Tech roundup: AI and what else to expect at Web Summit Rio

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore speaking during the 2017 Web Summit, in Lisbon. Photo: G Holland/Shutterstock

Welcome to our Tech Roundup, where we bring you the biggest stories in technology and innovation in Brazil and Latin America. This week: What to expect from Web Summit Rio, the first edition of the tech event outside Europe.

AI to be the star of Web Summit Rio

Web Summit, Europe’s leading tech event, holds its first edition outside Europe in Rio de Janeiro this week. With more than 20,000 participants, it will draw a crowd four times larger than the organization expected in 2019 when it first considered bringing the event to Latin America.

Why it matters. Founded in 2009, the Web Summit was held in Dublin until 2016, when it moved to Lisbon. The event helped turn the Portuguese capital into a European tech hub and “wants to do the same for Rio de Janeiro,” Artur Pereira, Web Summit’s country manager in Brazil, tells The Brazilian Report.

Mr. Pereira didn’t elaborate on why Rio de Janeiro was chosen as the host city, but added that the 2024 and 2025 editions are already being planned.

Sellout crowd. With ticket prices ranging between BRL 2,045 (USD 404) to BRL 49,995 (with the latter including speaker evening receptions and investor lounge access), Web Summit Rio sold out faster than any other event under the brand.

A gateway to Latin America. “When we thought about bringing the event to the region, we knew the brand was well known in Brazil. The country also makes sense because of the greater number of startups. Obviously, in this first year, there is more participation from Brazilians. I am sure this will balance out in the next editions, so we have more Latin Americans, as is usually the case where we hold our events,” says Mr. Pereira.

Besides hosting conferences in Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro, the Web Summit brand also organizes tech events Collision, in Toronto, and RISE, in Hong Kong.

Direct impact. Rio de Janeiro estimates that six editions of the Web Summit (if all are...

Fabiane Ziolla Menezes

Former editor-in-chief of LABS (Latin America Business Stories), Fabiane has more than 15 years of experience reporting on business, finance, innovation, and cities in Brazil. The latter recently took her back to the classroom and made her a Master in Urban Management from PUCPR. At TBR, she keeps an eye on economic policy, game-changing businesses, and people driving innovation in Latin America.