Web Summit welcomed 15,000+ attendees to the city of Vancouver to explore the future of tech innovation on May 27-30. The energy was palpable as founders, investors, tech leaders, and media convened for three days of networking, lively peer discussions, and fireside chats, solo talks, and panels led by industry experts on stage.
While this was their first year hosting their North America event at the Vancouver Convention Center, the Web Summit team didn’t miss a beat in event production. From dedicated networking lounges and a bustling expo floor, to the media corner and curated speaker lounge experience, the event was executed with the attendee and speaker experience top of mind.
This year's Summit buzzed with discussions across 11 industry tracks, with session topics ranging from the practical applications of AI and the future of sustainable tech, to the trends and industries investors are most excited about. We saw several influential industry voices leading discussions across their stages.
Highlights that caught our attention.
Climate tech vs. Project 2025
Manik Suri, Founder & CEO of GlacierGrid, took the stage to discuss the critical intersection of climate tech innovation and the political landscape shaping environmental policy. He and his panel covered how emerging technologies can counter climate rollback efforts while driving sustainable solutions.
Welcome to the future of soundscapes
Bruce Smith, Founder of Hydrow, and Lauren Pufpaf, Co-founder & COO of Feed.fm, explored how science-backed music is transforming and enhancing user experiences. From connected devices to in-app music integration, they discussed how innovative approaches are shaping the future of immersive experiences and driving behavioural change.
Design.ai
Robert Brunner, Founder of Ammunition, was joined by Matt Biilmann, CEO of Netlify, to discuss how they integrate AI in very different ways to their design process. The main takeaway? Keep your eyes on the desired human experience, and not just building AI pervasively into our lives without positive benefit.
What startups need to know about corporate investment
Tamara Steffens, Managing Director at Thomson Reuters Ventures, took the stage with other corporate venture capitalists—including Talia Abramowitz, Managing Partner of Deloitte Ventures—to discuss the strategic partnerships, industry expertise, and market access that corporate capital brings to startups.
Driving growth with seamless fulfilment
In today's hyper-competitive e-commerce landscape, the customer experience is paramount. Maggie Barnett, CEO of ShipHero/LVK, explored how a seamless and efficient fulfillment process can become a powerful driver of customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.
Forest fireside
This session featured a critical talk with reforestation expert Angelique Ahlström, Co-Founder of Flash Forest, and investor Terry Doyle, Managing Partner of TELUS Global Ventures, about the technological innovations fighting the devastating forest fires in Canada and the United States.
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