Web Summit Vancouver debuts with record-breaking 1,108 startups from 117 countries

Top stats:

• Web Summit welcomes 15,727 attendees from 117 countries to Vancouver. 
• 1,108 startups from 64 countries are exhibiting. The number marks a record for any first-year Web Summit event, with a global mix that includes Canada, the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Nigeria, Germany, India, Brazil, Bangladesh, Ukraine, and more.
• 44% of startups are women-founded, highlighting strong female representation in the global startup ecosystem.
• 159 partners, including industry leaders like Microsoft, Mastercard, Fujitsu, IBM, Talkdesk, and Figma, along with 681 investors from funds such as Thiel Capital, Khosla Ventures, 500 Global, and Initialized Capital. 
• A record 50 trade delegations from every corner of the globe, including South Korea, Turkiyë, Ukraine, and Nigeria, are in Vancouver to connect, invest, and collaborate. 
• 550 media professionals are covering every moment as 345 speakers take the stage to share what’s next in tech. Media outlets represented include The Guardian, The Financial Times, Forbes, Al Jazeera, BetaKit, Korea IT Times, Nikkei, Radio Canada, CTV, and China News Service.
• 88 dedicated, individually-curated group meetups are taking place, powered by Web Summit’s proprietary Summit Engine software, which uses attendee profiles to send personalized invitations and foster networking.

27 May 2025; Paddy Cosgrave, CEO & Founder, Web Summit, on centre stage during opening night at Web Summit Vancouver 2025 at Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada. Photo by Sam Barnes/Web Summit via Sportsfile

“We’re at a pivotal moment in history – technology is advancing faster than ever, transforming how we live, work, and connect. The world is also changing, from a unipolar world to a multipolar world. And everyone’s asking: What will our future look like? And that’s why many are here. Web Summit is a window into our shared, increasingly technology-driven future. Over the next few days, we’ll welcome more than 15,000 attendees from over 100 countries, including thousands of startups”, said Web Summit founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave.

Web Summit Vancouver brings global audience and record startup turnout

Web Summit Vancouver welcomes 15,727 attendees from 117 countries, including the US, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, South Korea, Nigeria, India, Ghana, Qatar, Spain, and China. A record 1,108 startups from 64 countries are exhibiting, the highest ever for a first-year Web Summit event. Top industries represented include AI and machine learning, SaaS, healthtech and wellness, fintech and financial services, and sustainability and cleantech.

Startups see major funding after Web Summit events

Web Summit events continue to serve as a powerful launchpad for startups. Data from Crunchbase shows that companies which participated in last year’s Collision, Web Summit’s former North American event in Toronto, have raised a combined $1.2 billion in the 12 months since. 

681 investors join Web Summit Vancouver

Startups at Web Summit Vancouver are here to connect with a wide network of partners and investors, including global firms like Thiel Capital, Kholsa Ventures, 500 Global, and Initialized Capital, along with angel investors and corporate backers such as Deloitte Ventures and GO Ventures.

27 May 2025; Jay Graber, CEO, Bluesky; Katie Drummond, Global Editorial Director, WIRED, on centre stage during opening night at Web Summit Vancouver 2025 at Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada. Photo by Sam Barnes/Web Summit via Sportsfile

550 media join Web Summit Vancouver to listen to 345 speakers 

Web Summit Vancouver is drawing significant media interest, with 550 members of the media from across Canada and around the world in attendance. Media outlets represented include The Financial Times, The Guardian, China News Service, Daily Hive, Al Jazeera, Cheddar News, Korea IT Times, CTV, Radio Canada, MIT Technology Review, and Forbes.

On stage, 345 speakers will explore the future of technology, spanning AI, climate tech, fintech, and more.

Opening night featured leading voices shaping the global tech conversation. Gary Marcus, professor, bestselling author, and founder of Geometric Intelligence (acquired by Uber), spoke about the state of artificial intelligence and the path forward for the industry.

Meanwhile, Bluesky CEO Jay Graber, who leads the decentralized social media platform, spoke about whether open networks can truly reshape social media in the post-Musk era — and what’s next as Bluesky takes on the likes of X and Threads.

27 May 2025; Attendees arrive before opening night at Web Summit Vancouver 2025 at Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada. Photo by Sam Barnes/Web Summit via Sportsfile

44% of startups are female-founded 

In a powerful demonstration of Web Summit’s commitment to ensuring opportunity is available to all, 44% of all startups at Web Summit Vancouver have at least one female founder. Web Summit supports women in tech through mentorship programs, curated networking, and discounted tickets for female attendees.

The event also collaborates with a diverse group of community partners to increase representation of traditionally underrepresented groups in tech. Partners at Web Summit Vancouver include PORCH Community, Scale Without Borders, Black Engineers of Canada, TOAST, The Forum, Vancouver Startup Week, and Latincouver. These partnerships help shape inclusive programming and foster meaningful connections.

In addition, six Impact Masterclasses led by community partners explore key topics such as Indigenous tech, digital rights, immigrant tech talent, and women in leadership. Web Summit is also running an Indigenous Attendee Program to highlight First Nations, Inuit, and Métis entrepreneurs and build stronger, more respectful relationships with Indigenous communities in Canada.

50 trade delegations

Web Summit Vancouver welcomes a record 50 trade delegations from around the world, including representatives from South Korea, Austria, Turkiyë, Ukraine, Colombia, Japan, and more. The strong turnout highlights growing momentum around global tech collaboration in the wake of shifting global trade alliances, significantly up from last year’s Collision in Toronto.

Notable delegations such as Startup Portugal, City of Lisbon, Italian Trade Agency, Enterprise Greece, KOTRA, and Uruguay XXI are presenting up-and-coming startups, many featured on dedicated Partner Startup Islands. Canadian regional groups like Ville de Montréal, Invest Nova Scotia, and the Government of Yukon are also taking part, aiming to open new international business channels.

While trade delegations are a familiar part of Web Summit’s global events, this year’s scale reflects a marked rise in cross-border interest, with both governments and entrepreneurs looking to expand their global reach.

27 May 2025; Attendees at Night Summit following opening night at Web Summit Vancouver 2025 at Bentall Centre in Vancouver, Canada. Photo by Sam Barnes/Web Summit via Sportsfile

88 personalized meetups

Web Summit Vancouver is hosting 88 dedicated, curated meetups designed to spark conversations and connect attendees with shared interests. These sessions are curated using Web Summit’s proprietary Summit Engine, which analyzes attendee profiles to send personalized invitations based on industry, expertise, and community ties. Attendees can also join meetups through the app, space permitting.

This year’s meetups cover a wide range of topics, including quantum optimization, AI ethics, entrepreneurs in entertainment, music and tech innovators, AI in healthcare, and gaming.

In addition to industry themes, there are also meetups connecting attendees from different regions, with dedicated gatherings for communities from China, the USA, Italy, and beyond, fostering international exchange and cross-border collaboration.