Join us at Web Summit 2026 for AI and Sustainability Insights

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Navigating the Next Era of Innovation

This May 11–14, the tech world’s brightest minds are converging at the Vancouver Convention Centre for Web Summit 2026, and I am thrilled to announce my participation. As the Managing Partner at Syntezia Sàrl, I am incredibly eager to meet with fellow speakers, visionary investors, dynamic attendees, and the media to exchange ideas, challenge the status quo, and forge impactful partnerships.

Web Summit has always been a bellwether for where the digital landscape is heading. This year, the programming signals a crucial shift away from pure hype and toward practical execution.

Here are the five hot topics I am most excited to dive into during the event:

1. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: The Shift to Practicality

AI remains the undisputed anchor of the tech conversation, but the focus has thankfully matured. We are moving beyond the novelty phase and diving deep into application, infrastructure, and real-world efficiency. I am looking forward to discussing how startups and enterprise teams can leverage sovereign, responsible AI to unlock lean efficiency, as well as exploring the foundational infrastructure powering sector-specific disruption across SaaS, healthtech, and creative industries.

2. The New Reality of Venture Capital & Funding

The funding landscape has undeniably cooled, leading to a focus on high-quality, resilient business models. Founders are actively rethinking how they secure capital. Conversations in Vancouver will center around alternative funding paths like bootstrapping and strategic early partnerships, the metrics needed to prove true investor-ready resilience, and the strategies for surviving the challenging transition from early-stage startup to global scale-up.

3. The Evolution of Gaming & Spatial Computing

Vancouver is a powerhouse in the digital entertainment sector, making the Summit’s focus on gaming and spatial computing highly relevant. I’m eager to explore how extended reality (XR) and AI-driven tools are being used to build immersive, next-generation interactive worlds. Beyond the tech, we need to talk about the business: navigating saturated app stores, evolving monetization models, and understanding how massive gaming communities are driving broader pop culture and marketing trends.

4. Cleantech, Sustainability, & Regional Innovation

As a passionate advocate for the ecological transition and the blue economy, this track is incredibly close to my heart. Technology must be leveraged to solve our most pressing environmental challenges. I am eager to connect with innovators working on breakthrough physical tech—from oceantech and new energy to sustainable IT infrastructure that greens the massive data centers powering our digital lives.

5. Enterprise Tech & Fintech

The demands of the enterprise market are shifting rapidly. We will be looking closely at the evolution of SaaS, focusing on how cloud technologies are scaling and adapting to become more resilient and efficient. Alongside this, the continued disruption in fintech, the maturation of digital assets, and the future of seamless, secure banking will be critical areas of discussion.


Let’s Connect in Vancouver

Events like Web Summit are about more than just listening to panels; they are about the connections we make and the collaborative projects we spark.

If you are an investor looking for resilient models, a founder scaling a responsible tech solution, or a journalist covering the intersection of AI and sustainability, I would love to talk.

If you need AI Advisory services or intend to fast track your VSME/CSRD efforts, let’s meet !

See you in Vancouver!

Yves Zieba

A Visionary Voice in « The Trailblazers: Europe’s Top Visionary Leaders to Watch in 2025 »

Meet a visionary architect of sustainable change featured in Europe’s Top Leaders List.

We are thrilled to announce that Yves Zieba, a prominent figure in ethical innovation and sustainable transformation, has been featured in the prestigious publication, « The Trailblazers: Europe’s Top Visionary Leaders to Watch in 2025. »

This recognition underscores his profound impact and forward-thinking approach in shaping the future of business and society.

« The Trailblazers » series highlights individuals who are not just adapting to change but are actively driving it, setting new benchmarks for leadership and innovation across Europe.

Yves Zieba’s inclusion is a testament to his unwavering commitment to integrating ethical practices with cutting-edge technology, fostering a more sustainable and impactful global landscape.

Who is Yves Zieba?

Yves Zieba is a multifaceted professional renowned for his expertise in strategy consulting, innovation advising, and sustainability.

With a rich background that includes studies at esteemed institutions like ESCP Business School, IMD, and London Business School, Yves Zieba has honed a unique blend of business acumen and a deep commitment to societal improvement.

He is the founder of his own consulting and innovation firm, established in 2015, with a clear mission: to help businesses embed sustainability and ethical practices into their core operations. His work champions Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, focusing not only on reducing environmental impact but also on addressing critical social issues such as inequality and diversity.

Why is Yves Zieba a « Trailblazer »?

His visionary leadership is marked by several key characteristics that align perfectly with the ethos of « The Trailblazers »:

  • Ethical Innovation: He advocates for a holistic approach to innovation, ensuring that technological advancements serve a greater purpose beyond profit. His focus is on creating solutions that benefit both businesses and the communities they serve.
  • Sustainable Transformation: Yves is a strong proponent of the Blue Economy and other sustainable models, guiding companies towards decarbonization and nature-based solutions. He is actively involved in projects that contribute to the UN Global Goals.
  • Global Network Vision: Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Yves Zieba is actively working on establishing a global open innovation network. This ambitious initiative aims to connect businesses, startups, and social enterprises that share a common commitment to sustainability, facilitating access to resources, funding, and knowledge for groundbreaking solutions.
  • Mentorship and Empowerment: Beyond his direct consultancy, Yves is dedicated to mentoring young entrepreneurs and sharing his vast knowledge. He believes in empowering the next generation of leaders to take bold steps towards a more responsible future.
  • Digital Transformation with a conscience: His expertise extends to advanced digital transformation, including AI, blockchain, IoT, and quantum computing, always with an emphasis on sustainable IT and responsible implementation.

A Glimpse into Yves’s Vision for 2025

For Yves Zieba, 2025 is not just another year; it’s a pivotal moment for redefining the intersection of business and sustainability. He envisions a future where collective action drives solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. His planned sustainability-focused incubators are set to nurture innovative ideas in clean energy, green tech, and social equity, laying the groundwork for a truly impactful shift.

His inclusion in « The Trailblazers: Europe’s Top Visionary Leaders to Watch in 2025 » is a well-deserved recognition of his pioneering spirit and his relentless pursuit of a better, more sustainable world.

We encourage everyone to delve into « The Trailblazers » to gain deeper insights into the minds of leaders like Yves Zieba, who are setting the pace for positive change across Europe.

You can find Yves’s feature on page 20-24 in the May 2025 edition.

When it comes to changing the plastic industry, good ideas are rewarded

I have the great pleasure to participate in the jury of plastic revolution, which takes place this afternoon.

From 4pm live on Facebook Livestream, you will be able to discover the best ideas and the personalities that make up the jury.

With this award we celebrate
Young impact innovators!

We want to honour great ideas, people and initiatives that develop and implement strong ideas against the plastic insanity. We can no longer stand by and watch animals perish, our food become contaminated and our environment destroyed.

This afternoon, we will celebrate the shapers who actively initiate the Plastic Revolution in 9 main areas !

Here is the agenda for this afternoon.

Agenda:
4pm – welcome and intro
4pm15 – start of pitches (starting with ecopals)
each pitch maximum 5min + short recap+questions by jury

Ideas will be judged on how well your idea achieves the following results:

  1. Impact – How much plastic does your idea conserve?
  2. Reach – How many people will be affected by your idea?
  3. Implementation – What is the feasibility of your solution being implemented at global scale?
  4. Environmental – What is the overall environmental impact of your idea?

To join the Facebook Livestream, here is the direct link to the Plastic Revolution Now Page: https://www.facebook.com/plasticrevolutionnow/