Webit is in discussions with the Global Impact Board, the city and our main partners on the possible solution scenarios and studying options for a positive outcome. We shall keep you posted in that regards in due time. All exhibitors and ticket holders shall be contacted soon to discuss next steps. The wellbeing and the prosperity of our global community, the speakers, the partners, the visitors of the Festival, the Webit team, the volunteers and the human kind is priority #1 for us at Webit. In this respect we have launched the Global Health Security Challenge and other initiatives. We call for solidarity and critical thinking as everyone of us is a solution to stop this health and humanitarian crisis. Our thoughts and actions are with all who have been affected and hopes are that soon this challenge shall be behind us.

Dr. Plamen Russev Executive Chairman, Webit Foundation

Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Republic of Bulgaria Serial Entrepreneur / Investor www.russev.com | www.webit.org

Webit: web site | Linkedin | Facebook | Twitter Personal: about me | LinkedIn | Twitter

This article will potentially reach out to the entire Webit community around the world. Over 800,000 of the brightest and bravest innovators, digerati, inventors, investors, journalists and policy makers! The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is a global threat to humankind. The virus spreads with exponential speed and efficiency. We need a solution and we need it soon! Webit and our global community is committed to improving the state of today and creating the desirable future together through open innovation. Our collaborative approach has resulted in establishing a Webit Global Impact Board gathering world's forward thinkers, government, policy, business and academia leaders, committed to work together on finding solutions for industry and social challenges and supporting our common mission. Today we reach out to the entire Webit community to unite and to search for a solution for one of the world's most pressing challenges - the Coronavirus. We announce the Health Security Global Challenge! We hope a COVID-19 vaccine and successful treatment are soon to be introduced, but with the support of the Webit global community we would like to address and endorse tech solutions for health safety and security. We also believe there are already many existing solutions and we would like to support them by endorsing, funding and helping them scale. Webit is already hosting the world's biggest startup challenge - the Founders Games which attracts over 4500 company applications from all around the world and $1 Million award pool. Today we announce the Health Security Global Challenge as a tool to search solutions for health safety and security and primary focused today to solutions related to scaling down the outbreak of COVID-19. There are many ways to get involved. Help us: 1) Please apply for the Global Challenge - searching for global health security & safety tech solutions. 2) Support our efforts and join as a partner - please contact us 3) Fund a prize  (please contact Elina G. - elina@webit.org) 4). Share this article with your network and community so we may reach out to more global leaders, innovators and solution makers. It is in times of crises when our shared values are the guiding light and when leadership must be stewardship! I call the Global Webit Community to unite and send a beam of light and hope to the world because We Are a Solution! Yours, Dr. Plamen Russev Executive Chairman, Webit Foundation www.russev.com | www.webit.org | LinkedIn | Twitter

