Retrospective from InTech’s journey at Web Summit 2023

Lisbon hosted the Web Summit 2023 from November 13th to 16th, and yes, was it a hit! With a whopping 70,000+ folks from 150+ countries in attendance, the event was a hot hub of conversations on cutting-edge tech, business wizardry, and societal shifts. It was like a global brainstorm, and the buzz was off the charts!

As InTech.am’s Editor, I attended the Web Summit this year, bearing witness to an array of splendid events and insightful speaker sessions. This allowed me for meaningful connections with various tech startups and companies, fostering the potential for valuable partnerships. I returned from the summit equipped with a wealth of ideas and promising collaborative opportunities. Now, let’s dive into the juicier details from the media’s perspective.

What were the highlights at Websummit 2023

• AI and the Future of Work: Artificial intelligence (AI) took center stage, sparking discussions on its impact across the workforce, healthcare, and various facets of daily life. Esteemed leaders from industry giants such as Google, DeepMind, and IBM shared perspectives on the responsible development and deployment of AI.
• Focus on Sustainability and Climate Change: This year’s summit placed a robust emphasis on sustainability and climate change, featuring dedicated talks and panels led by leading experts. Attendees gained insights into the pivotal role of technology in addressing these pressing global challenges.
• Web3 and the Metaverse: The ascent of Web3 and the metaverse captured considerable attention, with sessions delving into the potential of blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi), and virtual realms. Experts engaged in discussions exploring both the opportunities and challenges inherent in these rapidly emerging technologies.
• Inspiring Keynotes: The summit boasted an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, including Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla and SpaceX), Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), and Melinda Gates (co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). These visionary leaders shared their insights into the future and challenged the audience to think expansively.

The Atmosphere

The Web Summit 2023 exuded vibrancy and energy, drawing attendees from around the globe to converge for networking, learning, and inspiration. The prevailing atmosphere was one of excitement and optimism, echoing a shared belief in technology’s potential to address and overcome global challenges.

AI was all over the place! Even though super smart tech stuff was happening with artificial intelligence, it got a bit boring and repetitive very often. Not saying you should ignore this tech trend, but perhaps now’s when old-school and non-AI topics start to shine, giving off a cool nostalgic vibe 🙂

Startup Showcase

Web Summit 2023 was a pivotal event for startups, and the Startup Showcase was a highlight. This platform provided a unique opportunity for innovative companies to pitch their ideas to a global audience of investors, media, and industry leaders.

From my point of view, this stage was the most impressive and substantial, as I encountered hundreds of impactful ideas that I’m confident will succeed in the near future.

What do startups get from the Startup Showcase?

Diverse Range of Industries: Startups from various sectors, including AI, fintech, healthtech, and sustainability, showcased their groundbreaking solutions.

Focus on Impact: Many of the featured startups were addressing pressing global challenges, demonstrating a commitment to making a positive difference.

Investment Opportunities: The event attracted significant interest from investors, leading to potential funding deals for several promising startups.

Media Exposure: Being from the tech media industry I can certainly emphasize this point․ The Startup Showcase provided startups with valuable media exposure, helping to raise their profiles and attract customers.

A record-breaking 2,608 startups from 93 countries will present their innovations and the future of business over the next three days. Selected from thousands of applicants, these promising startups span more than 30 different industries.

With Armenian traces at Web Summit 2023

In the scope of this narrative, my perspective as a media representative hailing from Armenia naturally heightened my intrigue towards the participation of Armenian companies and startups with roots in Armenia at the Web Summit.

Although Armenia lacked an official national pavilion at WebSummit, I encountered numerous Armenian tech enterprises scattered throughout the exhibition halls. These ranged from fledgling startups to well-established companies, each showcasing cutting-edge innovations and products. The absence of a centralized Armenian presence didn’t diminish the impact of these individual exhibitors, who demonstrated the country’s growing influence in the global tech landscape.

Their diverse array of projects spanned various sectors, highlighting Armenia’s potential as an emerging hub for technological innovation.

Humanize Global

Humanize is a technology company that aims to combat modern social issues like stress, loneliness, anxiety, and polarization. Their unique approach uses the Humanize App to facilitate partner-based mental practices, specifically:

• The Humanize Dyad: A short, 15-minute daily practice based on social neuroscience.
• Foundation Dyad Program: A 9-week science-based course.

Key features:

• Utilizes technology to foster genuine human connections
• Focuses on building resilience, empathy, compassion, and social connectedness
• Offers a secure online platform for practice
• Already has hundreds of active users (“Dyadists”)

Humanize’s core philosophy is using “healthy technology” to cultivate real-world connections through brief, structured mental exercises with a partner.

Evolver

Evolver is a company specializing in advanced 3D scanning and digitization services. Their core offering includes:

• Creating highly detailed, interactive virtual models of physical spaces
• Utilizing cutting-edge technologies to “virtualize the world”
• Providing immersive, engaging content that goes beyond static images or videos

Key features:

• Users can interact with the 3D models, exploring from various angles
• Navigation through virtual rooms and spaces
• Interaction with embedded data points for additional information

Target industries are Real estate, Architecture, Construction, Hospitality, Exhibitions and events.

Evolver’s unique selling point is the level of engagement and interactivity their 3D models offer, allowing users to explore and gather information in a dynamic, virtual environment.

Our Space

Our Space is an innovative startup focused on enhancing relationships through technology. Their main product is the “Our Space” app, an AI-powered mental health assistant for couples. Key features include:

• AI-powered matchmaking using advanced psychological research
• Psychology-backed insights for better self and partner understanding
• Interactive games and quizzes to improve communication
• Progress tracking for relationship growth
• Shared digital space for couples

Achievements:

• MVP available on Android
• 1000+ downloads on Google Play Store
• Presence on multiple social media platforms

The app aims to help couples communicate more effectively by providing personalized feedback and tools. Our Space’s mission is to empower individuals and couples to build and maintain fulfilling relationships using the latest advancements in AI and psychological research.

rBlox

rBlox is a cutting-edge network software company offering a fully modular network stack designed to future-proof enterprise infrastructure. Their solution complements legacy frameworks like TCP/IP while reducing complexity and increasing fault tolerance. rBlox’s innovative approach allows for customizable routing protocols, enhanced security through distributed trust establishments, and dynamic configuration of network elements.

This flexibility enables efficient resource allocation, significantly reducing operational and environmental costs. The software’s architecture improves network scalability by allowing partitioning into manageable clusters, making it ideal for large-scale deployments. rBlox prioritizes adaptability to various network environments and strengthens security through programmable authentication and encryption mechanisms at the network level. Overall, rBlox provides a comprehensive, cost-effective solution for enterprises seeking to optimize their network infrastructure for current and future needs.

Wrapping the sheet

Web Summit Lisbon continues to be a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. The event showcases a diverse array of startups and established tech companies, each bringing unique ideas and solutions to the global stage. As we look forward to next year’s gathering, it’s exciting to anticipate the new wave of cutting-edge innovations that will be presented.

Whether you’re an established player or a budding startup, Web Summit offers invaluable opportunities for networking, learning, and growth. So mark your calendars for the next Web Summit Lisbon, where we can explore groundbreaking ideas, witness the evolution of promising startups, and perhaps discover the next big technological breakthrough that will shape our future.

See you next year at Web Summit in Lisbon! Who knows, I might just pop by your booth to catch up on your latest innovations and see how far you’ve come since we last met.