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Web Summit Vancouver 2025 Kicks Off with Strong Global Turnout, Spotlight on Diversity and Tech Innovation
Vancouver, Canada – May 27, 2025 — Web Summit Vancouver 2025 opened with a dynamic showcase of innovation, global collaboration, and inclusive tech leadership, drawing over 550 members of the media and 345 influential speakers to the Vancouver Convention Centre. The event’s opening night saw an electrifying exchange of ideas from key thought leaders and set the tone for what promises to be one of the most impactful tech gatherings of the year.
On centre stage, Jay Graber, CEO of decentralized social media platform Bluesky, joined Katie Drummond, Global Editorial Director at WIRED, to explore the possibilities of open networks reshaping social media in a post-Musk digital era. Graber’s appearance came as Bluesky continues to position itself as a strong alternative to X and Threads.
Also featured on opening night was Gary Marcus — AI expert, author, and founder of Geometric Intelligence — who delivered a critical assessment of the current state of artificial intelligence and outlined the necessary steps for a more trustworthy AI future.
A Diverse, Inclusive Tech Ecosystem
This year, nearly half of the startups showcased — 44% — have at least one female founder, demonstrating Web Summit’s commitment to equity in tech. The summit’s inclusion initiatives are bolstered by partnerships with organizations such as PORCH Community, Scale Without Borders, Black Engineers of Canada, The Forum, and Latincouver.
These collaborations inform programming and provide mentorship, curated networking, and discounted access for women in tech. Six community-led Impact Masterclasses dive into issues like Indigenous tech, immigrant talent, and women in leadership, while the Indigenous Attendee Program amplifies the voices of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis entrepreneurs.
International Momentum: 50 Trade Delegations in Attendance
This year marks a record for international engagement, with 50 trade delegations attending from countries such as South Korea, Austria, Türkiye, Ukraine, Colombia, and Japan. The surge in participation reflects rising global interest in collaborative tech ecosystems and shifting trade alliances.
Notable delegations include Startup Portugal, the Italian Trade Agency, KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), and Uruguay XXI. Canadian regions, such as Ville de Montréal, Invest Nova Scotia, and the Government of Yukon, are also using the platform to build cross-border business connections.
Networking, Reimagined
Web Summit Vancouver has also expanded its signature personalized networking with 88 curated meetups. These sessions, powered by the platform’s proprietary Summit Engine, use attendee data to create highly targeted, invite-only gatherings around industry topics and shared community backgrounds.
From AI in healthcare and quantum optimization to music-tech innovators and regional community meetups for delegates from China, the USA, and Italy, these sessions aim to foster deep, meaningful collaboration beyond the mainstage talks.
As attendees gathered for the vibrant Night Summit at Vancouver’s Bentall Centre following the opening night, the energy was palpable — a global community coming together to shape the future of technology through connection, inclusion, and innovation.
Photos by Sam Barnes/Web Summit via Sportsfile
For more information, visit: websummit.com