A Festival like no other! The place to connect with the top global business executives, policy leaders, investors and media who shape the future! The top executives (global CxOs) of the below listed companies (and thousands more) join Webit.Festival 2020 | 17-20 June at our co-hosted stages and trade show along the Marina of Valencia, Spain to co-create the desirable future and discuss how AI,  IoT, VR/AR, Next Gen Cloud, Blockchain, 5G, Biotech and Robotics change their industries and create new: Innovate! Stage & Expo Microsoft, Google, European Commission, United Nations, SAP,  Airbus, Mastercard, IBM, ... Mobile Innovation Stage & Expo AT&T, Telefónica, NAGRA, Alcatel-Lucent, du, Verizon, Enel, Samsung, Movistar+, ... Brand Innovation Stage & Expo Mars, LATAM, Unruly,  Edelman, Lamborghini, DXC Technology, IPSOS, Dubai Holding, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Red Points, Accenture, ... Venture Forum Tim Draper, Softbank, European Investment Fund, Balderton Capital, Earlybird Ventures, Lakestar, family offices, sovereign funds and FoF, ... Health Innovation Stage & Expo Bayer, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, GE Healthcare, Humanitas, Novartis, Pfizer, Hanson robotics, ... Policy Innovation Stage & Expo U.S. Department of State, IBM, European Parliament, Ethiopia, Latvia, Czech Republic, FTTH Council, European Commission, Israel Tech Policy Institute, ... The Future of Work and Education Stage & Expo UNESCO, President of South Africa, European Parliament, INSEAD, Udemy, Fujitsu, Xerox, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Deloitte, THNK School of Creative Leadership,  ... CyberTech Stage & Expo Siemens, Microsoft, Kudelski Security, Trend Micro, Bitdefender, S2 Gruppo, Europol, Uniper Energy, ... Digital Entertainment and Media Stage & Expo ProSiebenSat.1, IHS Markit, Euronews, BBC, United Group, Time Out Group, HBO, ESL, Vionlabs, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Verison, AT&T, NAGRA, ... Defence Innovation Stage & Expo Airbus, The Pentagon, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navi, Atlantic Council, ... Blockchain Stage & Expo ConsenSys, Hyperledger, PwC, Prime Minister of Gibraltar, Blockchain Founders Fund, Japan Government Blockchain Association, Bitcoin.com, Zcoin, CryptoChicks, ... FinTech Stage & Expo Wirecard, Ripple, Bank of Lithuania, Mastercard, VISA, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Revolut, European Investment Bank, ... Planet Earth Stage & Expo UN, UNDP, Circle of Blue, BP, Enel, ... Future of Food Stage &  Expo Food by Robots, Aerofarms, KM0, Vector Center, ... Mobility Stage & Expo Tech Mahindra, Ford, Bosch, Siemens, DHL, ... to name some of the thousands of C-level executives (check the ever growing speakers list here) of the companies you may connect with at Webit with a ticket to the world's premier innovation and tech Festival over 17-20 June 2020.

---

View towards Webit Festival 2020 | 17-20 June at the Marina of Valencia, Spain:

---

Send your teams

Should you consider having your team joining Webit and invest in their professional development, have them research the market, celebrate professional connections or simply create business leads - contact us for special conditions and opportunities.

Get involved: Speak  |  Sponsor  |  Exhibit  |  Startup? Join now  |  Attend (tickets)

With 4 months till Webit 2020, the festival is expanding (just announced additional 4000 sq.m the trade show area) and growing its global impact thanks to all our partners and the incredible global leaders who join us at Webit' new venue - the Marina of Valencia, Spain over 17-20 June 2020! (check who is coming) It is thanks to the partnerships with governments and industry leaders that we announce today 3 new landmark events under the roof of Webit.Festival 2020: - Mobile Innovation Forum - Policy Innovation Forum - Defence Innovation Summit along with another new member of the Webit family - the Brand Innovation Summit, chaired by Mr. Raja Rajamannar and the board including: The Mobile Innovation Forum is a natural extension of what Webit does for the past 12 years  - showcasing the convergence of the new technologies and adding value to the industry when needed. We bring together the best mobile industry experts and match them with over 15,000 high-level delegates, innovators, policy makers, global business leaders and experts from 120+ countries. We aim at supporting the industry with a a place to showcase, to announce a product launch, to have a press conference with 500+ journalists accredited to the festival so far, but above all - a place for thought leadership and creative collaboration. Get involved: Speak  |  Sponsor  |  Exhibit  |  Startup? Join now  |  Attend (tickets) The Defence Innovation Summit is chaired by the Pentagon' JJ Snow and Atlantic Council' David Bray. The Summit is a special edition of Webit.Festival tapping into the world's largest scaleup challenge - supporting the global innovative ideas! The summit also provides another unparalleled opportunity for startup/scaleup founders to skyrockets their companies. Only one of the speakers (Hon. James F. Geurts) of the Summit and member of the board is overseeing over $100 billion annual budget for equipping and supporting the Sailors and Marines of the U.S Navi for example.  See more Get involved: Speak  |  Sponsor  |  Exhibit  |  Startup? Join now  |  Attend (tickets) The Policy Innovation Summit is chaired by U.S. Department of State' Thomas Debass and aims at providing a platform for Prime Ministers, Minsters, EU Commissioners and other top policy makers from all around the world to openly discuss topics in regards to policy innovation with global business leaders, academia and the startup and innovation ecosystems and establishing their respected countries as hubs for innovation and talent attraction but above all - improving the state of today and creating the desirable future for the human kind and the Planet. See more Get involved: Speak  |  Sponsor  |  Exhibit  |  Startup? Join now  |  Attend (tickets) Should you consider having your team joining Webit and invest in their professional development, have them research the market, celebrate professional connections or simply create business leads - contact me - will be happy to connect you with Webit' partnerships team and provide you special conditions. I look forward to welcoming you at Webit.Festival over 17-20 June 2020! Warm regards, Dr. Plamen Russev Executive Chairman of the Board, Webit.Foundation Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Republic of Bulgaria Serial Entrepreneur / Investor www.russev.com | www.webit.org Personal: about me | LinkedIn | Twitter

