A closer look at Web Summit 2025
00 WEB SUMMIT
The event is enormous, with so many people, stages, and meetups happening at once. The key is knowing what to focus on to actually get something out of it.
Earlier this month, our business development team joined more than 70,000 people at Web Summit in Lisbon, one of the world’s largest gatherings of startups, investors and tech professionals.
The conference was massive, featuring 14 active stages, countless meetups and thousands of companies. Around 300 attendees came from Croatia, highlighting the growing presence of our local tech community. The official Web Summit app helped with networking and scheduling meetings, but at this scale, it was easy to feel overwhelmed without a clear plan.
This was our first time at the event.
I’d say this is an event mainly for startups. Everyone is here to present new ideas, apps, or solutions and it’s exciting to see what people are developing.
Mirela Miškić, Head of Business Development
02 key takeaways
What worked for us
What stood out for us was getting a sense of what’s “next” in tech. Lots of new ideas and startups, especially in AI. It was interesting to see what’s being developed, spot potential collaborators and get a feel for where the innovation is moving.
The networking opportunities were also notable. We didn’t just meet developers and engineers, but also marketers, entrepreneurs, investors and creatives. Having such a mix of perspectives made for some really interesting conversations.
On top of that, it was useful to see how other companies present themselves and their products, how pitches are delivered, and what seems to catch investors’ or visitors’ attention, all of which gives a better sense of how Enterwell’s approach and value proposition compares in the wider market.
Challenges we spotted
One of the main challenges we noticed was just how easy it is to get overwhelmed without clear goals. With so many people, booths and sessions, it’s all too easy to end up “just browsing” without coming away with anything concrete.
The sheer volume of pitches and investor activity also makes it clear that getting noticed, or securing meaningful follow-up, takes preparation, conciseness and clarity. Simply being present isn’t enough.
Another thing that became obvious quickly is that trying to follow multiple talks or stages at the same time is basically impossible. There’s constant overlap, so it’s much more effective to pick a few high-value sessions or focus on networking and meetups if your main goal is business development.
03 tips&tricks
What we recommend for attending
- Set clear objectives: decide in advance which sectors or contacts are most relevant.
- Reach out using the app early: try to secure meetings before the event starts.
- Keep pitches concise and relevant: clear messaging stands out in a crowded environment.
- Balance formal sessions with informal networking: some of the most useful conversations happen outside the stages.
- Follow up promptly: contacts fade quickly without timely follow-up.
Attending Web Summit 2025 gave us a sense of large-scale tech events, highlighting the importance of preparation, focus and networking strategy. While the event did not directly generate new business opportunities, it helped the team understand the environment and plan better for future.
At the end, we got to see and experience Lisbon in the fall. Which is a treat on its own.
