Startup Experience

Our Partner Startup Experience Program allows you to bring select startups from the global ALPHA, BETA, and GROWTH community to Web Summit, while they exhibit within your stand. Startup exhibition spaces must be integrated into the Partner stand, and all startups must meet the eligibility criteria

Form submission deadline: September 26

• Your Partner Success team will send you a form to share with the startups you want to bring to Web Summit.

• Startups must fill out the form themselves. The information provided will determine their eligibility for the startup program.

• Encourage startups to submit the form as soon as possible to allow time for replacements if needed.

• Ensure all requested details are provided promptly to avoid delays in printing branded materials.

Startup Profile:

Featured online and shared with investors, media, and strategic partners.

Access to Masterclasses & Roundtables:

Specialised sessions for startups.

Startup Activations:

Opportunity to participate in PITCH, Mentor Hours, Startup Showcase, 40 Words.

Web Summit Mobile App:

Network and plan your schedule before the event.

Startup Lounge Access:

Access to a dedicated lounge on the exhibition floor.

Startup Success Team Support:

Assistance with event preparations.

Three-day access tickets

• ALPHA Startups: 3 event tickets

• BETA Startups: 4 event tickets

• GROWTH Startups: 5 tickets

Startups must meet the following criteria to be accepted.

• Must be less than 6 years old.

• Must have a unique software product/solution or be working on connected hardware devices.

• Consultancies, agencies, developers, marketing/ad agencies, and public companies will not be accepted.

• Must be an independent company, not a subsidiary.

• Must have an active website at a minimum.

• Cannot already be registered to exhibit at the event.

• Must provide a logo in .eps format.

Startups that do not meet the above criteria will not be accepted.

This could result in delays in onboarding approved startups.

Once approved, startups will be assigned to the relevant track (ALPHA, BETA, or GROWTH).

• ALPHA – To qualify for the ALPHA track typically, the startup can have raised up to US$1 million in funding

• BETA – To qualify for the BETA track typically, the startup can have raised between US$1 million to US$5 million in funding

• GROWTH  – To qualify for the GROWTH track typically, the startup will have raised more than US$5 million in funding

Note: These are general guidelines and other criteria are considered when assigning startups to tracks.

Next Steps:

• Acceptance email:
  They will receive an email informing them of this.

+ Partner notification: The partner contact (you or a team member) will be copied on the email.

• Startup Success Team Assigned:
  The startup will be supported by our Startup Success Team and will begin receiving weekly updates starting August 2025.

• Missing information
  If they fail to provide important information, they will receive an email asking them to resubmit the form. This can often be due to their website not working correctly.

• Unchangeable reasons
  If they do not meet the criteria (e.g., over 6 years old or outside the suitable industry), they will receive an email informing them of the rejection. Resubmission will not be possible.

• Already Registered at the Event
  Startups already registered as exhibitors cannot apply again through the partner program and will be informed of their ineligibility.

Partner responsibility in this case

• Partners have the opportunity to replace unsuccessful startups before the deadline.

• If packages are not used by the deadline (September 26), they will be exchanged for general attendee tickets.

Your startup must exhibit for a minimum of one day during the event. You can have your startups exhibit for all 3 days or 1 day at the event.

Each startup's dedicated point of contact will be the Startup Success Team, who will share all relevant information through our support system. However, if you'd like a preview of what's involved - or wish to share this with your startups in advance - you'll find more information below.