---

---

I first met Raja back in July 2014 at the Webit edition in Istanbul. Since then I can't stop admiring his work, his innovative thinking and visionary leadership in business transformation and brand innovation. Saying that, you can imagine how honoured I was when he accepted my invitation to become Honorary Chairman of one of Webit' 15 parallel summits over 17-20 June in Valencia - Brand Innovation Summit. And he surrounded himself in the Board with some of the world's top brand owners and industry leaders. I am proud to present you Webit' Brand Innovation Summit Chairman and Board Members: “I recently took on the honorary role of chairing Webit' Brand Innovation Summit, with an important objective of building an industry-wide focus on and momentum around the future of marketing and brands.”

---

The building blocks of Webit' Brand Innovation Summit agenda are: - Brand Safety - Reputation Management - Branding Innovation - Brand Measurement in the new world - Brand Obsolescence - Brand Purpose - Brand Storymaking

---

We are honoured to announce some of the keynotes and the speakers who create the unparalleled agenda of Webit' Brand Innovation Summit: ... to name a few! Grateful to host them all at Webit.Festival 2020! Stay tuned for many more to be announced in the following weeks and months. The Brand Innovation Summit is one of the 15 parallel summits hosted by Webit.Festival 2020 at the Marina of Valencia, Spain over 17-20 June 2020. Check all announced speakers so far. Get involved: Speak  |  Sponsor  |  Exhibit  |  Startup? Join now  |  Attend (tickets) Warm regards, Dr. Plamen Russev Executive Chairman of the Board, Webit.Foundation Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Republic of Bulgaria Serial Entrepreneur / Investor www.russev.com | www.webit.org Personal: about me | LinkedIn | Twitter

I am honoured to announce the first 10 Honorary Chairs and speakers of the parallel summits of Webit.Festival hosted at the Marina of Valencia, Spain | 17-20 June 2020 under the theme PREVIEW THE FUTURE: More Chairpersons and parallel summits as well as their respected board members, topics and speakers are to be announced shortly. Stay tuned and get involved: Speak  |  Sponsor  |  Exhibit  |  Startup? Join now  |  Attend (tickets) Warm regards, Dr. Plamen Russev Executive Chairman of the Board, Webit.Foundation Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Republic of Bulgaria Serial Entrepreneur / Investor www.russev.com | www.webit.org Personal: about me | LinkedIn | Twitter

I have the pleasure to announce the Chairs of Webit.Festival in Valencia, Spain on 17-20 June, 2020. For the past 2 years we have been honored to have the European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mrs. Mariya Gabriel as Chairwoman of the Plenary Session of Webit.Festival!

She has been one of the strongest creative and transformational powers in the current European Commission! Her work is instrumental for creating stable grounds for Europe building the Gigabyte Society, fostering dialogue and legislative packages for protecting the business and people in the cyberspace, empowering equality and inclusion and creating digital skills, supporting potential for better digital infrastructure, to name a few of her cabinet initiatives which she developed for a record short time.

