How to prepare for Web Summit: technology, partnerships, and legal protection

How to make Web Summit as effective as possible?

Based on my own experience, I decided to share some key insights. After all, for Web Summit to deliver maximum results – whether new investments, strategic partnerships, or valuable experience – success depends on careful consideration of all organizational aspects in advance.

1. Early planning

Start preparing at least 3-6 months before the event. Ticket prices rise closer to the date, and accommodation in Lisbon is booked even faster. If possible, choose options close to the venue or metro stations.

2. Targeted networking

Use the official Web Summit app to find potential partners and arrange meetings in advance. Choose a focus area — for example, European startups or potential investors in the AI field — and make a list of 30-40 target contacts. Arrange meetings in advance and confirm the details a few days before the event. Always have a backup plan in case of cancellations.

3. Effective schedule organization

The program is packed with dozens of stages, hundreds of presentations, and side events. Choose topics that match your business goals. Don’t try to attend everything. And don’t forget about informal events in the evening — that’s often where the most valuable connections are made.

4. Comfort as a priority (Survival Kit😄)

Web Summit involves a lot of walking and standing. Comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, snacks, a power bank, and business cards are your basic kit. Don’t forget a QR code with a link to LinkedIn or your company’s website for quick contact exchange.

5. The art of the 30-second pitch

You need to be able to talk about yourself or your company in 30 seconds: who you are, what you do, what problem you solve. Be clear, confident, and enthusiastic — it works better than any advertisement.

Legal must-have for a startup

For startups, participating in Web Summit is a chance to make a name for themselves, present their product to investors, and find partners. To make your presentation as convincing as possible, you need to demonstrate not only innovation but also the legal maturity of your company. Investors look not only at the idea but also at how well your business and product are protected.

Before participating in such events, it is worth checking a few key things.

• NDA. Prepare an English-language non-disclosure agreement template for negotiations with potential partners. This will keep your ideas and developments safe.
• Product rights. Make sure that all team members have signed agreements transferring rights to development, design, and content. Without this, ownership of the product may be disputed.
• Trademark. Register your brand name to avoid conflicts with other companies.
• Copyright. Record the authorship of the code, design, or content, as this will serve as official proof in case of disputes.
• Data protection. If the product works with personal data, check compliance with GDPR or other standards. For AI solutions, it is important to comply with the AI Act.
• Corporate structure. Organize documents that define the co-founders’ shares, agreements between them, and the possibility of introducing an option program for the team.

Such legal preparation shows that the startup understands its responsibilities and is ready to scale. This is not bureaucracy, but part of your strategy for development and trust at the international level.

Side Events

Don’t limit yourself to just the official Web Summit program. Side Events are unofficial events that take place alongside the summit and are often underestimated, but shouldn’t be. The atmosphere here is much more relaxed, and communication is more personal and in-depth, which makes them no less, and perhaps even more, important tools for establishing truly valuable contacts and partnerships. They allow you to go beyond quick 15-minute meetings and really get to know potential partners or investors.

For me, as president of AIEI, a special event this year will be the AI Horizon conference, organized by the Association for the Development of Artificial Intelligence. It will take place on November 11 as part of Web Summit and will be relevant for anyone who works, implements, or is involved in the field of AI. During the conference, participants will have the opportunity to gain insights from industry leaders and take part in a lively panel discussion, hear about the association’s achievements and plans for the future, and attend pitch sessions by selected AI startups. If you are interested, you can register here.

Ultimately, Web Summit is about much more than new contacts; above all, it is about people, their energy, and their ambitious ideas.

Published by AIN.UA

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