WMF
WMF (We Make Future) is an annual international B2B trade fair and festival focused on AI, technology, and digital innovation, organized by Search On Media Group at BolognaFiere in Italy, connecting startups, enterprises, investors, and institutions across 90 countries through its flagship 75,000-attendee event.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersCastel Guelfo Di Bologna, Italy
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What WMF does
WMF (We Make Future) is an annual international B2B trade fair and festival focused on AI, technology, and digital innovation, organized by Search On Media Group S.r.l., a private Italian company headquartered in Bologna. Founded and led by CEO Cosmano Lombardo, the event operates as a hybrid platform combining a 70,000 sqm physical exhibition at BolognaFiere with digital content delivery (podcasts, video streaming, online programming). The 2026 edition (13th overall) drew 75,000 attendees from 90 countries, 800+ exhibitors and sponsors, 1,000+ speakers, and facilitated 3,000 B2B meetings. The platform encompasses 18+ sub-events including AI Global Summit, World Startup Fest, Startup Competition, Music Fest, GovTech Summit, Creators Fest, Koders Fest, E-commerce Fest, and Digital Tourism Fest, supported by 14 specialized exhibition districts (AI District, Startup District, Book District) and 90+ training stages.
WMF generates revenue through three primary streams: (1) tiered ticket sales including Full Tickets (€89 promotional / €649+IVA regular), Visitor Tickets, Mainstage Tickets, and Fair Tickets; (2) exhibition booth rentals and tiered sponsorship packages (Main Sponsor, Premium Sponsor, Sponsor), including dedicated district sponsorships; and (3) business services including startup competition entries, B2B meeting facilitation, and investor matching. The go-to-market is event-driven, relying on direct ticket sales through its e-commerce platform and direct sales for sponsor/exhibitor packages, with international outbound via roadshows in Las Vegas (CES), Silicon Valley, and partnerships with Italian Chambers of Commerce globally.
The customer base spans four primary segments: startups and scale-ups seeking visibility and funding, enterprises and corporations seeking innovation scouting and partnerships, investors and VCs seeking deal flow, and digital professionals seeking training. Major sponsors include Intel and Philip Morris Italia (Main Sponsors) and Reply, Amazon AWS, Tesla, Intesa Sanpaolo, Aruba, Interprefy, eToro, ICE (Italian Trade Agency), European Space Agency, and INVITALIA (Premium Sponsors). WMF claims its BAUM ecosystem has facilitated €72.8B in operations value, 1,800 exits, and €1,500B in total portfolio value across 304 portfolio companies. The company has announced WMF 2027 for June 10-12, 2027 at BolognaFiere.
WMF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WMF
- Legal name
- Search On Media Group S.r.l.
- Website
- https://wemakefuture.it
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- WMF (We Make Future) is an annual international B2B trade fair and festival focused on AI, technology, and digital innovation, organized by Search On Media Group at BolognaFiere in Italy, connecting startups, enterprises, investors, and institutions across 90 countries through its flagship 75,000-attendee event.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WMF industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Show and Event Management
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers (THAHABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB), Trade Shows & Industry Expos (B2B) (MPAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where WMF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Castel Guelfo Di Bologna
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
WMF business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: WMF generates revenue through tiered ticket sales including Full Tickets (89€+IVA promotional, regularly 649€+IVA), Visitor Tickets, Mainstage Tickets, and Fair Tickets for different access levels to the event.
- Exhibition and Sponsorship: Revenue from exhibition booth rentals (Stand), sponsor packages across tiers (Main Sponsor, Premium Sponsor, Sponsor), AI District, Startup District, Book District, and various sponsorship opportunities including Awards and Events sponsorships.
- Business Services: Revenue from business matching services, startup competition entries, and various B2B meeting facilitation services connecting startups with investors and enterprises.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Ticket 2027 at promotional price |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
WMF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WMF (We Make Future) organizes an annual international B2B innovation trade fair and festival held at BolognaFiere in Bologna, Italy. The event spans 70,000+ square meters of exhibition area with 800+ exhibitors, 90+ training stages, 150+ events, and 18+ thematic sub-events including AI Global Summit, World Startup Fest, Startup Competition, Music Fest, GovTech Summit, and Creators Fest. The organization connects startups, enterprises, investors, and institutions across 90 countries through ticket sales, exhibition booth rentals, sponsorship packages, business matching services, and startup competitions.
