Digital Greenhouse at Web Summit Lisbon 2024

Attending Web Summit Lisbon 2024 was an incredible opportunity for the Digital Greenhouse and the six Guernsey-based businesses which we took with us. This event, one of the largest tech conferences in the world, gathers innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, present solutions, and inspire the future of technology and business. As Guernsey’s dedicated entrepreneurial and innovation hub, we seized this platform to showcase some of the inspiring businesses that we work with. As well as exhibiting Guernsey as a great place to start and grow a business. 

Guernsey may be a small island, but its entrepreneurial spirit is anything but small. The Digital Greenhouse plays a pivotal role in fostering this vibrant ecosystem by supporting startups, nurturing innovation, and providing a collaborative space for business and creative minds to thrive. At Web Summit, we highlighted the advantages Guernsey offers to entrepreneurs and businesses, such as its supportive community and the Digital Greenhouse’s tailored programmes that give startups and entrepreneurs access to mentorship, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships to help their businesses grow.

One of the key messages we shared at Web Summit was the success of businesses that have emerged from Guernsey’s ecosystem. Taking six businesses with us to illustrate this point – Koadx, Crewdentials, C Section UK, Stage Portal, Uniteverse, and EaseeDo, as part of the new Global Growth Programme. Spanning healthtech, eventtech, marinetech and more, each business brought a unique proposition, reflecting the breadth of innovation emanating from the Guernsey ecosystem.

The founders promoted their businesses from the Guernsey stand - doing product demos and making hundreds of new connections with potential customers, partners and investors alike. They also attended networking events and a variety of talks that were scheduled throughout the 3-day conference. New relationships were forged with like-minded innovators, potential collaborations and partnerships were explored and opportunities identified to introduce fresh ideas to their businesses. Some of the biggest takeaways for the businesses included ways to refine their product messaging, and carrying out all important product research, as well as making connections to open up markets in different countries.

Stage Portal took their experience to the next level by being accepted into the Web Summit Alpha Programme, earning their own stand to promote their product alongside other emerging startups. Selected from tens of thousands of applicants, they met rigorous criteria, including showcasing high-impact ideas, an impressive growth trajectory, and a commitment to solving real-world challenges. Additionally, they were chosen to pitch on a global stage as one of the top 125 startups featured in the Startup Showcase. This achievement makes them the second Guernsey business to join the Alpha Programme after Koadx’s success in 2023.  

Being present at a global event like Web Summit matters. It’s about more than just promoting what the Digital Greenhouse does… It’s about giving Guernsey-based businesses a platform to accelerate their growth and introduce them to new markets. It is about giving the business founders opportunities and inspiration that can’t be found locally. It is also a signal of Guernsey’s commitment to innovation and support for entrepreneurs in order to diversify the economy. It’s about sharing the vision of an island that’s ready to embrace the future of work and technology. By attending Web Summit, we could explore opportunities to drive innovation, spark creativity, and make a meaningful impact on the global stage.