Have you ever wished you were part of life-changing tech innovations in their early stages, like Facebook or Google? Imagine sitting in a room with those who invented social media or blockchain, exposed to their vision, present in their brain storming dynamic.
Well, in this article, we’ll give you a glimpse of that experience.
While the tech world is captivated by AI and Web3.0, a growing group of entrepreneurs is already working on the next big thing: Web4.0—what the EU has defined as the next major technological transition. The EU predicts a dramatic exponential growth in the Web4.0 market over the next six years.
Like any new, curious innovation, we went searching for the key figures behind this movement. One of the most prominent names we found is Shir Sagie, an Israeli-Romanian entrepreneur and businesswoman who is laser-focused on leading the Web4.0 transformation.
At 43, Sagie defies the typical profile of a “hardcore” tech leader. She is not an IT specialist or engineer but rather a mass communication and international conflict resolution expert. Her multidisciplinary approach, which she considers essential for developing and implementing disruptive technologies, has allowed her to lead a group of international Web4.0 startups, including her own venture, Gelicail – The Positive Web.
In July last year, the EU defined Web4.0 as “the next technological transition that will allow integration between digital and real objects and environments, and enhanced interactions between humans and machines.” According to that EU press release, the web4.0 market will grow exponentially from a current yearly turnover of $22 billion to up to $800 billion by 2030.
However, Sagie believes Web4.0 goes far beyond that and represents an economic revolution.
“What Web4.0 really stands for is the blurring of boundaries and enhanced sharing. In many ways, it is a natural evolution of blockchain with the development of decentralized IT environments,” she explains. “This will revolutionize how humans communicate, interact, and trade.”
Sagie points out the limitations of Web3.0, particularly in the DeFi (Decentralized Finance) space, where a key challenge lies in connecting digital asset ownership with “real-world” institutions. “The true meaning of Web4.0 innovation is to blur the lines between the physical world and the metaverse, and consequently, between humans, the web, and machines,” she adds.
Beyond the technology, Sagie believes the implementation of Web4.0 could lead to a more positive and peaceful world. “The world today is heading toward chaos, and one of the main drivers is the toxic, centralized web infrastructure controlled by tech giants. This structure fosters negativity and creates an unsafe internet environment,” she notes.
Through Gelicail, her Web4.0 startup, Sagie and her team are developing a safe, decentralized web specifically designed for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Using cutting-edge Web4.0 technologies like web object IDs, they aim to prevent fraud and fake identities while empowering young users to take responsibility for their online actions and gain ownership of their virtual activities and assets.
As a mother and marketing specialist, Sagie believes that Web4.0 implementation should focus massively on youth. “They are the ones that need to be empowered, educated, and offered boundless opportunities online. And of course, they make up approximately 70% of the consumer force. Additionally, due to their more natural engagement with technology, they are the ones who need to be Web4.0’s first movers to other populations around the world,” Sagie explains.
Sagie is a brave leader. When asked if she is worried about facing off against tech giants with Web4.0, she responds confidently: “Every major development challenges the existing order. Web2.0 and the social web were a major threat to those controlling the World Wide Web in the ‘90s, and Bitcoin is still challenging central banks. The fact that Web4.0 triggers the ‘big guys’ is just proof that we are on the right path to evolving the web and the world.”
Sagie further emphasizes that the main goal of Web4.0 is to create a harmonic user experience with the internet. “As we are heading toward blurred boundaries, we are being pushed more and more toward an almost ‘bio internet’—a step with huge potential for technological innovations across various scopes. We are moving toward a completely different end-user experience, and it’s incredibly exciting and mind-stimulating,” she states.
Currently living in Dubai, Sagie is focused on establishing the world’s first Web4.0 hub. She strongly believes that the demand for Web4.0 solutions is only a matter of time. “Many Web3.0 developments are struggling to reach mass implementation due to the limitations of the current web environment. It will happen sooner than later,” she asserts. “In that context, I find Dubai to be the fastest adopter of innovation in the world, with an open-minded leadership when it comes to creating boundless ecosystems.”
Sagie’s vision for the future is bold, and as Web4.0 continues to gain momentum, she is undoubtedly at the forefront of shaping a new digital frontier—one that promises to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds in ways we can’t yet fully imagine.