We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: you need to hack the Summit. With over 50,000 attendees from different backgrounds and sectors, hundreds of speakers across 18 different stages, and side events going on, there will be a lot of things going on during the four summit days.
It is only reasonable to assume it will be impossible to attend everything and very easy to lose track of time with distractions.
Truth be told, it is impossible to attend every single moment of the summit (unless you have the superpower of omnipresence). But also, you don’t need nor should you want to. It’s all about recognising who you are and what can you take most from the event.
Here are some tips on how to make the most of the WebSummit and your days in Lisbon.
Set your goals
This is the most important thing to do. Take into account who you are, what you do, and what are the best opportunities for you during the event.
If you work in the corporate world, what are you looking for? Inspiration and best practices from the speakers, information about news techs disrupting your business, or startups to partner up with?
If you’re a recent startup, you’ll probably be looking for acceleration and open innovation programs and networking in the ecosystem; if you’re a mature startup you’ll probably be looking into prospective clients, investors and partners within your sector.
There are a lot of different insights you can take from the event, so it’s important to set realistic goals of what you want to achieve. It seems basic, but not answering this question might lead to 3 full days of work with nothing to show for.
Research & Plan
It may seem like tedious pre-work, but planning your days ahead will let you hit the ground running on the summit days.
If you plan on attending a lot of talks and panels, go through the schedule first and choose the most important for you. Keep this tips in mind:
Use the topics tags on the site to see only relevant keynotes (try several tags that fit your interests).
Keep in mind the venue map. Don’t plan to attend two talks where the second starts at the same time the first one ends if they are on different stages on opposite sides of the venue – you’ll just end up running like crazy and missing the first 5 minutes of the keynotes (which is is particularly bothersome because most presentations will only be 15/20 minute long).
Research the speakers ahead of time – see what they do, and which position they hold. Looking into previous talks or interviews online will help you determine if you’re interested in this keynote or help you better analyze and understand their positions when listening to panel discussions.
It’s a daunting prospect, but we already did half the research for you. Check our tracks available in Beyond the Summit, they are divided between executives and startups, but inside you’ll also find sectors and themes. They are a great starting point to tackle this task.
Tag the talks and panels you want to see and make your own personalized schedule.
Consult the venue map and not waste 10 minutes walking towards the wrong stage.
Use the chat function to reach out to other attendees you want to connect with (see next point).
Network
This is truly the most important part of the event. Take every opportunity to broaden your network of contacts and get to know as much as possible: competitors, innovators in the sector, prospective clients, like-minded entrepreneurs. Who knows, any of these could be your next partner. Make use of the conference app that allows you to reach out to other attendees, and while on the floor (or the coffee break), don’t be shy. If you’re reaching out to investors, we wrote some tips for you here.
Go to the side events
Side events are a great opportunity to meet people, specially because they happen in a much more relaxed environment, but also because they include the local ecosystem and people who may not be easy to find at the event venue. From pub crawls, to group meets to all night parties, there’s a lot to choose from. We have a list of all the ecosystem events right here.
Be early
I know this seems like it was your grandma’s advice but the truth is the venue is huge, and so is the number of attendees. You should be arriving at the venue at least 30 minutes before your first appointment – besides the check-in, there’s a security search that usually makes for a long line at the entrance.
Also, if possible, give yourself 5 minutes between talks, or if booking a meeting consider you’ll take at least 5 minutes to get to the place (have I mentioned it’s a HUGE venue?). If you can, have your meals and breaks at unconventional times – because yes, the food courts (even though they are now more spaced out) will be packed between noon and 2pm.
Take care of yourself
We know you will be going on and on for 4 or 5 days, taking the most of the event. And even though the atmosphere at the summit is energizing, conventional sources of energy and self care are still needed: try to drink plenty of water (the temperature is usually warm inside), don’t skip meals and (try to) get at least a few hours of sleep. Getting sick or not being your best self won’t make for a good investment of your time.
Enjoy Lisbon
All work aside, you’re in the best city in the world (we’re parcial). From the old cobblestone charming streets to modern tech
Click for our recommendations for best Food & Drinks
hubs, from cosy traditional food restaurants to hip cocktail rooftops, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone, with an undeniable Lisbon charm. The Beta-i team has enjoyed the best this city can offer, and we want to share it with you. Check out our profile on Misk (available for iOS and android), and get curated collections of the best places in town for every moment of the day.
And if you’re still a bit daunted by the task, no worries – check our Beyond the Summit. Besides the tracks for download that are a great starting point to plan your schedule, we’ll also update regularly about all the side events, give you tips about the ecosystem and what to enjoy in Lisbon.
You only have one chance to make a good first impression. We very quickly (in a matter of seconds!) access others in terms of trustworthiness, reliability and hostility. This thought can be very daunting when you’re meeting with possible partners or investors – the good news is that you have anywhere between 1 to 20 minutes to make the best first impression.
There are three areas where you should focus on – yourself, your business and your audience – to make a first and lasting good impression.
Put your best foot forward.
Investors are looking for talented individuals they can trust with their money, and they need to feel confident in your capabilities as well as your personality.
Social Expressivity – These are the expressions that we, as humans, will notice in each other’s facial expression, so try to smile to create empathy and not convey hostility, and look in your interlocutor’s eyes as it helps to establish trust between you.
