What is the Web Summit´s impact on Portugal´s economy?
Web Summit Lisbon News - The Web Summit´s impact on Portugal´s economy was extremely significant since it has contributed nearly 2.5 billion euros to the Portuguese economy over the past decade, according to data published by an EY study. Below is a diagram showing the impact of the Web Summit on Portugal´s Startup Ecosystem in 2025, as well as data showing the Gross Output of the Web Summit in Portugal, the Gross Value Added, the Tax Revenue obtained in the last decade; and the amount of equity, assets and turnover obtained by participating Portuguese Startups. Google Trends data for the term “Lisbon” show a consistently positive trend in search interest at the global level and in both the USA and Canada between 2016 and 2024, indicating a steady increase in Lisbon´s startup reputation.
For Lisbon, repeated media exposure driven by the Web Summit has accumulated some 114,000 global mentions and USD 3.0B in advertising value equivalency over the period covered, up to May 2026, comprising USD 2.3B from international media and USD 0.7B from Portuguese media. Search interest has shown a sustained upward trend internationally, particularly in the USA and Canada.
For Portugal’s startup ecosystem, international coverage has shifted from contextual references to more direct, narrative-driven articles, suggesting stronger ecosystem maturity, national anchoring and more targeted international visibility. Across the ten Web Summits held in Lisbon, close to 100,000 startups have participated, of which more than 21,000 also exhibited. A large share of early-stage startups attending had access to investors, partners and market intelligence. In 2025, the Web Summit attracted 1,857 investors, creating a fertile ground for deal-making, pitch sessions, and connections between capital and innovation.
1 - What is the data on the Web Summit´s impact on Portugal´s economy?
The data on the Web Summit´s impact on Portugal´s economy, according to a 2026 study by EY, reveal the following figures:
What is the Gross Output of the Web Summit in Portugal in the last decade?
The Gross Output of the Web Summit in Portugal reached 2.5 billion euros between 2016-2025, according to EY.
What is the Gross Value Added of the Web Summit in Portugal in the last decade?
The Gross Value Added of the Web Summit in Portugal reached 1.3 billion euros between 2016-2025, according to EY.
What is the Tax Revenue obtained by Portugal through the Web Summit in Lisbon in the last decade?
The Tax Revenue obtained by Portugal through the Web Summit in Lisbon reached 343 million euros between 2016-2025, according to EY.
2 - What is the data on the Web Summit´s impact on Portuguese Startups?
The data on the Web Summit´s impact on Portuguese Startups, according to a 2026 study by EY, reveal the following figures:
What is the amount of equity obtained by Portuguese Startups at the Web Summit in Lisbon?
Participating startups at the Web Summit in Lisbon built substantially more equity over time, reaching equity levels around 4x higher on average after participation, although the effect emerges later and is less steady than revenue or hiring growth.
What is the impact of the Web Summit in Lisbon on the assets of participating Startups?
Participating startups at the Web Summit in Lisbon reached total asset levels around 2.7x higher on average post-event.
What is the impact of the Web Summit in Lisbon on the turnover of participating Startups?
Participating startups at the Web Summit in Lisbon reached turnover levels around 8x higher on average post-event. The aggregate turnover impact of the Web Summit in Lisbon reached €663 M in 2025, driven mainly by companies scaling up after the event rather than by improved business survival.
Portugal’s startup ecosystem expanded materially between 2016 and 2025: the number of startups more than doubled to 5,091, turnover reached €2.86 billion, exports reached €1.57 billion, employment stood at around 28,000 FTE, and average monthly wages reached €2,200.
3 - Here is a diagram showing the impact of the Web Summit on Portugal´s Startup Ecosystem in 2025:
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