Founder guide
Use this shortlist when your priority is meeting other founders, investors, operators and ecosystem leaders rather than attending every event during Web Summit week.
How this guide works
This page includes published founder-networking events with a 2-star or 3-star editorial rating. Broader arrival meetups and lower-priority options remain available in the full directory.
Before you register
Live directory selection
Compare the date, audience, access rules and format before registering. A smaller event with the right audience can be more useful than a large general meetup.
Recommended by Enchant
These events are organized by Enchant and match this guide's published criteria. Registration opens on the official event page.
FeaturedEnchant eventBy Enchant
Enchant brings together applied AI founders, active investors and corporate leaders for pitches, expert feedback and networking.
FeaturedEnchant eventBy Enchant
An Enchant pitch and networking evening for fintech founders, investors and financial industry leaders.
FeaturedEnchant eventBy Enchant
An Enchant pitch party connecting gaming founders and creators with investors, publishers and entertainment industry leaders.
FeaturedEnchant eventBy Enchant
An Enchant pitch and networking evening for travel-tech startups, investors and leaders across travel, mobility and hospitality.
FeaturedEnchant eventBy Enchant
An Enchant pitch and networking evening for healthtech founders, investors, healthcare innovators and industry experts.
Independent listings
FeaturedBy Yorkseed Global Venture Network
A full-day Yorkseed gathering in Lisbon for founders, investors and cross-border venture connections ahead of Web Summit week.
By MELLA SUPPLY
An opening gathering for Black and PALOP founders, professionals, talent and allies before Web Summit week begins.
By Indvstry Clvb
A small opening-night poolside gathering for founders, creative leaders, investors and executives.
By Yellow Rocks
A team-based intellectual game hosted by Alexander Drouz, followed by awards, an autograph session and networking with founders and investors.
FeaturedBy Yorkseed Global Venture Network
Yorkseed closes its summit with an evening gathering timed for the start of Web Summit week in Lisbon.
By B2PORTUGAL
A multi-day matchmaking programme connecting startups, scaleups, investors and strategic partners during Web Summit week.
FeaturedBy Portugal Tech Week / 351 Portuguese Startup Association
The five-day flagship venue of Portugal Tech Week, bringing founders, investors, researchers, creatives and policymakers together in Lisbon.
FeaturedBy AI Builders
A full-day summit on AI-native engineering workflows, product delivery and the operation of production AI systems.
By Canopy Community Calendar / In Residence
A practical one-day programme helping founders prepare their story, pitch and investor conversations for Web Summit week.
FeaturedBy FamilyOfficesInvestors
A multi-day family office and investor program in Lisbon with summit sessions and limited dinner access.
FeaturedBy TechEmbassy
A startup pitch competition, investor feedback and networking evening alongside Web Summit Lisbon 2026.
FeaturedBy Pre-seed to Succeed
An approval-based startup pitch night with investor Q&A, networking, music and discussion of venture trends.
By Kantis / Misha
An easy morning 5K followed by coffee for founders, early-stage operators and selected ecosystem participants.
FeaturedBy VNTR
A full-day summit for vetted investment decision-makers, with deal sessions, investor roundtables, networking and an evening afterparty.
By Yorkseed Global Venture Network
A Yorkseed lunch focused on venture capital connections during Web Summit week.
By Indvstry Clvb
A focused creator-economy programme on turning culture, community and intellectual property into sustainable businesses.
FeaturedBy Superconnectors
Selected founders present a critical business ask to vetted connectors who compete to make the strongest introduction.
FeaturedBy Sobremesa Agency
An invite-only competition for pre-seed and seed AI and deep-tech founders, active VCs and frontier-technology operators.
FeaturedBy BeGlobe PR Agency
An invite-only BeGlobe gathering connecting international founders, investors, family offices and journalists with the US market.
By RedBridge Lisbon
A curated Lisbon happy hour connecting European founders with US investors and operators during Web Summit week.
By VNTR
A founder-and-investor evening following VNTR Summit, with drinks, music and informal investment conversations.
By Perspective
A Web Summit week panel and networking night for ecommerce founders, brands, marketers and AI builders.
By Zubr Capital
A Web Summit evening for founders, entrepreneurs and investors, built around practical conversations about building successful companies through rapid change.
By Raymond Hannes, Michael Fiorentino & Jaren Schippert
An approval-based networking and community party for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, investors, corporates and allies.
FeaturedBy Spark
An invitation-only afternoon for institutional allocators, family offices, fund managers and founders building European technology infrastructure.
By Canopy Community Calendar / Portugal Tech Week
A Canopy community demo night where startups share progress, validation and next steps with the Web Summit week audience.
FeaturedBy Indvstry Clvb
A 40-seat dinner for founders, investors and creative leaders building at the intersection of culture and technology.
By beel / Germany Trade & Invest
A curated evening connecting German startups and founders with international investors and ecosystem participants.
By Female Founders Breakfast
A curated breakfast for women founders, innovators and change-makers during Web Summit week.
By Yellow Rocks
Yellow Rocks brings founders, investors, portfolio companies and friends of the fund together for its annual Web Summit afterparty.
By Led by Community
A full-day conference, workshop, unconference and afterparty for community professionals, founders and ecosystem builders.
By Venture Capital World Summit OU
A full-day investment conference connecting businesses and entrepreneurs with investors and international growth expertise.
Planning answers
Many side events use separate registration and do not state that a Web Summit ticket is required. Always check the organizer page because approval, capacity and ticket rules differ by event.
Prioritize explicit audience fit and format. Pitch sessions are useful for feedback and investor exposure, while dinners and curated rooms generally favor fewer, longer conversations.
Continue planning
