An exclusive opportunity for Swiss and German-speaking companies to break into North America’s booming tech market.
What Is Web Summit?
If you haven’t heard of Web Summit yet, get ready to mark it firmly on your radar. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential technology conferences, Web Summit is where the global tech community comes together to shape the future. Founded in Dublin and now headquartered in Lisbon, the event has grown from a small gathering of Irish tech enthusiasts into a truly planetary phenomenon — attracting tens of thousands of founders, investors, executives, journalists, and policymakers from every corner of the globe.
What sets Web Summit apart from ordinary trade shows is its sheer scale and diversity of thought. Over 15 dedicated conference tracks span the full breadth of modern technology — from artificial intelligence and machine learning, SaaS, fintech, and cybersecurity, to healthtech, edtech, sustainability, and beyond. Keynote stages host Nobel laureates, heads of state, and the CEOs of the world’s largest companies in the same breath as scrappy two-person startups pitching their first product. The result is an atmosphere unlike any other: electric, fast-moving, and full of possibility.
For Swiss and German-speaking entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators, Web Summit represents one of the most strategic investments a company can make. It is not just a conference — it is a launching pad.
Web Summit Vancouver 2026 — Coming to Your Backyard
For the second consecutive year, Web Summit is bringing its celebrated formula to Vancouver, British Columbia — right here on the West Coast of North America. Web Summit Vancouver 2026 will take place from May 11–14, 2026, at the Vancouver Convention Centre, one of Canada’s premier event venues situated in the heart of downtown Vancouver, steps from the waterfront and easily accessible from across the region.
This is not the Lisbon edition scaled down for the continent. Web Summit Vancouver is a fully standalone flagship event, drawing 15,000+ technology leaders from more than 110 countries, including over 680 investors, more than 1,000 startups, and 550+ members of the international media. The 2025 inaugural edition proved the formula works brilliantly in the Pacific Northwest, and 2026 is already shaping up to be significantly larger.
For Westcoast German News readers — many of whom live and work in this very region — the timing and location couldn’t be more ideal. World-class international technology exposure, right here in Vancouver.
Who Will Be There?
Web Summit Vancouver attracts a uniquely high-calibre cross-section of the global technology world. You can expect to share the floor with:
- Founders and CEOs from both venture-backed startups and established tech giants
- 680+ active investors — venture capitalists, angel investors, and corporate venture arms — actively seeking deals
- 1,000+ startups in various stages, from pre-seed through to Series C and beyond
- 550+ international media representatives from outlets including WIRED, MIT Technology Review, TechCrunch, and global broadcast networks
- Policymakers, government ministers, and innovation agency leaders
- Enterprise buyers and procurement decision-makers from Fortune 500 companies
Past Web Summit events in Lisbon have seen keynotes and appearances from figures such as Gary Marcus (AI safety researcher), Jay Graber (CEO of Bluesky), and top executives from Visa, IBM, and more. The Vancouver edition brings this same calibre of talent to North America’s technology gateway.
Why You Should Be Excited to Participate in 2026
Canada is currently ranked #4 globally for startup ecosystems, and Vancouver specifically is one of the fastest-growing technology hubs in North America. The city sits at the intersection of Asian and North American markets, is home to thriving AI research clusters, and boasts a multilingual, internationally-minded business community — making it exceptionally welcoming to Swiss and German-speaking companies.
The numbers speak for themselves: according to Crunchbase data, startups that participated in Collision 2024 — Web Summit’s previous North American flagship event — raised $1.2 billion USD in funding within the following 12 months. This is not a passive networking event. It is a deal-making machine.
For Swiss companies in particular, the opportunity is structural. Switzerland consistently ranks among the world’s top innovation economies, yet Swiss startups and scale-ups are often underrepresented in North American market conversations. The SwissTech Pavilion changes that — creating a branded, high-visibility Swiss presence that commands attention and builds credibility from day one.
Introducing the SwissTech Pavilion
Organised by Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE), the SwissTech Pavilion is the official Swiss national presence at Web Summit Vancouver 2026. It operates as a collective exhibit space where Swiss companies — whether early-stage startups or global market leaders — can showcase their innovations under the internationally recognised SwissTech brand.
Participating in the Pavilion delivers benefits that are simply not achievable when attending Web Summit individually. The Swiss brand carries enormous weight in international business: it signals quality, precision, trustworthiness, and innovation. Walking into a room of global investors and enterprise buyers as part of a coordinated Swiss national delegation is a fundamentally different experience from attending alone.
