Web Summit, the world’s largest technology conference, announced on 20 September 2023 that serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk and ZhenFund partner Anna Fang are among the first set of speakers for its inaugural event in the Middle East, Web Summit Qatar, which will take place in Doha, Qatar, from February 26 to 29 February 2024.

The first year of the event will host 7,500 founders, world-leading investors, members of the global media and more at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

ZhenFund CEO and partner Anna Fang, AJ+ managing director Dima Khatib, Flexport co-founder and CEO Ryan Petersen, Builder.ai co-founder and CEO Sachin Dev Duggal, and football legend Gilberto Silva are also joining the roster of speakers, debating across four stages about how technology is permeating every industry and society.

Journalists from global media brands such as Al Jazeera, Reuters, TechCrunch, Wired UK, Fast Company, Esquire, Xinhua News Agency, the Wall Street Journal and Semafor will also attend.

Web Summit Qatar will host the famed startup pitching competition PITCH for the 400-plus startups on the event’s startup programme. Participating startups will also be able to take part in Mentor Hours, roundtables, and investor-to-startup meetings. Elsewhere, the Women in Tech Lounge will facilitate meaningful connections and networking among attendees.

Web Summit Qatar joins the company’s global roster alongside its flagship event, Web Summit, which drew 71,000 attendees to Lisbon, Portugal, in 2023; North America’s fastest-growing tech event, Collision, in Toronto; Web Summit Rio, which took place for the first time in 2023; and RISE, which will be returning to Hong Kong in 2025.

First set of speakers:

• Hosam Arab, Co-founder & CEO Tabby
• Sachin Dev Duggal, co-founder and CEO of Builder.ai
• Amani Alazzam, Secretary General Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources
• Ayman Hariri, Founder VERO
• Wael Sawan, CEO Shell
• Divya Gokulnath, co-founder of Byju's
• Dileep Thazhmon, co-founder and CEO of Jeeves
• Gilberto Silva, World Cup winner
• Gary Vaynerchuk, founder and CEO of VaynerMedia
• Omar Almajdouie, investor at Raed Ventures
• Sarah Kunst, founder and managing director of Cleo Capital
• Robby Yung, CEO of Animoca Brands
• Ladi Delano, co-founder and co-CEO of Moove
• Kathleen Breitman, co-founder and CEO of Tezos
• Faraz Khalid, CEO noon
• Oliver Steil, CEO of TeamViewer
• Annelie Ajami, founder and general partner of Anamcara
• Yashish Dahiya, Co-founder Policybazaar
• Mohamad Ballout, CEO of Kitopi
• Jalak Jobanputra, founding partner of Future\Perfect Ventures
• Harry Hui, founder and managing partner of ClearVue Partner
• Lubna Bouza, Presenter & Editor in chief Sky News Arabia
• Rebecca Parsons, CTO of Thoughtworks
• Tim Draper, Founder Draper Associates
• Christine Giampaoli Zonca, Race Driver Extreme E

Source & cover image credit: Press Release

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar

Fareeha Imtiaz

Start a discussion