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.
Begin your journey with Web Summit by joining our ALPHA startup programme.
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 to Startup meetings, eligibility to apply for PITCH, masterclasses and more.
Startup activations at Web Summit
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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.
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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.
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. Your Web Summit startup success rep helps you choose what’s best for you.
Investor to startup meetings
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, Masterclasses and Roundtables
These three 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
Applications for 2024 are open.