On behalf of the global Webit community we wish her a lot of success and good luck in her new role as European Commissioner-elect for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth in the new European Commission. We are honored to have her being the Chairwoman for 3rd year in a raw of the Plenary Session (the Innovate!Stage) of Webit.Festival 2020 in Spain.

---

A visionary leader with global impact! Before joining the Government of Spain, Mr. Francisco Polo has been one of the most successful founders and impact entrepreneurs of Europe founding and making Change.org the largest petition platform in the world.

At the age of 29 he put together his three passions - will for social change, the potential of the internet and his relentless determination to make things happen and founded the fastest-growing startup ever in Spain, growing it from 40 users to 2.5 million in 18 months only. Through his work he has helped millions of users to start campaigns on the issues they care about while also helping his clients to connect with hundreds of thousands of people to support their mission.

After making sure his new partners will continue growing Change.org, Mr. Polo committed his talent to improve the state of innovation and digital advancement of his country. Currently Mr. Polo serves as Secretary of State for Digital Advancement, Spain. We are honored to have Mr. Francisco Polo as Honorary Chair of The Global Impact Advisory Board of Webit.Festival 2020 in Spain.

---

Webit.Festival 2020 | CHAIRS of SUMMITS

Mr. Thomas Debass is a senior government leader with extensive experience and network in tech/innovation, global finance, economic growth, media, and public-private partnerships! For the past 18 years, he has been working under various capacities for the U.S. Government and he currently serves as the Managing Director for Global Partnerships at the U.S. Department of State. Thomas has played a leading role in promoting and institutionalizing the role of innovation and partnerships as a tool for advancing policy and development objectives.

Thomas has played a leading role in promoting and institutionalizing the role of innovation and partnerships as a tool for advancing policy and development objectives. Thomas received the 2016 Wood Pencil Award for Innovative Use of Mobile Technology for mFish, a public-private partnership he led that aimed to bridge the digital divide as well as promote ocean sustainability for rural fishermen. He regularly gives lectures and talks about the intersection of foreign policy, business, and society.

On behalf of the global Webit Community and the Webit.Foundation - we are honored to welcome Mr. Thomas Debass as Chair of the Policy Innovation Summit of Webit.Festival 2020 in Spain.

---

Mr. Raja Rajamannar is the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and President, Healthcare Business of Mastercard

Globally recognized for his innovative thinking, leadership in business transformation that he has brought to executive roles across industries, and leadership in Mastercard’s marketing and brand transformation. The most recent awards among the many in his career are: WFA Global Marketer of the Year (2018), Forbes 2018 Top 5 World's Most Influential CMOs, Campaign Power 100, Business Insider’s 25 Most Innovative CMOs in the World, Billboards 2018 Top Branding Power Player and The CMO Club Hall of Fame.

We are honored to welcome Mr. Raja Rajamannar as honorary Chair of the Brand Innovation Summit of Webit.Festival in Valencia Spain on 17-20 June 2020.

---

Professor Shafi Ahmed is a multi award winning surgeon, teacher, futurist, innovator and entrepreneur. He is a laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgeon at The Royal London and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals and has been awarded the accolade of the most watched surgeon in human history.

Among the recent numerous awards in his career are the Future NHS award for NHS70 by members of UK Parliament in 2018, top British Asian star in Tech awarded from HRH Duke of York in 2017 along with the British Bangladeshi of the Year the same year. His work has been featured in over 400 newspapers, tech journals and mainstream TV news channels including Sky, BBC, CNN, ABC, Al Jazeera, CNBC, Time, Forbes, Bloomberg.

He is one of the top 20 global influencers in Digital Health and Virtual Reality. We are honored to have Prof. Shafi Ahmed as a Chair of Webit.Health Summit for the past 3 years and as part of the upcoming Webit.Festival 2020 in Spain!

