Latest news with #PaddyCosgrave
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Surge in delegations as Vancouver hosts ‘Olympics of Tech' for the first time
One of the world's biggest technology conferences launched Tuesday with a surge in international delegations as Vancouver hosts the event for the first time – in the middle of trade war. The provincial government provided $6.6 million over three years toward luring Web Summit from Toronto, which hosted the event for three years when it was called the Collision conference. Though the deal was inked last year, the timing has been fortuitous. 'Countries all over the world are scrambling to figure out how they continue to help their companies trade into North America,' said Web Summit founder and CEO, Paddy Cosgrave. 'If they're having difficulty doing that directly through the United States, Canada is the next best place to locate or relocate your operations.' The minister of jobs, economic development, and innovation is pleased to see their investment come at a time international companies are looking north. 'There's real appetite right now from places across the EU and the Asia Pacific,' said Diana Gibson. 'We've got delegations coming from countries from all across the globe and they're really interested in B.C. and in Vancouver.' Cosgrave confirmed there are more government-affiliated delegations in Vancouver than any other Web Summit event they've held; there are four each year, with only one in North America. The Financial Times has called Web Summit the 'Olympics of Tech' The B.C. pitch Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, was an early champion of bringing the event to the city – along with then-jobs-minister, Brenda Bailey – and he opened the event Tuesday evening at the Vancouver Convention Centre. 'Vancouver's more than just the view,' he told attendees. 'This is a city built on bold ideas, on collaboration, and the belief the future doesn't just happen – it's something we create together.' Sim said in the past 10 years more than $40 billion has been invested in companies in the city and welcomed the 'big, bold thinking' and fresh ideas being discussed this week. In addition to the international delegations, there are groups from across Canada and British Columbia seeking to take advantage of the innovation, creativity, and funding in one place. 'It's amazing to have a global audience coming into our backyard,' said Brea Lake, CEO of Accelerate Okanagan. 'Since all of tariffs coming in, people doing business with the states are looking to diversify now and I think this is an awesome opportunity to get to look abroad and see where there's opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.' Week-long event draws thousands More than 15,000 people from 100 countries are expected to attend Web Summit, with networking events and product showcases from apps to AI, robotics to virtual reality. There will be a B.C. Pavilion that's been engineered to showcase both startup companies and established technology companies from across the province as well as big names like Microsoft and Google. 'We've been at the forefront not just of gaming and creative, but of life sciences and biotech and broader tech innovation,' said Gibson. '(Hosting Web Summit) is a culmination of a lot of work that's been done to build our tech ecosystem from our deep talent pool and our world class research institutes to our anchor companies.'
Business Post
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Post
Exclusive: €50 million deal secures Web Summit's Rio de Janeiro presence for five more years
Tech Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder of Web Summit, announced the deal at the launch of the 2025 event in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday
The Star
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Interview: Web Summit CEO says U.S. tariffs "a huge mistake"
GENEVA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Web Summit Limited - the private company that organizes Web Summit and similar conferences across the world - told Xinhua on Sunday that the U.S. tariff measures are "a huge mistake." Cosgrave made the remarks during an online interview on the sidelines of the Web Summit Rio, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from April 27 to 30. The event is part of a series of Web Summit activities, including the flagship technology conference held annually in Lisbon since 2016. "It's a huge mistake by the United States. They've decided to turn over the card that determines whether they are the hegemon anymore. It's quite clear we no longer live in a unipolar world," Cosgrave told Xinhua via video link, commenting on the broader impact of the U.S. tariffs on trading partners, including China. "The United States doesn't really produce much. There's a huge dependency on China for supply chains," he added. According to an earlier report by the Financial Times, the U.S. accounts for just 13 percent of global goods imports, a decline from nearly one-fifth two decades ago. Data from the Chinese authorities shows that China remains America's second-largest source of imports, with U.S. imports from China accounting for 13.8 percent of the country's total imports in 2024. Commenting on the escalating trade tensions initiated by the U.S. administration, Cosgrave said: "The U.S. is in a terrible place, and eventually Trump is going to have to back down." Regarding China's growing influence in the global arena, Cosgrave observed that the Asian country will play a significant role. He noted that China has built up "incredible industrial competence" carefully and strategically, with its education system and research capacity standing at a leading level globally. Each year, the Web Summit conference brings together a global community of founders, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors to connect and exchange ideas about the technology and trends shaping the world. Since its launch in Dublin in 2009, Web Summit events -- including Web Summit in Lisbon, Web Summit Rio in Brazil, Web Summit Qatar in the Middle East, and RISE in Asia -- have gathered nearly one million people, according to the organizer. Its newest event, Web Summit Vancouver, will take place from May 27-30. "We've continued to expand. We started with the event in Europe many years ago, and we've expanded elsewhere in the world," Cosgrave said, adding that the company is now eyeing opportunities in Hong Kong or nearby cities in Asia.
