Paddy Cosgrave

Paddy Cosgrave, founder and CEO of Web Summit, is one of the most prominent figures in global technology conference organization. Raised on a farm in County Wicklow, Ireland, Cosgrave’s formative years blended rural discipline with an emerging interest in leadership and societal impact. He attended Glenstal Abbey School before earning a BA in Business, Economics, and Social Studies from Trinity College Dublin, where he served as president of the University Philosophical Society and editor of the satirical magazine Piranha. These early roles highlighted his capacity for institution-building, discourse facilitation, and platform creation.

After university, Cosgrave launched Rock the Vote Ireland to increase youth participation in the 2007 general election and co-founded MiCandidate, a data-driven platform offering comprehensive election information, which was sold in 2009. He also co-initiated the Undergraduate Awards to recognize academic excellence across Ireland.

In 2010, Cosgrave co-founded Web Summit, transforming it from a small meetup in Dublin into a global nexus for startup innovation, investment, and thought leadership. The platform has expanded to include Collision and RISE, with events drawing tens of thousands of attendees from over 100 countries and generating hundreds of millions in local economic impact. His work has earned international recognition, including a Wired UK listing among the top 100 influential figures and appointment as a European Innovation Council Ambassador (2021–2027).

Cosgrave briefly stepped down as CEO in 2023, returning in 2024 following leadership turbulence. His return reaffirmed his strategic importance to Web Summit’s continued expansion. Through his platforms, Cosgrave has redefined how the global tech industry connects, collaborates, and evolves.

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