In this edition, topics such as digital transformation, innovation in business management practices, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI) were highlighted, but not exclusively. “Our goal is to touch on various areas and departments of companies, something we did last year and reinforced this year with the panel on Human Resources, a topic we hadn’t explored yet,” emphasizes António Teixeira, CEO of PONTUAL.
Being “the technological center of gravity today,” AI was a cross-cutting theme in practically all panels of this second edition. “The impact that AI brings to organizations is very significant, and as such, our goal was to bring more practical approaches to its implementation in small and medium-sized enterprises,” says Filipe Santos, CEO of BNEXT.
A Lineup of New Speakers and some Returning Ones
The TBS stage featured names such as newcomers Bruno Horta Soares, Ricardo Parreira, André F. Costa, Céu Mendonça (Microsoft), and Álvaro García Barrio (Watchguard), as well as some who participated in the first edition, like Rogério Canhoto, Josep María Raventos (Cegid), and Daniel Alves (E-goi). In addition to lectures, debates, and round tables, throughout the day, event participants had the opportunity to interact directly with brands and partners present in the exhibition space.
One of the novelties of this edition was the showcase sessions, a format of short practical demonstrations during which brands like TP-Link, ToBeFlow, Watchguard, and Microsoft presented their solutions. As Filipe Santos notes, this is a “format that emphasizes the more practical side of the solutions of the partners associated with the event, and from which we can already make a very positive assessment.”
A Differentiating Positioning
In summary, António Teixeira explains that “in this edition, we managed to surpass the number of participants from the first one, something that makes us very satisfied and confirms that we are on the right path.” He emphasizes that “our goal is always to improve and bring increasingly disruptive topics, maintaining the event’s positioning, which is designed and thought for SME managers. It is essential that participants feel that TBS brings them value and provides them with the knowledge they need to embrace innovation in their businesses.”
At the end of this second edition, the TBS establishes itself as “the reference event in the field of technology applied to SMEs.” António Teixeira considers this to be “a differentiating positioning, as there are not many initiatives for this business segment, and therefore, we feel that this is a winning bet.” Filipe Santos adds: “we want people to continue to be interested in the topics we present, and for us to continue to exceed their expectations.”
The Tech Business Summit, organized by PONTUAL, BNEXT, and Lendarius , already has a new edition confirmed for the future, with the date to be determined.