Navigating Web Summit as a First-Timer: Essential Tips

It is challenging for a first-comer to get the most out of the Web Summit so our team prepared these tips and trips as a short guideline to elevate your participation at such global scale events and avoid some common pitfalls like some of us did. First thing first:

• Network in advance: As a first-timer, we quickly realized that everyone’s agenda is jam-packed. Networking with investors without prior meetings can be nearly impossible. Here's a tip from our community: reach out to your contacts or your friends' contacts before arriving at Web Summit and get warm introductions to the people you need to meet. Don’t rely solely on the WS app because, in a crowd of 70K people, your message is likely to get lost. Use multiple channels like LinkedIn, email, and instant messengers to set up meetings in advance. 
• Attend side events: Get invited to parties hosted by investors, corporations, or global organizations. These events are great for making new connections, strengthening relations and creating collaborations. For example, we benefited greatly from attending ClearStory International’s and 500 Global’s side events. 
• Learn the venue layout: Arrive early to familiarize yourself with the venue map and get a feel for where everything is located. Trust me, the first day is all about figuring out how to navigate the place—where the meetups are, which stage is where, and even where to find water stations and bathrooms. It’s part of the experience!
• Build your agenda: Smaller stages dedicated to topics like marketing, venture, or fintech usually have specific days for those themes, so you don’t want to miss them. When planning your Web Summit schedule, pick the topics and the stage you're interested in and stick to them. I missed a speech on the Venture stage on the first day because I didn’t know the layout, and by the next day, the FinTech stage was up instead. Plan your schedule, so you can focus on what’s most relevant to you, and leave some room for meetings and casual mingling.
• Attend roundtables: One of our team’s highlights was definitely the workshops. With great speakers and a small group of up to 15 people, the speaker really makes the difference. Be sure to attend the sessions you’re most excited about. Pro tip: arrive at least 30 minutes early to snag a good spot and fully enjoy the experience
• Maximize networking:  Web Summit’s stages are impressive, but to really get the most out of it, network is key. We didn’t get the chance, but we’re definitely planning to attend meetups organized by other professional groups next time. These are listed in the agenda, and the great thing is you can easily connect with 50+ professionals from the same industry—whether it’s marketing, development, or even specific regions like CEE, Brazil, or Italy. Keep an eye out for the Moldovan meetup we’ll organize at the next edition!
• Looking for investors:I was chatting with Emil from Bloomcoding, one of our leading edtech startups, and he mentioned, "Web Summit is not about finding investors. Most investors spend their time meeting with other investors and sharing deal flow." I had the same feeling. However, if you’re aiming to connect with investors, my advice is to get yourself invited to the investors' lounge. Once you’re there, hang out by the bar and network. It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone, even if you’re not naturally extroverted—just introduce yourself to everyone grabbing a drink!
• Be active on social media: Use platforms like LinkedIn to share insights, connect, and supercharge your networking game. The Web Summit marketing team picks up and promotes posts, and each country’s ecosystem often shares local content in media outlets. Plus, when you encourage people to reach out to you while at Web Summit and post it on LinkedIn, you’ll find people texting you and inviting you to connect. It’s a great way to boost your networking while you’re still on the spot!
• Follow up: Be consistent with your follow-ups after the event—this is key! Keep it fresh by reaching out within 2 days of Web Summit. Send emails to continue discussions and set up online meetings for deeper collaboration. A fun tip: take selfies during your meetings and include them in your follow-up messages as a reminder of your meetup. It adds a personal touch and helps keep the connection alive!