Later this month, Vancouver will host one of the world’s most influential technology conferences – Web Summit – marking a powerful moment for BC’s tech sector.
For local companies, this is more than just a global event arriving on our doorstep. It’s a once-in-a-decade opportunity to accelerate growth, scale partnerships, and showcase BC as a world-class tech destination.
What Web Summit Will Do for BC Tech Companies
Recent polling of BC Tech members reveals what’s top of mind for local attendees: 44% say their primary goal is to drive sales or partnerships, while another 25% seek strategic insights. 13% intend to build brand exposure and another 13% are laser-focused on raising capital. An opportunistic 5% intend to recruit talent. The message is clear – our companies are coming with purpose and a growth mindset. They’re looking for deals, connections, and intelligence that can move the needle.
To truly benefit, BC tech companies must approach Web Summit like they would any growth opportunity – with focus, preparation, and a plan to deliver outcomes. That means identifying potential partners in advance, crafting crisp pitches, and being ready to follow through. This is not a tradeshow, it’s a global marketplace of ideas, capital, and opportunity.
We’re also hearing from members about what they find attracts investor interest in today’s climate. Revenue is not enough – emerging sector momentum, a clear path to profitability, and compelling product-market fit are critical. For founders, this signals the importance of tightening messaging and aligning with macro trends – whether it’s AI, climate tech, or digital health.
What Web Summit Will Do for BC
Hosting Web Summit in Vancouver is more than a signal – it’s a stake in the ground. It tells the world that BC is open for business, driven by innovation, and hungry for the talent and capital needed to scale globally.
The timing couldn’t be better. The global tech landscape is shifting. Investors are looking beyond Silicon Valley. Companies are rethinking where to grow. Web Summit puts BC in the spotlight – and we must seize it.
This is our chance to show that Canada is the next global tech powerhouse, with the drive, vision, and government support to attract top-tier talent and global investment. It’s our chance to highlight Vancouver’s unique position – a gateway to both North America and the Asia-Pacific. And it’s our chance to demonstrate that we are a sustainability-first, AI-forward, founder-rich ecosystem, ready to build the future.
Success shouldn’t be measured by attendance or speakers – but by what gets built after the event: new investments, expanded teams, global partnerships, and lasting economic growth.
Web Summit is not a silver bullet. But it is a powerful catalyst – if we choose to treat it that way. For BC’s tech sector, this is not just a global event. It’s a BC opportunity.
Jill Tipping is the President and CEO of the BC Tech Association.
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