My Web Summit Experience: Showcasing Kingmansa on the Global Stage
Web Summit | Vancouver | 2026r
Web Summit is globally recognized as one of the world’s largest and most influential technology conferences, bringing together startups, investors, policymakers, global corporations, media leaders, and innovators from across the world. Founded by Paddy Cosgrave, the conference has become a major platform where the future of technology, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, fintech, e-commerce, and global business is discussed and shaped. (Wikipedia)
This year’s Web Summit Vancouver 2026 took place from 11–14 May 2026 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, located at:
West Building: 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3
East Building: 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3C1 (Vancouver Convention Centre)
The summit brought together more than 20,000+ attendees, including founders, investors, startups, government leaders, media organizations, and technology companies from around the world. (Vancouver Convention Centre)
This year’s event featured influential speakers and participants from major global organizations including Microsoft, OpenAI, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Warner Bros. Animation, and many other leading technology and innovation organizations. Some notable speakers included:
Arvind Jain
Naomi Klein
Hasan Piker
Michelle Grady
Sam Register (Web Summit Vancouver)
As the Founder & CEO of Kingmansa, attending and exhibiting at Web Summit was an inspiring and transformative experience. It provided an opportunity to showcase our vision, connect with international stakeholders, and represent British Columbia’s growing startup ecosystem on a truly global stage.
Exhibition Day – 13 May
Kingmansa officially exhibited at Web Summit on 13 May under the E-commerce category at:
Booth No: A4 53 Alpha
Being surrounded by thousands of startups, investors, founders, and industry leaders from around the world was both exciting and motivating. Throughout the exhibition day, I personally attended our booth and had the opportunity to introduce Kingmansa to visitors interested in global trade, fintech, e-commerce, and emerging market opportunities.
During the event, we connected with:
30+ visitors
Around 5 investors and potential strategic partners
Many of the conversations focused on:
Cross-border B2B trade opportunities
Supplier verification and trust-building
International payment infrastructure
Africa–Bangladesh–Canada trade connectivity
The future of digital commerce and trade technology
The feedback we received was incredibly encouraging and confirmed that businesses worldwide are actively looking for trusted and technology-driven solutions to simplify international trade.
An Honourable Opportunity
One of the most memorable highlights of the summit was participating in an exclusive interview session with Brenda Bailey, Honourable Minister of Finance of British Columbia.
It was an honour to discuss innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of global business with a leader who actively supports startups and the innovation economy in British Columbia. The conversation reflected the growing importance of technology-driven companies that are building international economic connections and creating new opportunities for businesses worldwide.
About Kingmansa
Kingmansa is a British Columbia-registered Canadian B2B trade and business infrastructure platform focused on simplifying and modernizing international commerce for exporters, suppliers, manufacturers, and buyers across global markets.
The company gained early recognition after winning the EMBARK Startup Pitch Competition at Trinity Western University, a milestone that validated our vision and business model during the early stages of our journey.
Kingmansa combines digital trade networking, supplier verification, business matchmaking, and international payment infrastructure to help businesses connect and transact across borders more efficiently. Our mission is to reduce barriers in international trade and create a more transparent, accessible, and trusted global trade ecosystem.
We are particularly focused on strengthening business connectivity between Africa, Bangladesh, Canada, and international markets, enabling SMEs and exporters from emerging markets to participate more confidently in global commerce.
As international trade increasingly shifts toward digital ecosystems, platforms like Kingmansa are helping reshape how businesses discover partners, build trust, manage transactions, and access global opportunities.
Reflections from Web Summit
Web Summit was more than just a technology conference — it was a global meeting point for ideas, innovation, and future collaboration. Every discussion, introduction, and interaction offered valuable insights into where industries are heading and how startups can contribute to solving global challenges.
One of the biggest lessons from the summit was the importance of building meaningful relationships. Beyond technology and business models, global growth is ultimately driven by human connections, trust, and shared vision.
The summit also reinforced several important trends:
Global trade is becoming increasingly digital and borderless
Fintech and trade infrastructure are rapidly converging
Trust and verification are becoming critical in B2B commerce
Emerging markets represent major untapped opportunities
Startups have the power to create global impact regardless of geography
Looking Ahead
Participating in Web Summit marked another important milestone in Kingmansa’s journey. The experience strengthened our confidence in the direction we are heading and motivated us to continue building technology that connects businesses across borders.
I am grateful to everyone who visited our booth, exchanged ideas, shared insights, and showed interest in our mission. Events like Web Summit remind us that innovation thrives when people from different cultures, industries, and regions come together with a shared vision for the future.
This is only the beginning of what we hope will become a long journey toward building a more connected, inclusive, and efficient global trade ecosystem.
— Zahirul Haq
Founder & CEO, Kingmansa
