Impact startups at Web Summit

We want to celebrate the emerging companies within our network that are striving to make the UN Sustainable Development Goals achievable.

Our impact startup program showcases the startups working to have a positive impact on their communities, industries and ecosystems, and introduces them to the world’s leading investors, companies and media.

Apply for our startup programme and join us at Web Summit in Lisbon this November.

Deborah Brosnan
Climate Scientist & Marine Biologist
Deborah Brosnan & Associates

What are Impact startups?

Impact startups are selected for the innovation they show in following the UN’s SDGs – 17 objectives in the fight for a better world.

We define Impact startups within our network based on four factors:

1. Pursuing one or more of the SDGs through their operations.
2. Adapting enterprise objectives to be more sustainable.
3. Solving industry problems that could have a far-reaching effect.
4. Prioritising social collaboration and idea-sharing over competition and profit.

Benefits of being an Impact startup

Brand awareness

Stand out from the crowd as an ‘Impact startup’. The world’s leading media publications and journalists will join Web Summit 2023 looking for the next big news story.

Funding

We have invited Impact investors who are specifically interested in funding social enterprise startups. You will have access to 1,000+ investors including recognised, impact-focused VCs and entrepreneurs.

An illustration of a person waving. In their other hand, they're holding a mug filled with a hot beverage.

Networking

Networking opportunities are woven through every Web Summit experience. Start networking weeks before the event with the Web Summit app – reach out to investors, sign up for Mentor Hours, and find potential leads.

Learning

Schedule meetings with founders who’ve overcome all the odds and trendsetting companies in your industry. And learn from our impact focused masterclasses, roundtables and curated content tracks.

Meet the impact startups that joined us at Web Summit 2023

What happens when I apply?

Chat to our specialist team

One of our startup experts will be in touch to discuss your company, goals and objectives for Web Summit.

Assessment and selection

Our team dedicates countless hours to finding the most exciting, high-potential startups to join our events.

Prepare with our startup success team

Your dedicated startup success manager will work with you to help guide you through the startup journey and get the best out of attending Web Summit.

Time for Web Summit

Now for the main event. Fill your time at Web Summit with our many startup activations: PITCH, our startup battle; Mentor Hours, our advisory sessions with business leaders; and more.

"Our world is now in the early stages of a sustainability revolution."

Al Gore, Chairman, Generation Investment Management

“We need to move people from apathy to action over climate change.”

Sophia Kianni, Founder & Climate Activist, Climate Cardinals

“We need to try a lot of different things; to fail fast and learn in order to make our targets.”

Rachel Kropa, Managing Director, FootPrint Coalition

Apply for our ALPHA startup programme

Startup activations at Web Summit

PITCH is our startup competition that brings together the world’s leading startups for a live pitching battle. 105 of our strongest startups will be pitted against each other in a battle to be crowned the champion.

Learn directly from tech’s leading investors, accelerators, incubators and executives. Startup masterclasses cover the essential elements of startup success, from building a winning pitch deck and startup PR to harnessing the corporate innovation explosion.

Mentor Hours are a series of pre-scheduled, 45-minute group meetings between our high-level attendees and startups. It’s carefully designed to foster both individual and collective growth.

High potential startups meet with leading investors in a series of 15-minute, pre-scheduled meetings specially designed to give their startup an edge. This is where you’ll get insider advice on making your startup irresistible to investors.

Explore all startup activations