Good posture – Bad posture might be construed as lack of confidence in yourself or the business, so make sure to straighten your spine and shoulders (in a relaxed way) and give them a firm handshake. You can also lean in towards your interlocutor to show that you are listening and your focus is on them.
Look the part – If you want to impress upon your audience that you’re an expert at something you should look like you are. We know that looks don’t mean much as competencies go, but in this occasion your audience will have a short amount of time to decide how they feel about you, so your look will play a role in it. If you’re in a very meticulous business, you don’t want a shirt stain to give the impression that you are not detail-oriented.
Clean communication – Practice your speech before you go and, if possible, test it with colleagues beforehand. Your discourse should be organised and clear, so your audience can follow it easily. Confusing sentences can make your investors go into a rabbit hole of questions that will stray you off the presentation of your ideas the way you wanted to convey them.
No one knows your business better than you.
Show that you know your product and business better than anyone else could.
Know your numbers – You should know your business inside and out as well as the market and competition. If possible, know your numbers by heart, as this will show how involved and knowledgeable you are. If not possible, then include them in the presentation in a impactful and meaningful way.
Show your reasoning – Don’t make bold statements without any backing up data. Always show your investors how did you came to that knowledge and help them be on the same page as you.
Have answers – Try to anticipate what will be their questions and have answers ready that can be tailored for specific questions. Sometimes, your business or market may be too innovative and you might not have all the answers yet. In that case never lie – experienced investors will see right through it. It’s better to be honest – admit that you don’t have all the answers and show them what your company is doing to correct that.
Show off your team – Let them know which problems did you encounter along the way and how did the team solve it, and show them that you are team with the right set of skills that works well together to solve problems.
Focus on your audience.
You want to impress your investors but the best way to do it is to make it all about them.
Know them and their role – In the day of google and social media, there’s no excuse to not recognize your interlocutors upon first meeting. Do a quick research to get to know them and the projects they usually invest on. If they’re corporate, understand their role in the company. If possible, find some of their interests or hobbies that you can bring into conversation to create a good rapport.
Build a conversation – Speak with them and not “at them”. If they direct the conversation towards a specific topic, make sure you show them that you listened and incorporate their concerns into your ideas.
Express your gratitude – Be polite and thank them. After all, they took the time to listen to your ideas.
Easy, right? It seems like a lot of tiny details, and some of these things you might already do naturally or they might be something your mum once told you (they are very good at these, moms). The important thing is that you feel prepared and confident that you’re on the right track for a great first impression.
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The second edition of The Journey is in full throttle!
Brought to you by Turismo de Portugal and fully dedicated to the development of innovation in the Tourism Industry, The Journey is a 3-month program with a global reach. It aims to bring startups dedicated to solving problems in the industry to work alongside Turismo de Portugal and local industry players: Grupo Barraqueiro, Geostar, Pestana Hotel Group, SATA Azores Airlines and NOS.
This second edition is focusing on four big key points:
Personalizing the customer journey
Creating a seamless traveling experience
Improve customer care
Promote conscious travelling
As an important growing industry, tourism is perfectly positioned to create the right conditions for startups and innovation to thrive in Portugal, as pointed out by the president of Turismo de Portugal, Luís Araújo.
“The idea for this project, once again organized by Beta-i, is to reinforce Portugal’s positioning as an entrepreneurship and experimentation platform for startups. At a moment when the digital world both consolidates and conditions the sector’s sustainability, Turismo de Portugal keeps focused on creating a friendly environment for innovation, through several initiatives to support entrepreneurship.”
The bootcamp, which took place last week, gathered 20 selected startups from around the world. Beta-i gave the startups the tools they needed to prepare a business case adapted to the needs of the partners and pilot case plan of action. The week included presentations, workshops and a round of speed-dating (one on one meetings with the corporate partners), motivational talks and sharing of alumni experiences.
The Finalists
These are the 14 startups that are conducting pilot-projects with The Journey’s partners.This exciting phase will develop over the next two months, with the final results being presented on november 20th, at Lisbon Tourism Summit.
Get to know them:
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[item title=”aPieceof.me”]A platform to find unique souvenirs and sustain local commerce and trades
[item title=”Omikuji”] Omikuji is a Software as a Service company committed to democratize the use of Big Data and Advanced Analytics solutions within small, medium and big-size business based on cutting-edge cloud based technology and custom-made data science.
[item title=”Social CxN”]SocialCxN is an automated Influencer Marketing Platform that was designed and developed to make the influencer marketing industry more transparent, collaborative, and efficient for both Brands & Influencers.
[item title=”Timescenery”]Timescenery is a social trip planner and marketplace, making trip planning frictionless and social, especially for multi-leg itineraries, such as road trips, city hopping, business travel or any kinds of trips with busy schedule, including different places to visit and logistics.
[item title=”Venture With Impact”]Venture with Impact brings working professionals to cities abroad in groups of 20 or less. Venturers are provided with living accommodations, workspace, 24-hour support and culturally immersive activities for a period of one month. Venture with Impact participants are matched with an NGO or social business to work on a project that aligns with their professional skills, interests and remote work schedule.
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[item title=”Wall-i”]Wall-I.TV is the most advanced cloud-based Digital Signage OS, able to provide segmented content for the audience consuming the information and versatile enough to be adaptable to the presentation of contents within different context requirements.
