In November 2024, Web Summit brought together over 70,000 attendees from 153 countries and showcased more than 3,000 companies, cementing its reputation as the world’s premier tech conference. For the ASCEND cohort, it was a transformative milestone – placing Greater Manchester’s innovative and ambitious founders on the global stage and opening doors to invaluable opportunities to connect, learn, and grow.

Bringing Greater Manchester businesses to the world stage

The ASCEND Scale-Up programme, delivered by GM Business Growth Hub, is designed to accelerate the growth of Greater Manchester’s most promising businesses. Janine Smith, Director of GM Business Growth Hub, envisioned Web Summit as a key element of the programme.

“When we were forming the whole concept of ASCEND, bringing them to Web Summit for the full four days was an integral part of that,” explained Janine. “The event became a catalyst for progress, immersing them in global thought leadership and helping them forge powerful, strategic connections.”

Building connections that matter

One of the strongest takeaways from Web Summit was the power of connections – both within the ASCEND cohort and the broader international community.

Dave Parker, Founder of Parker Neal Ltd, described the event as transformational: “We ended up with three major opportunities that we wouldn’t have come across without being at Web Summit. Beyond that, it was inspiring to talk to fellow entrepreneurs and discover some of the innovative AI capabilities we could utilise in our product set.”

He reflected on the supportive dynamic of the ASCEND cohort, likening it to a group of like-minded friends: “It’s like being in a room with all your mates who are facing the same challenges – a giant therapy group for entrepreneurs. You share the highs, the lows, and grow together. It’s absolutely brilliant.”

For Lewis Keeling, Co-Founder of Wolf Network Security, the value came from both global and local connections: “Networking with other founders from around the world was fantastic. Even though we’re not actively seeking funding yet, understanding what’s out there and forming early relationships with funders has been hugely beneficial.”

Taking action and building momentum

The ASCEND founders didn’t just attend Web Summit – they actively created opportunities for growth.

Ayaan Mohamed Ali of Digitech Oasis seized a spontaneous chance to pitch: “I jumped on stage during a break and delivered a 90-second pitch at the Venture Summit stage. Fortunately, it paid off – I had investors approaching me afterwards to chat. I even found myself in the investor lounge!”

Felix Robinson, Founder of Pet Trust UK, maximised every minute in Lisbon. “I attended masterclasses, meetings, and roundtables while putting in 18-hour days to make the most of every opportunity. I connected with ten incredible pet tech companies, and we’re already planning collaborations. It was incredibly productive.”

Patrick Smith, Founder of zally highlighted how the conference enabled him to build new relationships and explore significant opportunities: “Attending Web Summit has allowed us to discuss potential investments and explore overseas partnerships to integrate our technology. Beyond that, the community aspect of ASCEND has been just as valuable – access to mentors and collaborating with fellow founders has given me so much practical advice and support.”

Stepping out of comfort zones

Web Summit pushed many ASCEND founders to embrace challenges, think bigger, and take bold steps forward.

Joe Carr, Director of Carrs Pasties Ltd, described the trip as a mindset shift: “Being surrounded by people with such a positive, forward-thinking attitude helped me uncover a growth mindset I didn’t know I had. Seeing others step up and seize opportunities gave me the motivation to aim higher and take the next step in my journey.”

For Will Purser, Founder of ICON Sports, the experience was both eye-opening and empowering: “Web Summit made me realise how important technology and AI are to the future of my business. It shifted my perspective completely. I walked away with a much better understanding of where to innovate and how to future-proof our strategy.”

Sarah Cross, Founder of Code Beautiful, shared similar reflections: “The event gave me the opportunity to step back and see the bigger picture. It’s easy to get stuck in your day-to-day, but Web Summit was an eye-opener – it inspired me to improve our customer journey and focus on overlooked opportunities like events and website enhancements.”

What’s next for the ASCEND founders?

One month on, the momentum continues to build. From forming international partnerships to exploring investment opportunities and adopting new strategies, the ASCEND founders are already reaping the rewards of their time at Web Summit. More importantly, the strong bonds built within the ASCEND cohort have laid a foundation for future collaboration, accountability, and growth.

As Janine Smith summarised: “The connections and growth mindset formed during Web Summit have been invaluable. These businesses are now better equipped to scale, collaborate, and make a global impact.”

Sarah Cross perfectly captured the ongoing energy of the programme: “It’s a programme that delivers real, actionable benefits – I’ve been part of other initiatives before, but nothing compares to what ASCEND is helping us achieve.”

Stay tuned to see how the ASCEND founders continue to build on this momentum in the months ahead.