The Web Summit, the main event related to technology and innovative business ideas in Europe, starts today in Lisbon and will feature a LOBBY Algarve.
Several companies from the region in the area of innovation and technology got together to go as a group to this event, which runs until Thursday at FIL, a rare opportunity for young Portuguese companies to enter the radar of large investors.
It was with the aim of increasing his network of contacts that the Algarvian Miguel Fernandes, founder and administrator of the Dengun company, attended the 2015 Web Summit and will be present again this year at the initiative, accompanied by other entrepreneurs from the Algarve. "We got together with other companies, such as Algardata and Conceptek, and we prepared our trip together, so we should go there together", summed up the young entrepreneur, in a conversation with the Sul Informação.
Dengun attends the 2016 edition of this international event with a different status from many of the companies present, as it is not the first time it has been present. “They have a system in which the startups who participate for the first time are considered Alpha. We, as we were in Dublin last year, were invited to be present as a Beta company, which the organization considers to be in a more advanced stage of maturity», he explained.
This could be an advantage for Miguel Fernandes' company, since the status of a Beta company gives it another visibility. "As a short time ago, investors favor contact with Beta companies," he said. Still, he does not believe he will return from Lisbon with promises of investment in his pocket, as this is not the main objective of Web Summit, in his view.
“There are tens of thousands of people and thousands of companies there. It's very difficult to close deals in the three or four days we've been there. Our idea is to do networking and getting as many contacts as possible, with a view to future opportunities. The inspiration component, of getting in contact with other ideas, is also important», explained Miguel Fernandes.
Here, it is worth remembering the numbers of this international event: The Web Summit in Lisbon will have more than 53 participants, representing 15 companies from 166 countries, of which 7 are general directors and 65 percent hold positions in the administration of their companies. Added to this is a list of dozens of luxury guest speakers, coming from all over the world.
The fact that the event takes place, for the first time, in Portugal, could have a beneficial effect for our country, as it «gives another visibility to the startups Portuguese companies'. "This will be a good opportunity for the business fabric, from a national perspective, as the major investors will all be present and will be able to take a closer look at what is being done here," added the founder of Dengun.
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