Product overview
WMF (We Make Future) is a platform-plus-events architecture centered on its flagship annual innovation and technology festival at BolognaFiere. The core offering is the WMF Event itself—a certified international B2B trade fair (13th edition) that combines a massive expo area (70,000+ sqm, 800+ exhibitors) with over 90 training stages (Premium Stage, Mainstage, Discover Stage, Open Stage) spanning AI, digital marketing, coding, and business transformation. The event encompasses 18+ sub-events including AI Global Summit, World Startup Fest, Startup Competition, Music Fest, GovTech Summit, Creators Fest, Koders Fest, Web Marketing Festival, E-commerce Fest, Digital Tourism Fest, VC & Open Innovation Fest, Sports & Gaming Fest, Future Show, Digital Job Fair, Journalism Fest, Book Fair, and Innovation Film Fest. Supporting offerings include the Global Startup Program, AI District/Startup District/Book District exhibition zones, podcast series (Voices from the Future, Futuro Presente, AI Vision), WMF for AI initiative, and international roadshow activities. The platform connects enterprises, AI companies, digital agencies, software houses, startups, institutions, and investors across 90 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AI Global Summit: Summit focusing on artificial intelligence trends and applications
- Creators Fest
- World Startup Fest
- Music Fest
- Startup Competition
- GovTech Summit
- Sports & Gaming Fest
- E-commerce Fest
- Digital Tourism Fest
Products and services
- WMF - We Make Future Event The flagship annual international B2B innovation and technology trade fair and festival held at BolognaFiere, connecting enterprises, AI companies, digital agencies, software houses, startups, scale-ups, institutions, and investors across 90 countries for business acceleration, training, culture, and creativity.
- WMF Expo & Area Fieristica 70,000+ square meter exhibition area with 800+ exhibitors, 14 themed districts, and dedicated areas for business matching, startup showcases, and interactive technology demonstrations. Available as a separately bookable exhibition and sponsorship opportunity.
- AI Global Summit Dedicated summit within WMF focusing on artificial intelligence trends, innovations, and applications for enterprises, AI companies, and developers.
- World Startup Fest Festival dedicated to startups and venture capital, featuring startup competition, delegations, and investor meetings for connecting founders with VCs and business angels.
- Startup Competition International startup competition featuring 6 finalists, 140+ selected startups, prizes, and B2B meetings with investors; open to innovative companies globally through dedicated call.
- Global Startup Program Comprehensive program supporting startups including competition access, delegations, B2B meetings with investors, and international networking opportunities as part of the WMF ecosystem.
- Music Fest Music festival within WMF featuring concerts and performances by Italian and international artists, including Band Emergenti contest for emerging musicians.
- GovTech Summit Summit focusing on government technology, civic tech, digitalization, and AI applications for public administration, targeting public sector leaders and policy makers.
- Creators Fest Festival within WMF dedicated to digital content creators, the creator economy, and digital influencers.
- Koders Fest Festival within WMF focused on coding, software development, and technology for developers and tech professionals.
- Web Marketing Festival Festival within WMF dedicated to digital marketing, SEO, social media strategies, and marketing technology, serving marketing professionals and agencies.
- E-commerce Fest Festival within WMF focused on e-commerce trends, retail technology, and digital commerce innovations for retailers and online merchants.
- Digital Tourism Fest Festival within WMF dedicated to digital innovation in tourism, hospitality, and cultural heritage sectors.
- VC & Open Innovation Fest Festival within WMF connecting venture capital firms with startups and innovation stakeholders for open innovation opportunities and deal sourcing.
- Sports & Gaming Fest Festival within WMF featuring esports tournaments, gaming events, and sports technology showcases.
- Digital Job Fair Job fair component of WMF connecting digital professionals with companies seeking tech talent across AI, marketing, and software development roles.
- AI District Dedicated exhibition area within WMF for AI companies, startups, and SMEs offering AI services, tools, software, and solutions; available through dedicated sponsorship packages.
- Startup District Dedicated exhibition area within WMF for startups to showcase innovative solutions and connect with investors and partners through dedicated sponsorship packages.
- Book District Dedicated exhibition area within WMF for publishers, authors, and book-related innovation, available through dedicated sponsorship packages.
- WMF Podcast Series Original podcast series including 'Voices from the Future', 'Futuro Presente', and 'AI Vision' exploring innovation, technology, and AI topics produced as standalone content offerings.
- WMF for AI Initiative Dedicated initiative within WMF focused on artificial intelligence promotion and development, including specialized sponsorship bundles (WMF + AI bundle) and dedicated exhibition programming.
- Future Show Tech show within WMF featuring experiential demonstrations, robotics, and future technologies including the Drone Soccer EU Championship and Progetto Icarus Guinness World Record event.
Quantifiable outcome
- 72.8B in participations in operations facilitated
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use WMF
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
WMF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
WMF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered main sponsor, premium sponsor, flagship and main partner.
- Intelmain sponsorMain sponsor of WMF 2026, providing visibility across the event's technology focus areas.
- Philip Morris Italiamain sponsorMain sponsor of WMF 2026 with prominent brand presence throughout the event.
- Replypremium sponsorPremium sponsor with multiple entities (Cognita Reply, Technology Reply, Blue Reply) showcasing AI and technology solutions.
- ICE - Italian Trade Agencypremium sponsorItalian government trade agency supporting international visibility and attracting international delegations.
