“Há mais startups de São Paulo do que de Paris aqui”, afirma CEO do Web Summit

At the 2026 Web Summit, CEO Paddy Cosgrave highlighted the significant presence of Brazilian startups, noting that São Paulo has more startups represented than Paris. This marks a shift since the event's arrival in Lisbon in 2016, reflecting Brazil's growing influence in the tech sector. Cosgrave emphasized that the Web Summit's expansion to Rio de Janeiro has contributed to this trend. The event attracted over 70,000 participants from 164 countries, showcasing a diverse range of innovations, including Brazil's PIX payment system. The number of Brazilian startups attending has surged from 20 in 2018 to around 300 this year, indicating a robust growth in the tech ecosystem. Cosgrave described Lisbon as the new Silicon Valley of Europe, highlighting Portugal's rise in the tech landscape over the past decade.