you fill up with information relevant to your team and your activities. Typical.
Noted the alpha portal: https://websummit.com/startups

You have one attendee database accessible in 2 ways: via the web and the mobile app. The web version is useless because search queries only parse company names, locations, and industries but not descriptions or attendee bios. Here’s how ridiculous this is: typing the word “Music” will retrieve more German companies from Munich than companies involved in Music. Munich and Music starting with the same letters are the obvious culprits here.

The mobile app solves this issue: searches look company descriptions allowing us to find companies we are related to, but it barely goes beyond that. Upon creating your profile on the Web Summit website for the first time, you choose a series of pre-existing tags to designate your interests.

I thought the event was good and well organized. It is often criticized for being a cash cow but it serves its main purpose well: putting tons of key people from specific industries in the same place at the same time. These events are first and foremost businesses, so no use blaming them for making a profit. Their product is the convenience of meeting people face to face in an awesome location, and Lisbon is indeed an awesome location. This is a must-see capital: reeks of old Europe, cobblestones everywhere, medieval castles on hilltops, great wines, great food, vibrant nightlife, 5 euro Mojitos, modern infrastructures, old-school cable cars, and the beach-like environment provided by the Tagus.

The thing about Web Summit is that although it is focused on tech, it manages to do a good job at not making you realize it is unfocused. You are going to Web Summit out of curiosity, not opportunity. You are going not to sign contracts but to fill your head with ideas and your LinkedIn with new contacts. This conveys a rather laidback atmosphere.

Upshots to this are numerous, and one that stood out for us was the opportunity to meet high-profile people from the music industry and take the time to have real discussions with them. Because industry players are fragmented at Web Summit and no concrete agendas are at stake, you can land meetings with people that would be harder to get a hold of at regular specialized conferences.

So should you go to Web Summit?

Depends on tons of variables, but my gut feeling tends towards yes if you need a high of inspiration and motivation. Being confronted by such a crowd is inspiring (also depends on your mindset). Will we go back next year? I don’t see any reason to. Going for the first time promises a refreshing experience if you go prepared, but going twice is overkill in my humble opinion, unless you get invited as a speaker in which case 1) you get paid to come, 2) you don’t have to deal with waiting in line for 30 minutes every bloody time you go in and out of the conference areas and 3) you probably sip champagne every time you’re thirsty.

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