---

Coming up next, we shall announce the Chairs and the advisory board members of the rest of the summits hosted by Webit.Festival in Valencia, Spain on 17-20 June 2020, including: - The Digital Entertainment and Media Summit - The CyberTech Summit - The Future of Food Summit - The Future of Work Summit - The Mobility Summit - The FinTech Summit - The Blockchain Summit - The Venture Summit - The Startup Academy - The Spirit of Webit to name some. See you at the Marina of Valencia in Spain on 17-20 June 2020! Warm regards, Dr. Plamen Russev Executive Chairman of the Board, Webit.Foundation Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Republic of Bulgaria Serial Entrepreneur / Investor www.russev.com | www.webit.org Webit: web site | Linkedin | Facebook | Twitter Personal: about me | LinkedIn | Twitter

Webit.Festival in numbers

I always follow my heart - we say that the Webit community (reaching out to more than 800,000 digerati from all around the world) is a community of people with BIG hearts ... and I trust the numbers! I wouldn't say that my heart makes no mistakes - but the numbers are always true! This is the reason I have asked my team to present our work and impact at Webit in numbers and I am very proud with the results:    

The winner (WeFarm) of the largest startup challenge on the Planet - the Founders Games hosted by Webit has oversubscribed and closed a round of €13 Мillion less than 2 months after the Festival.

   

67%	of all selected startups/scaleups exhibiting and pitching at Founders Games of Webit.Festival close a funding round up to 8 months after their participation at the Festival.

  These numbers give us the strength and confidence to continue the way we walk for the past 12 years and our mission: IMPROVING THE STATE OF WELL-BEING through

• Boosting entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Empowering equality and inclusion
• Exploring and supporting impact resilience and sustainable development solutions

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and look forward to have you among the Webit.Foundation partners in the years to come! 🙏 See you at the Marina of Valencia, Spain on 17-20 June at Webit.Festival 2020! Dr. Plamen Russev Executive Chairman of the Board, Webit.Foundation Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Republic of Bulgaria Serial Entrepreneur / Investor www.russev.com | www.webit.org Webit: web site | Linkedin | Facebook | Twitter Personal: about me | LinkedIn | Twitter

Did you manage to book your Webit ticket at super early bird price? If not - we have good news for you! We have just announced a very limited number of only 100 Platinum tickets! Hurry up - the previous batch of discounted tickets was sold out for less than 24 hours. The Platinum ticket is your VIP access to all Webit.Festival parallel summits, to all speakers in the Platinum Lounge, guests of honor, the 3 expo areas, the invitations only events, the yacht soirees, the black tie receptions, all parties and the entire Webit Tech Fiesta to name a few.

Book Your Platinum Ticket at 1/2 price - save €2400

---

More amazing speakers announced

They are joining the previously announced global leaders including: ... and 500 more to be announced in the following months! Webit program committee has approved the major focus tech areas for the 15 parallel summits of Webit.Festival, Valencia 2020, Spain:

• AI (Artificial Intelligence)
• IoT (Internet of Things)
• VR/AR (Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality)
• Next Gen Cloud
• Blockchain
• 5G
• Biotech
• Robotics

Get ready for more announcements of over 500 first world class speakers in 15 parallel summits of Webit.Festival Europe 2020, at the Marina of Valencia, Spain. The Platinum Ticket gives you personal access to the special Platinum Lounge with opportunity to mingle with all of them, along with access to invitation only events, yacht soirees, black tie receptions to name a few.  

Book Your Platinum Ticket at 1/2 price - save €2400

     

Register you interest to become a speaker and join the global leaders who shape the tech industry and define the future. Theme of Webit.Festival Europe 2020: Preview the Future (i)

Share you ideas and apply to speak @ Webit

 

Watch the above video

and you will know why many say that speaking at Webit.Festival Europe can be a career and life-changing experience. Share your ideas, experience and knowledge with thousands global leaders coming from 120+ countries.

---

Visitors by Region

 

---

Attendees' Interests in Tracks

   

Other opportunities to join Webit.Festival Europe '20 in Valencia, Spain include:

  See you at the Marina of Valencia, Spain on 17-20 June, 2020! Warm regards, The Webit Team