New start time: 12:00.
We've moved the start to 12:00 to see how the weather situation develops.
We are now full.
If you received the Luma confirmation from Ash, you're in.

Disclaimer: Heavy rain, but we're indoors; public transport runs, ride-hailing may be slow · Independent, unofficial gathering, not affiliated with Web Summit · Attendance at your own risk · €40 paid directly to the venue covers food and drinks during the day; we collect no money See full disclaimer

Investors only · by application · Wed 11 Nov

WebSummit cancelled? Welcome to WET SUMMIT.

The storm may have closed the venue. It hasn't closed the conversation. A group of investors is opening a pop-up private members' club for one day: somewhere central to co-work, meet and stay dry. And for anyone who wants it, an unconference: you pitch the topics, the room picks them, small groups dig in, and everyone reports back.

Wed 11 NovemberDay 12:00–18:00 · after-work party from 18:00Garagem da Vizinha by WOTELSInvestor badge & bracelet mandatoryAbout 70 places€40 paid to the venue: covers food & drinksBusiness casual

Safety first: we're monitoring the weather overnight and will make a final decision tomorrow morning, based on everyone's safety and the government's announcements. We'll keep all approved participants informed as plans develop.

Apply to join See the day

It's rain­storming outside.
We'll be brain­storming inside.

Not a conference hall. A room full of people who write cheques, talking about what they actually think.

Three days of panels can tell you what people say on stage. This is the other part: the conversation after the panel, with the people who were in the audience.

It runs as an unconference. Nobody is booked to speak. Anyone can pitch a topic in sixty seconds, the room votes, and the board becomes the day. We work in small groups, then each group gives the whole room five minutes: what we concluded, where we disagreed, and what we'd do differently on Monday.

When
Wed 11 NovDay 12:00–18:00, after-work party from 18:00. Come for the 12:45 topic market if you want a say in the day.
Where
Garagem da Vizinhaby WOTELS, Rua Pedro Nunes 10, Lisbon (Saldanha). Open in Maps
Who
Investors onlyAngel investors, VCs, family offices, corporate VCs, private equity and LPs. Strictly by application and approval, verified investors only. Your WebSummit investor badge and bracelet are mandatory at the door. About 70 places.
Price
€40, paid to the venueWe don't collect any money: the €40 is paid directly to the venue and covers your food and drinks during the day. Day 12:00–18:00, then the after-work party from 18:00.
Dress
Business casualAnd a raincoat.
How it works

You bring the agenda

  1. Pitch a topic

    Sixty seconds, one card. A question you're wrestling with, not your fund or your portfolio.

  2. The room votes

    Three dots each. The most wanted topics become the board: three rounds of parallel groups.

  3. Work it in a group

    Five to eight people, sixty minutes, one scribe, one presenter. Move groups whenever you like.

  4. Five honest minutes

    Every group reports back: conclusion, disagreements, three takeaways, one open question.

Anchor topics

Six questions to start the board

Taken from WebSummit's own programme, most of them scheduled for Wednesday. They're on the wall when you arrive. Pick them, merge them, or pitch something better.

The 10-person unicorn

If the next hire isn't human, what are we actually underwriting at pre-seed and seed: the team, distribution, data, or speed?

From the agenda: "The 10-Person Unicorn: Who Builds It First?" · Wed 10:15

Moats after the next model

Which AI companies get better when the model gets better, and which get eaten? Is AI flattening the market or concentrating it?

From the agenda: "Is AI flattening the tech market or concentrating it?" · Wed 14:40 · "Rethinking risk, moats, and value in VC" · Tue

The DPI drought

Exits take longer and LPs want cash back. Secondaries, continuation funds, earlier M&A: what's working, and what does it mean for angels?

From the agenda: "Where capital is flowing in 2026, and why" · Wed 13:45 · "Your exit starts now" · Tue

Capital beyond equity

Robotics, chips and industrial AI need capex that venture can't fund alone. Debt, grants, sovereign money, customers as financiers: who funds Europe's hard tech?

From the agenda: "Capital beyond equity" · Wed 14:45 · "Putting the silicon back in Silicon Valley" · Wed 13:30

Angels together

Syndicates, community funds and angel networks: how do individual investors get access, share diligence and stay disciplined?

From the agenda: "Community-driven investments meetup" · Wed 13:30 · "Redefining what is investable" · Wed 14:00

Zero-billion-dollar markets

What industries don't exist yet but will by 2030, and how do you back a market before it has a name?

