What's wrong with Web Summit?

We recently attended Web Summit. We went expecting innovation. We're still not sure if that's what we found. And we don't know whether to blame our own expectations or the current saturated tech market.

Don't get us wrong. We met some forward-thinking teams that'll undoubtedly redefine the tech industry. They'll be the ones who carve out the paths to "Where to next?"

But what about the others? The companies that are just starting out? We spoke to them, too. And from these discussions, we realized two things:

1. There are teams out there with ideas that will change the world. If you're starting a company, you can't just cross your fingers and hope you'll stay relevant. Tech startups are popping up everywhere. Their ideas are good. But if you want to succeed, good isn't enough.
2. If you're just starting out, you can't only be focused on internal growth. Many teams we spoke to hadn't even thought about implementing cybersecurity measures. Yes, we live and breathe cybersecurity, but that's exactly why we know it's a critical step every growing business needs to take. When we asked about handling disruptions or cyberattacks, most didn't have an answer. The world's leaders keep adding regulations to protect our cyber sphere for a reason. You need to protect the cloud your business runs on. One mistake could cost you everything.

Is Web Summit worth it?

Our honest take on Web Summit? It might be worth it. But only if you have a specific goal and a clear list of people you want to talk to. It's big. Really big. With over 70,000 people, don't expect networking to be easy—or in some cases, possible at all. You'll have some interesting discussions, but probably not enough to impact your business. If you're looking to grow brand awareness, you might want to sign up for PITCH instead. Either way, you'll be battling to make yourself heard, but at least with the live pitching competition, you'll have a stage.

That said, our team still had a good time in Lisbon, listening to so many companies share their ideas. We learned some valuable things that will help us serve our partners better.

Final thoughts — Innovation needs security

Web Summit showed us that the tech world is moving very fast. And while not every startup we met was ready for that pace, the ones who were reminded us why we do what we do. Innovation isn't just about having good ideas anymore—it's about building them securely and sustainably.

Were you at Web Summit this year? What was your experience?