- Amazon AWSpremium sponsorCloud technology sponsor providing infrastructure and technology partnership for the event.
- Teslapremium sponsorPremium sponsor showcasing technology and innovation leadership.
- Arubapremium sponsorTechnology infrastructure sponsor providing cloud and digital services expertise.
- Interprefypremium sponsorProviding interpretation technology for international attendees and multi-language event support.
- Clust-ER (Emilia-Romagna Clusters)premium sponsorRegional innovation clusters including Build, Tourism, AgriFood, and Innovate supporting local innovation ecosystem.
- BolognaFiereflagshipVenue partner hosting WMF events in the 70,000 mq exhibition center in Bologna.
- European Space Agency (ESA)premium sponsorSpace technology and innovation partnership for Space Industry focus area.
- IIT CNRpremium sponsorNational Research Council contributing scientific and research perspectives to the event.
- Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bolognapremium sponsorUniversity partnership bringing academic perspectives and student participation.
- Emilia-Romagna Tourismmain partnerRegional tourism authority supporting and promoting the event and regional innovation.
- Search On Media GroupflagshipParent company organizing WMF events, founded by Cosmano Lombardo.
- Italian Chambers of Commerce (Various)premium sponsorItalian chambers of commerce from Switzerland, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Turkey, UK, Malta, and others bringing international delegations.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights7 records
WMF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TechCrunch Disrupt: TechCrunch Disrupt is a flagship startup competition and tech conference with global editions, overlapping directly with WMF's Startup Competition and Global Startup Program in targeting early-stage founders and investors.
- Slush: Slush is a Helsinki-based annual startup and tech event with a strong investor-startup matching focus and a regional European anchor; comparable to WMF's World Startup Fest sub-event in terms of founder-investor programming.
- Web Summit: Web Summit operates large-scale B2B technology conferences (Lisbon, Rio, Vancouver, Qatar) that, like WMF, aggregate startups, enterprises, investors, and media for deal-making and thought leadership on a multi-day, multi-stage format.
- SXSW: SXSW combines a technology/innovation conference with music, film, and culture programming in Austin — closely mirroring WMF's hybrid festival model that fuses AI/tech training with Music Fest, Creators Fest, and Film Fest.
- DMEXCO: DMEXCO is Europe's leading digital marketing and tech event in Cologne, comparable to WMF's Web Marketing Festival and digital-tech training stages in audience and sponsor profile.
- VivaTech: VivaTech is Europe's flagship startup and tech event held annually in Paris, connecting startups, investors, and corporates around AI and digital innovation — directly comparable to WMF in audience, sponsor mix, and startup competition format.
Broad incumbents
- CES (Consumer Technology Association): CES is the largest global consumer electronics and emerging-tech trade show in Las Vegas. While far larger and broader than WMF, it competes for the same enterprise tech sponsorship dollars and international attendee attention.
- Hannover Messe: Hannover Messe is the world's leading industrial technology trade fair. It is comparable as a large certified international B2B trade fair format but focused on industrial/automation versus WMF's AI/digital tech emphasis.
- Mobile World Congress (GSMA): MWC Barcelona is the dominant telecom and connectivity trade show. While narrower in vertical focus, it competes for similar enterprise technology sponsors and international delegations that WMF courts.
Regional players
- Italian Innovation Summit: Italian Innovation Summit is an Italian corporate innovation event. It targets a similar Italian enterprise/innovation audience as WMF's institutional programming but lacks the international, multi-stage, music-festival hybrid format.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WMF social profiles
Digital presenceWMF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WMF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
WMF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WMF M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WMF
What does WMF do?
WMF (We Make Future) organizes an annual international B2B innovation trade fair and festival held at BolognaFiere in Bologna, Italy. The event spans 70,000+ square meters of exhibition area with 800+ exhibitors, 90+ training stages, 150+ events, and 18+ thematic sub-events including AI Global Summit, World Startup Fest, Startup Competition, Music Fest, GovTech Summit, and Creators Fest. The organization connects startups, enterprises, investors, and institutions across 90 countries through ticket sales, exhibition booth rentals, sponsorship packages, business matching services, and startup competitions.
Is WMF a public or private company?
WMF is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was WMF founded?
WMF was founded in -1.
Where is WMF based?
WMF is headquartered in Castel Guelfo Di Bologna, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does WMF make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are exhibition and Sponsorship and business Services.
Who are WMF's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TechCrunch Disrupt, Slush, Web Summit, SXSW, DMEXCO and VivaTech. Broad incumbents are CES (Consumer Technology Association), Hannover Messe and Mobile World Congress (GSMA). Italian Innovation Summit is listed as a regional player.
Does WMF have an API?
No public API is recorded for WMF.
What industry is WMF in?
WMF's product category is Trade Show and Event Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAE, Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers, with a secondary code of THAHABAB, Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers. Its NAICS code is 561920.