By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | May 31, 2025
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If you ever wanted to know what it feels like to run a three-day intellectual marathon in running shoes, Web Summit Vancouver 2025 had you covered. With 15,727 attendees from 117 countries and more than 345 speakers across countless stages, just navigating the schedule felt like an Olympic sport. By Day 2, most of us were seriously considering installing a personal USB port just to offload the brain-frying volume of innovation, pitches, and insights.

But wow, what a ride.

From AI ethics to quantum computing to mental health in the digital age, every hallway, breakout room, and demo pod buzzed with energy. And speaking of buzz, 1,108 startups from 64 countries were exhibiting—a record number for any first-year Web Summit. Countries like Canada, the U.S., Baden Württemberg, Germany, Nigeria, Portugal, and Austria brought their A-game. The startup booths were so engaging that it was hard to move ten feet without being lured into a new pitch involving sustainable fintech, AI assistants, or the future of personalized medicine.

And here’s the kicker: 44% of these startups were women-founded, proving that innovation doesn’t just wear a hoodie—it might also wear heels.

The summit wasn’t just a playground for startups. It was also a heavyweight networking arena, with 681 investors from funds like Thiel Capital, Khosla Ventures, and 500 Global, and 159 brand partners including the likes of Microsoft, IBM, Mastercard, and Figma. A record 50 trade delegations flew in from places like South Korea, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Nigeria, ready to shake hands, ink deals, and quite possibly build the next unicorn.

Meanwhile, us regular mortals were running—yes, literally—from one captivating session to the next, trying to soak up everything from climate tech to the ethics of deepfakes. You could spot the rookies by their dress shoes and the veterans by their ultra-cushioned runners. The smart ones planned their day with military precision. The rest of us just clutched our coffee and hoped our brains wouldn’t combust before lunch.

And let’s not forget the 550 media professionals chasing stories, shooting interviews, and surviving on adrenaline and cold brew. Outlets like The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Radio Canada, Forbes, Korea IT Times, BetaKit, Nikkei, CTV, China News Service, and Westcoast German News were all on-site, covering the mayhem and magic. Podcasts were recorded, selfies snapped, and articles uploaded at a record pace each day.

The vibe? Equal parts TED Talk, trade show, and tech rave. And it all happened against the breathtaking backdrop of the Vancouver waterfront—where, in rare quiet moments, you could stare out the windows and watch happy tourists strolling by, blissfully unaware that just inside, world-changing tech was being debated, demoed, and sometimes debugged in real-time.

Behind the scenes, Web Summit’s proprietary Summit Engine software worked overtime, sending out personalized invites to 88 curated group meetups, matching people by interests, industries, and probably coffee preference. It was like high-tech speed dating for entrepreneurs, developers, and dreamers.

Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave captured the mood perfectly on opening night:

“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... Web Summit is a window into our shared, increasingly technology-driven future.”

Three days, thousands of minds, and millions of steps later, we all emerged dazed but inspired. Some headed to afterparties, others just sat on the seawall, staring out at the ocean, quietly processing everything—or perhaps nothing at all.

Because when you’ve packed a year’s worth of ideas into 72 hours, even the brainiest of us need to hit pause.

#Web Summit Vancouver #Tech Marathon #Global Startups #Innovation Unleashed #Women In Tech #Westcoast German News #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter

Connect with Elke at Westcoast German Media or on LinkedIn: Elke Porter or contact her on WhatsApp:  +1 604 828 8788

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