{"id":2855,"date":"2023-10-26T21:28:12","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T21:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anabrzakovic.com\/?p=2855"},"modified":"2023-10-26T21:28:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T21:28:27","slug":"three-tips-for-those-of-you-going-to-web-summit-in-lisbon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anabrzakovic.com\/en\/three-tips-for-those-of-you-going-to-web-summit-in-lisbon\/","title":{"rendered":"Three tips for those of you going to Web Summit in Lisbon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This year will be my 4th time attending Web Summit<\/a> in Lisbon. I\u2019m not sure how often people go there, but I do feel like I am subscribed to this event \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Web Summit is the largest technology conference in Europe and it\u2019s happening in Lisbon every year. The city of Lisbon is subsidizing the conference as they want to build their image as a start-up city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Web Summit brings and gathers thousands (this year it will be 2500) startups and around 70.000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So yeah \u2013 it is impressive but guess what \u2013 it\u2019s also very crowded! <\/strong>\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They are masters in organizing this big event and they already got bunch of useful resources at their website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What this blog post will be about are some tips and tricks for those of you coming for the first time from someone who is basically a senior attendee \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should you expect when coming to Web Summit?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Expect A LOT OF waiting!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Even though the organization is superb \u2013 everything is clearly marked, there are many volunteers helping you find your way \u2013 expect to wait in lines a lot. So whenever you go anywhere \u2013 make sure you give yourself some extra time to reach your destination because you will need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will wait to get your accreditation and register (there are points for this at the airport as well \u2013 so if possible register there)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will wait to enter the arena \u2013 especially if you\u2019re arriving at peak time \u2013 before the beginning \u2013 many people will want to get in and you all have to go through security check so the lines are big.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will wait to get your coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will wait to fill your water bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will wait to get your food and drinks (especially during lunch hours)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*This piece of advice might be the most important one so far:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will wait to use the restroom – so never wait until last minute to use it \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will wait to get in the public transport (especially during peak hours \u2013 when everyone is coming to the arena or leaving, at the end).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro tip:<\/strong> there are electric scooters you can rent via app and use them to get back to the city center. You can drive almost the entire trip by the water and it\u2019s quite nice \u2013 although it\u2019s long \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The point is – equip yourself with patience<\/strong> and use this waiting to get to know people around you. It\u2019s perfect way to meet new people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t put too many things in your schedule.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the web summit app, you can plan your own schedule and pick the lectures and sessions you want to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is the main arena (where the central stage is) and 5 big halls \u2013 where other stages are and where companies have their stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When choosing which conference\/lecture to attend, make sure you don\u2019t overfill your schedule because you won\u2019t succeed to hear and watch everything you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are just too many things going on every day, all day long. The truth is \u2013 you will miss more things than the ones you will see. <\/strong>Pick only the ones that are really, really important for you and you believe would be useful and great to hear \u2013 and set a goal to attend those.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When picking which lesson to watch \u2013 make sure that they are happening in the same venue (hall) or that they are nearby. You will need 10-20-30 minutes (depending on the distance and the how crowded it is) to go from one hall to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you pick to watch\/listen two lectures that are one after another, but in a different hall \u2013 you will probably miss the other one or arrive in the middle of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was my mistake during the first Web Summit I attended. I was just running around from one hall to another trying to make it to all the lectures I chose to watch\u2026 But I missed many. And I was tired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Use every opportunity to meet people and network.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are many lectures, sessions, presentations, and events going on during web summit \u2013 but the most important and beneficial thing here \u2013 as at every conference \u2013 is networking \u2013 or the people you meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the app you have all the people that are attending the summit. If you have a clear goal for what you want to achieve during the conference, and you know what kind of people you would like to meet \u2013 do a reach out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore the web summit app and make a list of the people you would like to meet. Send them messages and try to arrange meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expect that majority of them will not reply \u2013 but some will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people will probably reach out to you as well. I have met a few interesting people this way, although I don\u2019t use the conference to pitch and sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I prefer to really get to know people I meet. Networking may or may not lead to doing some business afterwards \u2013 but I enjoy being curious about people and getting to know them rather than trying to sell them something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People tend to be more open and easy-going during networking hours (which is after the program finishes), so accept the invitations for evening events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know that there is always a good network of people coming from my country \u2013 and this might be the case with people coming from other countries as well. We usually have a Viber group and events organized almost every night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, again \u2013 the most important thing is \u2013 what\u2019s your goal? Do you aspire to connect more domestically or internationally? Choose your activities based on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See & enjoy the city<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re tired \u2013 and trust me, you will be tired, and probably overwhelmed with so many people around – motivate yourself to go out and enjoy the city those few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you enjoy many Miradouros (the amazing views of the city, mostly in the part of the city called Alfama), listen to some Fado, try Pasteis de Nata (amazing sweet pastry), go see Belem tower and the bridge April 25 \u2013 which is the same as the famous Golden Gate bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are attending Web Summit 2023 and would like to grab a coffee and chat, let me know \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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