Web Summit technology megaconference will have branch in Rio

Rio de Janeiro will host the Latin American branch of the Web Summit, one of the largest technology conferences in the world, for three years. The first event will take place in May 2023.

The announcement was made this Tuesday (3) by the conference’s founder, Paddy Cosgrave, and by the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes (PSD).

The Latin American version of the event was also disputed by Brasília and Porto Alegre. In favor of Rio de Janeiro, the fact that the city is, in Cosgrave’s assessment, “a global meeting point” weighed heavily.

“Rio de Janeiro is a global meeting point, not just for Brazil and Latin America, but for the entire world,” he said.

Paes stated that there will be no direct investment from the municipality to host the event. The main sponsor will be Senac, in undisclosed amounts.

The city is expected to host the event for three years, which lasts four days. The first will take place between May 1st and 4th. The main conference will take place in Riocentro, in Barra da Tijuca, but Paes stated that he intends to spread other meetings around the city.

Cosgrove also stated that there will be a program for the inclusion of public school students in the event, without details on how it will take place.

Paes stated that the announcement puts the city back on the route of major international events.

“Rio has always been on the stage of important events for the world. Now, again, we are leading and bringing the best companies, talents and investors to discuss technology and innovation here. Rio already has a tradition of hosting major international events and we are very proud for being chosen as the first city in Latin America to hold an event of this magnitude”, said Paes.

Cosgrove said the city is seen “as one of the hottest destinations for the tech industry.”

“International investors are eyeing Latin America, and Brazil in particular, attracted by some of the hottest startups in the region. Last year alone, Brazil saw more than ten companies achieve unicorn status, while Brazilian startups raised US$ $9.4 billion — triple what was raised in 2020,” Cosgrove said.

​Brazilian cities participated in the Web Summit with an eye on the economic strength of the event, which attracts participants and technology companies from around the world. Representatives from Rio de Janeiro, Brasília and Porto Alegre attended the original version of the Web Summit in Lisbon last year to attract the event.

In a reduced format due to Covid-19, the conference brought together more than 42 thousand people in the Portuguese capital between November 1st and 4th. It was the biggest face-to-face technology meeting since the beginning of the pandemic.

The forecast is that the Web Summit in Lisbon will continue to take place. Cosgrove said there are plans to expand the event to Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.