Key benefits of joining the SwissTech Pavilion include:
- Exclusive visibility — stand out under the SwissTech brand and contribute to Switzerland’s global reputation for quality and trust
- High-impact audience — connect directly with global buyers, decision-makers, and investors in one of the world’s most vibrant tech gatherings
- Networking and business development — access curated meetings, partner matchmaking, and targeted networking designed to drive leads, partnerships, and investment conversations
- A launchpad for emerging companies — leveraging the infrastructure and credibility of an established national pavilion
- Private events — active participation in exclusive events organised by the Consulate General of Switzerland and Business Location Switzerland
SwissTech Partner Packages — Find Your Level
S-GE offers four carefully structured participation tiers to suit companies at every stage of growth and with different objectives. Whether your goal is brand visibility, stage presence, investor access, or all three, there is a package designed for you. All packages include on-site branding, digital channel exposure, access to the Pavilion networking area, inclusion in the Web Summit press release, and participation in private events hosted by the Consulate General of Switzerland and Business Location Switzerland.
| ⚡ GIGABIT TIER | CHF 10,000* |
| ✓ Branding on-site and across all digital channels for the SwissTech Pavilion |
| ✓ Guaranteed Web Summit stage speaking slot (*C-level speaker) |
| ✓ Four presentations at the Pavilion |
| ✓ Full access to the Pavilion networking area for your meetings |
| ✓ Inclusion in the Web Summit press release |
| ✓ Active participation in private events by the Consulate General of Switzerland and Business Location Switzerland |
| ✓ 20 Web Summit tickets (CHF 5,000 value) |
| ✓ Targeted networking opportunities by Swiss Business Hubs |
| 📡 MEGABIT TIER | CHF 5,000* |
| ✓ Branding on-site and across all digital channels for the SwissTech Pavilion |
| ✓ Two presentations at the Pavilion |
| ✓ Full access to the Pavilion networking area for your meetings |
| ✓ Inclusion in the Web Summit press release |
| ✓ Active participation in private events by the Consulate General of Switzerland and Business Location Switzerland |
| ✓ 10 Web Summit tickets (CHF 2,500 value) |
| 📶 KILOBIT TIER | CHF 2,500* |
| ✓ Branding on-site and across all digital channels for the SwissTech Pavilion |
| ✓ One presentation at the Pavilion |
| ✓ Full access to the Pavilion networking area for your meetings |
| ✓ Inclusion in the Web Summit press release |
| ✓ Active participation in private events by the Consulate General of Switzerland and Business Location Switzerland |
| ✓ 5 Web Summit tickets (CHF 1,250 value) |
| 🚀 STARTUP PACKAGE | From CHF 1,500* |
| ✓ Branding on-site and across all digital channels for the SwissTech Pavilion |
| ✓ Clear identification by the Swiss design |
| ✓ Designated presentations and discussions at the SwissTech Pavilion |
| ✓ Matchmaking session and guidance provided by Swissnex and Swiss Business Hubs |
* All prices exclude VAT. For customised packages or tailored sponsorship arrangements beyond the listed tiers, please contact the S-GE organising team directly.
How to Get Involved
Applications and enquiries for the SwissTech Pavilion at Web Summit Vancouver 2026 are managed by Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE). To review the full participation offer and download the official package PDF, visit:
www.s-ge.com/en/event/swiss-pavilion/swisstech-pavilion-web-summit-vancouver-2026
For companies that may qualify for Innosuisse support, note that applications must be submitted through the official S-GE application form — not directly to Innosuisse. Eligibility requires active Innosuisse Coaching or an Innosuisse Certificate obtained within the past three years.
For custom package arrangements or in-kind contribution discussions, reach out directly to the S-GE team. Spaces within the Pavilion are limited, and given the strong interest following the successful 2025 debut, early application is strongly recommended.
The West Coast Is Calling — Don’t Miss the Swiss Story
Web Summit Vancouver 2026 is a rare alignment of timing, geography, and opportunity. For Swiss and German-speaking companies in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, this is the moment to step onto a global stage — not as a lone exhibitor in a sea of booths, but as part of a proud, unified delegation representing one of the world’s great innovation nations.
The SwissTech Pavilion is your platform. Vancouver is your gateway. The world’s tech community will be watching.
See you in May.
For more information: Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) | www.s-ge.com • Web Summit Vancouver | vancouver.websummit.com
TAGS: #SwissTech #WebSummitVancouver #SwissTechPavilion #SwissInnovation #TechVancouver #WestcoastGermanNews
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