News
WORLDWIDE – IBTM WORLD LAUNCHES ITS NEW STARTUP PLATFORM: IBTM IGNITE
IBTM World is just around the corner — remember, from 18 to 20 November — and it arrives with major news. One of the most important is the launch of IBTM Ignite, a new platform designed to connect emerging companies with industry advisors and investors, providing space for fresh ideas, creativity, and innovative thinking.
More than one hundred startups are expected to join the programme, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas to an audience of approximately 30 event-industry advisors. To facilitate this connection, IBTM Ignite has created several formats: the Future Stage will host 30 lightning talks from emerging innovators, followed by feedback sessions from investors.
This new initiative is developed in collaboration with BEFuture, a programme dedicated to driving positive change in the European business-events sector. Among the IBTM Ignite advisors are Eva López Álvarez (PUNTO MICE), Lori Pugh (MPI – Meeting Professionals International), Max Fellows (Allpoints), Sonia Serracarbassa (Catalunya Convention Bureau / BEFuture), Richard Morris (Active Media Events), and Julius Solaris (Boldpush).
The BEFuture Pavilion will offer a dedicated space on the show floor for startups to present their products and services directly to investors. On the second day, the Ignite Lounge will provide an informal environment for one-on-one meetings, with expert guidance available on marketing, financial planning, fundraising, and sales.
Claudia Hall, Director of IBTM World Exhibition, said:
“The business-events industry is entering a new era of transformation and innovation, and startups are driving this change. It is up to us as an industry to ensure that they have the platforms and resources needed to develop their ideas, and to connect them with investors and advisors who can support their journey. Our new IBTM Ignite programme does exactly that. It is a destination for serious business growth, providing a platform for underrepresented voices and creating new opportunities and connections. We are delighted to help shape the future of business events and look forward to seeing what this year’s cohort will achieve.”
Sonia Serracarbassa of BEFuture and Director of the Catalunya Convention Bureau added:
“At BEFuture, we work to prepare the business-events sector for the future by promoting sustainability, inclusion, resilience, and competitiveness through research, innovation, and cross-ecosystem collaboration. Our acceleration programme has supported 80 SMEs and startups at the forefront of this transformation. The collaboration with IBTM Ignite further strengthens this effort, giving these initiatives the visibility, mentorship, and strategic connections needed to scale their impact and shape the future of business events.”