The world-renowned Web Summit, named "the best technology conference on the planet" by Forbes magazine, made its North American debut at the Vancouver Convention Centre in 2025. After a five-year tradition in Toronto (replacing the Collision conference), the first edition in Vancouver, which took place from May 27 to 30, 2025, attracted over 15,000 participants, including 1,100 startups and more than 650 investors. It showcased the local innovative ecosystem with a focus on AI, gaming, cleantech, and digital media.
"This year, Web Summit moved to Vancouver for the first time and expectations were high. As in previous years in Toronto, we brought a delegation of Czech startups to attend the event. Although the event was smaller than in Toronto, the networking opportunities were just as strong," said Karolína Konicarová, director of the Canadian branch of CzechInvest, assessing the event.
Czech representation at Web Summit Vancouver
CzechInvest and representative offices in Canada regularly organize Czech delegations to this conference, and this year was no exception. Representatives of seven innovative Czech companies (e.g., AVALTAR, Myco, Pointee, Addaris ERP & Ecommerce solution, and Zircon Tree) joined thousands of participants from around the world in Vancouver. They presented their solutions in areas such as sustainable packaging made from mycelium, process automation, marketing technologies, security systems using artificial intelligence, and modern ERP platforms.
As always, Web Summit offered ample opportunities for networking, establishing new business partnerships, and engaging in inspiring discussions on six themed stages that reflected current trends in the world of technology and innovation. Energy solutions and the state of the climate were also discussed, as was artificial intelligence, including its risks and the ability of people to function in the new AI world. For Czech startups, CzechInvest, together with the Czech Embassy in Canada and with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, organized a meeting with the Czech business community living in Vancouver.
Polish & Czech Startup Night brought together innovation and investors
CzechInvest, together with its Polish partners – the Canadian-Polish Business Association and the Polish Agency for Investment and Trade (PAIH) – organized Polish & Czech Startup Night. This evening event allowed Czech and Polish companies to establish deeper contacts with the Canadian innovation community and open doors to new partners, investors, and mainstream publicity in North America.
"The event attracted a diverse mix of startups, investors, and ecosystem builders from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Canada, united by a shared vision of cross-border innovation and entrepreneurship," said the Canadian-Polish Business Association (CPBA). The Czech participation in Web Summit Vancouver 2025 was not only about presenting technological solutions, but also about strengthening ties between the Czech business community and the expatriate community in Canada.
Web Summit will return to Vancouver in 2026, and CzechInvest will be there again, ready to support Czech startups on their journey towards globalization.
For more information about the conference, visit the official Web Summit Vancouver website.