Vancouver, Canada ㅡ Lite-1, a pioneering Canadian startup, clinched the top spot at Web Summit Vancouver’s PITCH competition, marking a significant milestone as it was the first time the final featured only startups co-founded by women. This event brought together burgeoning enterprises from around the globe to showcase their innovations on Centre Stage.
Co-founded by Roya Aghighi, Lite-1 is redefining the colorant industry with its eco-friendly, bio-based pigments developed from microorganisms. By offering a sustainable alternative to harmful synthetic dyes, Lite-1 aims to revolutionize material color usage, benefiting both environmental and human health.
The competition witnessed extraordinary achievements, reflecting the expanding influence of female entrepreneurs in the tech sector. The presence of three all-female-founded startups—Vodasafe, Lite-1, and Glüxkind—underscores Web Summit's dedication to enhancing diversity in the tech ecosystem.
Ahead of her final presentation, Roya Aghighi emphasized Lite-1’s mission to disrupt the market of synthetic dyes: “Our approach enables integration into any industry utilizing colors, which is our mission—to scale and significantly impact the market.”
Participating in PITCH provided Lite-1 with a unique platform to present to a global audience, fostering meaningful investor dialogues and illuminating public understanding of sustainable colorants.
Empowering Women in Tech
Web Summit's Women in Tech Programme, launched in 2015 to combat gender disparities, has successfully bolstered women's participation. This year, 44% of startups at the event featured at least one female founder, indicating a positive shift towards inclusivity.
Lite-1's eco-innovations highlight the crucial role of sustainable practices in reducing industrial carbon footprints. Their bio-based dyes offer non-toxic, environmentally friendly alternatives, aligning with global sustainability goals.
Launchpad for Visibility
The PITCH stage serves as a critical launchpad, offering winners global recognition and investment opportunities. Previous victors, like VoxCell, have notably secured substantial funding and transformed their respective fields.
After a rigorous competition, Lite-1 emerged victorious among numerous challengers, further solidifying its industry standing. The judging panel included industry luminaries such as Wesley Chan from FPV Ventures and Edith Yeung from Race Capital.
Web Summit 2025: A Tech Celebration
Web Summit Vancouver 2025 drew 15,727 participants from 117 countries, marking its debut in the city with a record-breaking 1,108 startups from 64 nations. Almost half were led by women founders, showcasing an inclusive and diverse tech landscape.
The event facilitated interactions among 50 trade delegations and 159 partners, alongside presentations from top-tier investors and prominent media outlets. Attendees explored topics ranging from AI ethics to innovations in gaming.
Engagement and Community Building
The summit was marked by vibrant community engagement, including 88 curated meetups fostering dialogues across shared interests. By leveraging its Summit Engine software, Web Summit facilitated insightful exchanges on a diverse range of topics, from AI in healthcare to quantum technologies.
Web Summit Vancouver will return in 2026, continuing to support tech innovation and diversity from May 11 to May 14.
