Web Summit 2023: A Networking ExtravaganzaÂ
TL;DR: the conference has become a good place for investors and hype train chasers, but not much for engineers.
This short article is useful for individuals who considering visiting WebSummit or regretting missing it.
What is WebSummit?
Web Summit, once hailed as a premier technology conference, has evolved over the years into a networking haven, primarily catering to investors and those seeking to catch the hype train. Founded in 2010 by Paddy Cosgrave, David Kelly, and Daire Hickey, the conference initially brought together a diverse group of attendees, including entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals from various industries. However, its current iteration seems more inclined toward fostering connections than catering to the needs of tech employees.
WebSummit 2023
Web Summit 2023 featured six pavilions, each housing multiple stages and smaller rooms for talks. To navigate the multitude of simultaneous sessions, organizers provided an app with a filtering system based on topic labels.
I had some issues with choosing more than FE and BE development labels since there was just one presentation about it so here are my labels:
Then you get a list of recommendations, make a personalised schedule and here it is, your personal schedule:
Day 1
The first day kicked off with opening speeches and a Night Summit at an abandoned factory, providing a unique techno party setting. However, the focus seemed to lean more toward the networking aspect than substantive content.
Day 2
- Facing 2024: A guide to design
- The digital renaissance: How technology is reshaping design
- The promises of blockchain and Web3 explained
- Are inclusive conversations possible with ChatGPT?
- Welcome to the future of design
- Media literacy in the age of AI
- Why you need to embrace AI "revolution" or get left behind
- Seein opportunity in crisis
- Tech-enabled success and the future of work
This day taught me a lesson to manage my expectations. Yet, the overarching themes emerged as overly generic ones, primarily targeting C-level executives rather than providing actionable insights for a broader audience.
Day 3
- The green startups landscape in Germany: Business opportunities
- Mobile: Everything, everywhere, all at once
- Web3: Winning over gen Z and gen Alpha
- Is consumer Web3 having a moment?
- Is tech hurting democracy?
- What it takes to be a technical leader?
- Night summit at Pavilihao Carlos Lopes
The third day brought a more promising turn with the managed expectations of mine. I finally found the most valuable talk for me "What it takes to be a technical leader?" for the whole conference.
Day 4
- The future of gaming
- Harnessing AI's creative potential in the design industry
- How to build a positive corporate brand reputation
- The Geek Way
- How will AI help you do your job better?
- Scaling up tech: From purpose to impact
- A career journey is not a straight line
- Love, sex and robots: Dating in 2023
Yet, the absence of concrete methods or frameworks applicable to day-to-day work left a gap for tech enthusiasts seeking practical insights.
Pros to participate
- Experience in organizing a massive event with 70,236 attendees.
- Opportunities for investment and seeking investments for your business.
- Suitable for sales/marketing employees exploring job changes.
- Insight into the latest trends attractive to investors, potentially guiding career development.
- High-quality business networking opportunities.
- Locations and decorations for Night summits are awesome.
Cons to not participate
- Lack of concrete methods or frameworks affecting day-to-day work.
- Limited technical content for tech enthusiasts seeking code or design patterns.
- Absence of hands-on masterclasses for learning new skills.
- Challenging for individuals uncomfortable with extensive collaboration and networking demands.
Overall
Web Summit 2023 demonstrated exceptional organization, boasted a fantastic location, and offered ample investment opportunities. However, it left a void for software engineers, failing to deliver the substantive technical content one would expect from a leading tech conference. As the main stage tackled questions about investing in football clubs like Arsenal or Chelsea, it raises the question of whether the event still aligns with its tech-centric identity. The abundance of generic LLM (Large Lecture Meeting) discussions further exacerbated the disappointment for tech enthusiasts, leaving them yearning for more meaningful, industry-specific content.
