The decision to host the Web Summit in Qatar, the first of its kind outside of Lisbon since its move to Portugal in 2016, has ended up becoming the “absolutely kind of right decision” and potentially the best decision the organisers have ever made, Web Summit Founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave has said.
“A lot of people were saying that it was not the right place when we were approached to have the Web Summit here in Qatar and that we should instead go to a couple of other neighbouring larger countries knocking on our door and that we’d be mad not to go there and we shouldn’t really go to Doha. I was kind of a little bothered about the region. But I have to say, it has been the absolute right decision, maybe the best decision we’ve ever kind of made, and things are only going from strength to strength,” Cosgrave said yesterday.
According to the Irish entrepreneur, the staggering numbers speak volumes about the summit’s growing influence, considering that this is just the second edition of the annual technology conference in Qatar.
“This year, 25,747 attendees from 124 countries are participating, marking a significant increase from last year. Among them are 1,520 startups, supported by 723 investors, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the event. Notably, 47.7% of these startups are women-founded, reflecting a remarkable rise of over 50% compared to the previous year. Additionally, 37% of total attendees are women, underscoring the summit’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” he noted, highlighting the rapid growth and increasing global significance of Qatar as a burgeoning tech hub.
He added that Qatar itself has seen an extraordinary surge in startup participation, with a 140% increase in local startups exhibiting on the floor – from 95 last year to 228 this year. This growth highlights Qatar’s emergence as a major player in the global tech ecosystem.
The summit boasts 168 partners, including tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, TikTok, iHeart, and Huawei. These partnerships underscore the event’s ability to attract industry leaders eager to engage with innovators shaping the future.
With 381 speakers across six stages, masterclasses, and side events, discussions span a wide array of topics. Key themes include the Middle East’s rise as a tech hub, fuelled by strategic investments; financial inequality and the future of FinTech; and the dominance of generative AI, which continues to dominate conversations across nearly all stages.
Since its inaugural edition last year, Web Summit Qatar has already catalysed several success stories. For instance, Irish clean energy startup TechMet secured $180m from the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) following discussions at last year’s event. Such outcomes exemplify how the summit fosters meaningful connections between startups and investors.
Moreover, Qatari startups have leveraged the platform to expand globally, meeting key stakeholders who have played pivotal roles in their growth journeys. This year, attendees also have access to prominent investors from regions such as China and India, broadening networking opportunities even further.
Beyond formal sessions, the summit features numerous meetups catering to diverse interests, including neurodiverse communities and individuals with ADHD. These gatherings create spaces for collaboration and connection, reinforcing the inclusive ethos of the event.
Source: https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/
