Startup masterclass

Startup masterclasses give our startup attendees direct access to the world’s leading tech investors, accelerators, incubators, and executives from our international partners. They’re an opportunity for startups to learn in an interactive and intimate setting from those driving change in their respective industries.

Startup masterclasses are 45-minute sessions curated for startup attendees. Startup masterclasses cover every element essential to startup success, from building a winning pitch deck to excelling in marketing and PR. You decide on the topic of your startup masterclass and the Web Summit team will review it.

Startup masterclasses are open to all startup attendees. Startups will receive a link to sign up and must confirm attendance in the weeks leading up to Web Summit.

Startup masterclasses run for approximately 45 minutes and focus on a startup-specific topic chosen by the host. The final wording of the title and content of your masterclass must be submitted (via the schedule link supplied to you) by the deadline provided by the startup masterclass manager. It is advisable to choose content that will allow attendees to actively engage in the masterclass. A schedule of all masterclasses will be available on the Web Summit app and website.

Startup masterclasses will take place in the startup masterclass area, which can be located using the venue map in the Web Summit mobile app.

Please note: Startup masterclasses are distinct from general attendee masterclasses, and will be held in a different area within the venue.

Your startup masterclass is 45 minutes in length. The general structure is 30 minutes of content and 15 minutes of Q&A with the audience. It is at your discretion how you would like to structure your time, but please note that the Q&A element must be included within the 45-minute session

Titles should be 55 characters at most, while descriptions can be up to 250 characters. Our content team proofs all titles and descriptions in advance, and may make small changes to the wording or structure of both.In order for online registration for attendees to begin, titles and descriptions must be confirmed through the Web Summit booking link provided by the startup masterclass manager.

To help focus your presentation, consider these points:

• Determine the major topics and challenges startups always want advice on.

• Think of the business lessons you wish you’d learned early on.

• Deep dive into a problem encountered in your career and discuss how you solved it.

Reach out to the startup masterclass manager if you would like further guidance on selecting your masterclass topic.

Please note: Our content team proofreads all titles ahead of the event, and may make small changes to the wording or structure of the title.

In addition to your masterclass title and description, your preferred presentation time must be submitted by the deadline provided by the startup masterclass manager. Again, this is submitted through the Web Summit booking link provided.

As presentations are delivered on your own laptop, they can be edited right up until the event. We encourage you to share your presentation with the Web Summit masterclass manager in advance of the event to confirm your preparation.

Startup masterclasses will take place in a dedicated area on the exhibition floor. The area will seat 50 to 80 people in a theatre style, with a small raised stage and podium for speakers.

The masterclass area will have a screen – which will be a minimum size of 70” – with a HDMI connection cable for your laptop, along with two microphones and a clicker to change presentation slides. If your laptop is not HDMI-compatible, please bring the correct adapter with you.

Yes, please bring your own laptop. Laptops will not be supplied by Web Summit.

Get started on building your Web Summit startup masterclass by following the steps below:

Step 1: Schedule your startup masterclass, and submit a title and description

Schedule your startup masterclass time via the link provided by your Web Summit point of contact. You will also be asked to provide your masterclass’s title and description.

Important: The final wording of the title and description will be reviewed and approved by our content team.

Step 2: Send a copy of your presentation

Before you arrive at Web Summit, please send a copy of your presentation deck to the startup masterclass manager. It’s always best to have a backup copy!

Step 3: Arrive 15 minutes before your startup masterclass and bring your laptop

Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled startup masterclass time. This will allow time for you to get set up to present and for you to run through tech checks. Please bring your own laptop with an HDMI-compatible connection. Web Summit will not provide laptops.

Please note: Startup masterclasses are distinct from general attendee masterclasses and will be held in a different area within the venue.