From the agenda: "Investing in zero billion dollar markets" · Wed 10:50

The day

Wednesday, 12:00 to 18:00, then the party

  1. DoorsFood and drinks from noon, covered by the €40 you pay directly to the venue. Name tags carry a first name and one question you came with.
  2. WelcomeWhy we're here, the house rules, how the day works.
  3. Topic marketSixty-second topic pitches, then a dot vote. The six anchors are already on the wall.
  4. The board goes upTopics become groups. Each group picks a scribe and a presenter.
  5. Round 1Forty-five minutes in small groups.
  6. Break
  7. Round 2New topics, new groups.
  8. Break
  9. Round 3Last round. Pick the topic you've been arguing about over coffee.
  10. Prepare the read-outsOne page per group: what we concluded, where we disagreed, three takeaways, one open question.
  11. Read-outsFive minutes per group, two minutes of questions. Strict clock.
  12. After-work partyThe board stays up; sign up to carry a topic forward after Lisbon.
House rules

Five, and we mean them

  1. Pitch topics, not companiesIdeas only. Nobody sells their fund or their portfolio today.
  2. No bullshitNo posturing, no humblebrags, no selling. Just honest conversation.
  3. Say what you actually thinkDisagreement is the point. Polite consensus is a wasted hour.
  4. Law of two feetNot learning or contributing? Move to another group. No offence taken.
  5. Leave with one takeawayEvery group reports back. Every guest leaves with the read-outs.
Who's in

People who write cheques

  • Angel investors
  • VCs
  • Family offices
  • Corporate VCs
  • Private equity
  • LPs & allocators

Founders, not this time. We love you, and that's why there are no pitches today. Strictly by application and approval, open to verified investors only. Bring your WebSummit investor badge and bracelet: both are mandatory at the door. Sign-up asks which fund or network you invest through.

Questions

Fair questions

Is it going ahead?

Safety first. We're monitoring the weather overnight and will make a final decision tomorrow morning, based on everyone's safety and the government's announcements. All approved participants will be kept informed as plans develop.

What happens after I'm approved?

You get the confirmation on Luma and are added to a WhatsApp group for coordination and networking.

What do I need to bring?

Your WebSummit investor badge and bracelet. Both are mandatory: no badge and bracelet, no entry.

Do I need to prepare anything?

One question you'd like a room of investors to help you think through. That's your topic pitch, if you want to give one. Pitching is optional; joining is not.

Can I come for part of the day?

Yes, but be there at 12:45 if you can: the topic market decides the day. The read-outs from 16:35 are the other part worth not missing.

Is it recorded?

No. The groups' one-page read-outs are shared with attendees afterwards, without names.

Can I bring a colleague?

If they're an investor, ask them to sign up on Luma too. Places are limited, so every guest needs their own sign-up.

A quick update from the venue

Public transport is currently operating, with some minor disruptions. However, please be aware that Uber and other ride-hailing services may experience delays or difficulties.

There is currently heavy rain in central Lisbon, with some localised flooding. Fortunately, there are no strong winds at the moment. We have checked the venue, and the gathering will take place indoors, so we are looking forward to welcoming you.

A few important things to keep in mind:

1. This is an independent, unofficial gathering.

This event is not affiliated with Web Summit in any way. It's simply a friendly get-together organised by a group of people who wanted to meet, connect and have a good time somewhere other than a hotel lobby!

The name and website were created just for fun. This is not an official festival, conference or Web Summit event, and we do not represent or claim affiliation with any brands or organisations.

We are using Luma purely to manage registrations and get an idea of who is coming.

2. Please take responsibility for your own safety.

Attendance is entirely voluntary and at your own risk. Everyone is responsible for their own personal safety and belongings.

We have checked the venue and confirmed that the gathering is indoors.

3. Drinks and consumption.

Please note that everyone is responsible for paying for their own drinks. We have arranged a good deal with the hotel, including unlimited beer and coffee.

We don't collect any money: the €40 is paid directly to the venue and covers your food and drinks during the day.

Please enjoy yourselves, but also be mindful and responsible about how much you consume.

Most importantly, this is about bringing people together, meeting new faces and having a relaxed, friendly evening.

We welcome everyone and look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you again for registering. We'll be there waiting to welcome you.

See you soon, and please travel safely!

The venue

Garagem da Vizinha by WOTELS

WOTELS' neighbourhood bar and event space in Saldanha, at Rua Pedro Nunes 10, a few minutes' walk from Saldanha metro. Dry, central and close to where many of us are staying, with a kitchen and a bar for the evening. Open in Maps