Reflections from Web Summit Lisbon 2025 - Part #2

Reflecting on our time at Web Summit 2025, we’ve gathered the lessons that stood out the most, insights that left a lasting impression and are worth sharing.

Making Connections at Web Summit: Plan Your Success, But Leave Room for Magic

For a lot of people, heading to a huge gathering like Web Summit (70,000+ people) can feel overwhelming if you go without any plan. A good starting point for prioritising your time is to consider what you genuinely hope to achieve. For instance, are you focused on finding an investor, showcasing your latest product, initiating exciting partnerships, or just absorbing the most recent industry knowledge?

In our case, we signed up to almost everything related to topics of interest like Decarbonization, Digital Equity, Digital Transitions, Design for Accessibility, ClimateTech, Polarisation… but in the end, the physical venue was so expansive and stimulating that we had to ruthlessly prioritise. In the end, mixers and meetups helped to foster conversation with other participants, while a couple of key knowledge sharing sessions and keynotes gave us sparks of inspiration.

The Colectivo Team at the Web Summit Lisbon 2025

With so many attendees, you won't be able to meet everyone. Setting up meetings in advance is helpful, but the really great, totally unexpected connections often happen when you take time to relax.  So, make sure to schedule time to just hang out and chat in the dining areas, lounge spots, or other informal settings (those spontaneous moments often lead to the best opportunities)!