Zawya
21-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Runway to Web Summit Qatar 2025 addresses key challenges in tech
DOHA: Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), in partnership with Web Summit and the Government Communications Office, hosted 'Runway to Web Summit Qatar 2025', yesterday in anticipation of the Web Summit Qatar 2025 next week. The event, which brought together prominent industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators witnessed the participation of Paddy Cosgrave, CEO of Web Summit; Dr. Jack Lau, President of QSTP; Hayfa Al Abdullah, Innovation Director, Qatar Science & Technology Park; Amna Khalid Al Kaabi, Head of Emerging Technologies, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT); and Dr. Ahmed K. Elmagarmid – Executive Director, Qatar Computing Research Institute. The event provided an opportunity for the participants to hear valuable insights during a fireside chat with Cosgrave and Dr. Lau. The CEO and Founder of Web Summit highlighted the challenges and early days of establishing the technology event in 2009, which grew from 150 participants to over 60,000 in 2024, with the attendance of Chinese entrepreneurs and VCs in the later years. 'It was clear that this trend would accumulate over time, and about five years ago, in the fields of machine learning and AI, Chinese academics were already producing more high-quality citations than their Western counterparts, Cosgrave said. He mentioned that Chinese dominance in every tech sector was inevitable for a long period of time. The Web Summit CEO said 'It wasn't fully believable until recently, though, when DeepSeek's progress became undeniable just a few weeks ago. Other sectors have also been heading in this direction, where the realisation has set in that the model-based approach to innovation far surpasses anything that existed before.' Cosgrave further emphasised 'Looking forward, I believe the outlook is incredibly positive. The current driving force is likely the faster-than-expected decline in the West, accompanied by the realisation that the West will need to adapt to survive in a rapidly changing world.' 'This shift isn't just about US foreign policy; it also involves the way innovation is created, and products are developed. 'The world is changing in a way it hasn't for around 500 years, and it's hard to ignore that the landscape is evolving drastically,' he added. Runway to Web Summit 2025 also included a panel discussion on 'Building the Future of Technology in the Middle East' with leading industry figures, as well as startup success stories from QSTP alumni and Web Summit attendees. In addition to that, participants witnessed a startup showcase and networking session, offering a unique chance to connect with key players in Qatar's entrepreneurial ecosystem. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
20-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Web Summit Qatar 2025 to see record number of startups, investors participation
Doha, Qatar: Web Summit Qatar has emerged as the region's premier technology conference, and its second edition is set to bring together an increased number of tech entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and industry leaders from around the world. Web Summit Qatar 2025 is expected to see an increase in attendance, with around 35,000 participants, 60% of whom will be local. The event will host 1,500 startups of which 200 are from Qatar, and investor participation has increased by 50% compared to last year, said officials addressing a press conference yesterday. Director of the Government Communications Office and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee, H E Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, said, 'Last year, we hosted the inaugural edition of Web Summit Qatar, the largest tech event in the MENA region, marking a valuable addition to Qatar's achievements. Our primary goal in hosting this event is to develop the tech sector in Qatar and strengthen its position as a leading regional hub.' Web Summit Qatar 2025 will feature a 140 percent increase in Qatari startup participation compared to last year's event. It will also welcome more than 300 local and international speakers, 600 investors, 150 partners, and 600 media representatives. Web Summit Qatar 2025 has new stages and tracks, including Developer Summit, AI Summit, Creative Summit, New Energy Summit, and Government Summit. 'We are confident that this year's edition will exceed expectations, as these figures show strong interest from major tech leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide who are eager to participate in Web Summit Qatar 2025,' said H E Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani. Web Summit, described as the largest global event in the tech industry, and the Web Summit Qatar will be held five times through 2028. Web Summit 2025 will be held between February 23 and 26 Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). Founder and CEO of Web Summit, Paddy Cosgrave highlighted that the increase in the number of startups at Web Summit 2025 compared to last year is a significant achievement and demonstrates strong support for Web Summit Qatar. 'Gathering more than 1,500 startups from over 90 countries around the world is something that doesn't happen anywhere else in the region. There are no other events even close to it. For me, that's the true measure of a technology conference,' he said adding that the number of investors traveling from around the world has also increased sharply in a single year by around 50 percent. In response to a question from The Peninsula about Qatar attracting investors, startups, and partners, Cosgrave said, 'It's clearly attracting people when you look at the numbers and the huge growth in just one year. I believe the world is shifting.' He continued, 'The center of gravity for the world is moving eastward, and Qatar is incredibly well-placed for the 21st century. Despite being a very small country, it's already showing its significance in global affairs. It's becoming a key meeting point, not only for startups and large tech companies but also for some of the most important discussions about the future of the world.' Web Summit Qatar 2025 will host a diverse range of global partners, and this edition features an extensive programme of panel discussions, workshops and keynote sessions designed to explore the latest advancements in technology and digital markets. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
