Web Summit is a growing international technology conference that has rapidly become "one of the world's biggest and best". As the predecessor to Toronto's highly-successful Collision conference, Web Summit Vancouver 2025 carried lofty expectations, and it did not disappoint. The event attracted over 15,000 attendees, including nearly 700 investors, between May 27th to 30th. Notably, there were a record-breaking 1,108 startups from 64 countries in attendance, the most ever for a first-year Web Summit event. Of these, 44% of the startups were founded by women, highlighting both the event's commitment to diversity and the growing interest of women in the startup space.
A standout feature of the summit was the First-Pitch competition, which showcased three all-women Vancouver-based startups: Lite-1, Glüxkind and Vodasafe. Lite-1, specializing in the development of sustainable colourants, emerged as the winner, receiving accolades for its innovative approach to environmental sustainability. This victory not only highlights the growing presence of women in the tech and sustainability sectors, but also underscores the importance of supporting diverse voices in the development of new and innovative technological advances.
The success of Web Summit Vancouver 2025 kicks off an exciting series of Web Summit events planned over the next two years. Following Vancouver, major conferences will take place in Lisbon, Qatar and Rio, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs and investors worldwide. These gatherings will continue to drive technological innovation and global collaboration, solidifying Web Summit's role as a premier platform in the tech ecosystem.
Author: Ben Marshall, 2025 Summer Student-At-Law