Paris (AFP)
The French high mass of start-ups and digital Vivatech, which was held for the first time in a "hybrid" format due to the pandemic, gathered 140,000 visitors including 26,000 who were able to walk the aisles of the show, said Sunday its organizers.
The experience "was greatly appreciated by visitors and exhibitors alike. We have reinvented ourselves and redefined the codes of the first European event dedicated to tech and innovation", welcomed the director Julie Ranty and the co-presidents Maurice Lévy. and Pierre Louette, in a press release.
Canceled in 2020 due to a pandemic, the fifth edition of the annual start-ups and technology forum took place from June 16 to 19 at the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles in Paris, with a reshaped organization.
Due to health constraints, the event had limited its capacity to 5,000 people simultaneously, and required the presentation of a health pass.
It also stood on an area reduced to 25,000 square meters, compared to 56,000 square meters in 2019.
On the other hand, a digital platform made it possible to present to a much larger audience the innovations of 1,400 exhibitors (including 60% in physical) and to broadcast live the conferences and round tables with 400 speakers.
This paid platform gathered 114,000 visitors, including "35% from abroad", said the Vivatech trade fair.
The "ephemeral news channel" Vivatech News also totaled 4.4 million unique visitors, he added.
Vivatech welcomed 124,000 visitors, 13,000 startups and 3,300 investors in 2019, with 125 countries represented.
It was canceled the following year due to a pandemic.
The content and functions of the digital platform will remain available online until November 28 to holders of a 2021 pass. For others, the show plans to launch an offer allowing access to reruns at a price of 50 euros.
© 2021 AFP