
In The Picture of Dorian Gray, one of Wilde’s characters – I forget which – tells us that everything useful is ugly because it expresses a need. There’s something profoundly beautiful in the form of Web Summit. What could be more useless than the alpha startup searching for speculators to invest in their game where […]
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The first full day of Web Summit is done. My plan is to drop stuff at my hotel and grab a jacket because, even in Lisbon, this is still a November evening. Maybe I’ll eat something too. Then I’ll be off to the first evening of Night Summit. My experience of Night Summit last year […]
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Most of Web Summit’s startup stalls are grouped together by industry but there are also Partner Startup Islands, many of which are designated to a specific country (or city, in the case of Dublin). Presumably these are places whose governing body is partnered with Web Summit. A startup being grouped with their own industry […]
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Stage 7 is hosting a discussion called “AI’s insatiable appetite for energy”. I take a seat at the media desk and regret wearing a “standing-up” jumpsuit. It’s a relief to get off my feet for a while nonetheless. These critics of AI are broadly correct but their presence here does nothing to counterbalance Web Summit’s […]
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I wander around the startup stalls. Despite talk of AI robotic plumbers at Web Summit 2025 on the main stage, there are very few robotics startups. I do find a startup producing robotic care workers but, considering how poorly compensated human care workers are, I’m skeptical that the financial incentive is really there. The guy […]
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I hypersleep and emerge blinking into the Lisbon sun long before my ADHD meds have kicked in but late enough to have definitely missed breakfast at Media Catering. I’ve already rememorized the journey from my hotel to the MEO Arena and don’t need Google Maps. Google Maps, incidentally, still thinks that pedestrians are subject to […]
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I’m writing this article on the plane to Lisbon for Web Summit 2024. I had hoped to make this article a review of my Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 – a bluetooth keyboard I bought with events like Web Summit in mind, so I could write articles directly on my phone. It’s easier to write on the […]
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I’m sitting at a desk in Web Summit’s Media Village. Nominally this is a drinks reception and most people are chatting but my queer neurodivergent ass, even tweaking on ADHD meds and with all the bolstered confidence that entails, is still too socially awkward to make conversation with the presumed cis. I don’t drink so […]
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At last year’s Web Summit, I was surprised to find that local restaurants and cafes were better for vegan options than the forward-thinking and environmentally conscious conference. Despite the CEO of This (producer of vegan meat alternatives, and notably the best vegan bacon I’m aware of) talking at Web Summit, Media Catering’s vegan options were […]
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In recent years, vaping has evolved from a simple alternative to traditional smoking into a diverse and sophisticated hobby, attracting users who seek unique flavors, customization, and cloud production. The IVG Brand: A Brief Overview Founded in the United Kingdom, IVG has rapidly gained recognition in the vaping community. With a commitment to quality, […]
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