The inaugural Web Summit Vancouver marked a historic moment for B.C.’s innovation ecosystem – bringing more than 15,000 global tech leaders, investors, and media to the province for the first North American edition of the world-renowned conference.
In the lead-up to Web Summit Vancouver, Innovate BC launched the Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV) initiative as a province-wide effort to equip and prepare B.C. startups for the conference. With the support of 20 ecosystem partners from across B.C., R2WSV offered 40 events and initiatives that spanned topics including pitch training, effective storytelling, investor readiness, and more. Innovate BC’s signature R2WSV events alone – including the R2WSV Bootcamp, a final round of comprehensive training ahead of the conference - engaged 835 startups and over 1,100 innovators across tailored events and programming, providing resources and connections to help them seize global business opportunities.
“British Columbia is being recognized as a hub of technological innovation, and Web Summit Vancouver is helping put our companies on the world stage,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance. “At a time when global uncertainty is on the rise, B.C. remains a stable economic environment, with a talented workforce, where businesses and startups can thrive and grow. Through the Road to Web Summit Vancouver, driven by Innovate BC, we are making it easier than ever for B.C. innovators and entrepreneurs to attract investors, and we expect next year’s event to provide more opportunities for collaboration and growth.”
Hundreds of B.C.-based companies formally participated in Web Summit Vancouver, showcasing the province’s talent and innovation across the conference. With the conference returning to Vancouver for two more years, the opportunity to further propel B.C.’s innovation economy on the global stage, and leverage the momentum from year one, is greater than ever.
Reflecting on the experience, Eric Blesh, CEO of 7Gen AIO Tech Corp. said the event was “a game-changer for us! As a B.C.-based Indigenous tech firm, it was amazing to connect with such a diverse group of like-minded people leading up to the event. We left inspired, with new ideas and partnerships that will help us better serve our community.”
Speaking to the impact of the first year, Amanda Collett, Deputy Country Manager at Web Summit, said “Our first year Web Summit Vancouver brought together thousands more founders, investors than we ever expected. We had a record-breaking number of 1,108 startups, of which nearly half were women founded.
There are some exciting changes ahead for next year, that we will reveal in time. We are set to grow Web Summit Vancouver, just as we have for our other series of events across the world. Together these global events act a bridging moment across global and local tech ecosystems, connecting thousands of entrepreneurs who are building the businesses of tomorrow.”
Now, as Web Summit Vancouver enters its second year, Innovate BC is calling on B.C.-based tech ventures to help shape the next chapter of the R2WSV initiative. Building on the momentum of year one, R2WSV aims to deliver even greater opportunities for companies to showcase their cutting-edge technologies, pitch to global investors, and access tailored support for Alpha, Beta, and Growth-stage ventures.
To guide this next phase, Innovate BC is looking for input from the community to refine their approach, build on what worked, and deliver even greater impact and opportunities for companies in the years to come.
If you are a B.C.-based tech venture interested in helping build the future of R2WSV, take Innovate BC’s Feedback Survey here. If you complete the survey by September 3, you will be entered to win a free ticket to Web Summit Vancouver 2026.