Behind the Scenes at the Webby Awards: A Winner's Perspective

A few days ago, one of our boldest dreams came true. We walked the red carpet at the Webby Awards in New York City. We were there to accept our Webby trophy — the internet's highest honour — for our work with Equality AI.

We can't wait to tell you about the night. But first, let's back up and see how we got there.

What are the Webby Awards?

The Webby Awards have honoured the best of the internet since 1997. That's when the web took its first steps.

They're run by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Its 3,000+ judges include some big names. Executive Members feature Vint Cerf (co-inventor of the internet), Marian Croak (VP of Responsible AI at Google), and Shigetaka Kurita (the father of emoji). Associate Members include past winners and nominees.

The Webbys have grown with the internet. They now cover 100+ categories. These span websites, video, advertising, media, apps, social, podcasts, games, AI, and more.

This year, AI was front and centre. The Webbys added two new categories: "Best Use of AI" and "Responsible AI." They reward both innovation and ethics.

Winning a Webby was a long-time dream. Our work with Equality AI was a perfect fit, so we entered.

Equality AI is a healthcare project built on responsible AI. It's a web tool that tackles bias in AI-powered clinical decisions. We hoped it could earn a spot in the Webby hall of fame.

The judges agreed. A few weeks later, we became an official nominee. Out of 13,000 entries, ours made the top five in its category. We stood alongside names like Adobe, Pinterest, and Hello Monday.

Then came 23 April 2024. Our work with Equality AI was named a Webby Award Winner in the Responsible AI category. 🎉

Now let's jump to the days around the ceremony.

Official Webby International Breakfast and Portrait Day

On 12 May, our co-CEOs Gina and Adi joined Claire Graves, President of the Webby Awards. They met winners from around the world over bagels and coffee at The Standard, High Line New York.

After breakfast, they took their official portrait with the iconic Webby trophy.

Arrival at the Webby Awards

This year's gala was held at Cipriani Wall Street. It's a New York landmark and the former home of the New York Mercantile Exchange, in Manhattan's Financial District.

The red carpet was already buzzing. There was celebration, creativity, and diversity everywhere. Amid the camera flashes, the stars arrived in unique outfits, each with its own story.

Gina wore a colourful dress to celebrate diversity in AI. It's a theme close to our winning project, Equality AI.

Lights, camera, Webbys!

Stepping inside felt like entering a digital dream world.

There were 1,000 people in the room. We even spotted a few A-listers: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, BetterMe founder Victoria Repa, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and the Phelps twins from the Harry Potter films. It all added to the surreal feeling.

The ceremony was a blast, with a great dinner too. Several hosts kept the crowd entertained. But Amber Ruffin stole the show with her humour and energy.

The famous five-word speeches were the highlight. Two favourites came from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won Podcast of the Year for Wiser Than Me, and BetterMe's Victoria Repa, a winner in the Health, Wellness & Fitness Apps category.

And here's ours:

Webby after-party

After the gala, the party moved to Marquee, New York. Natasha Diggs was on the decks. There was also an opening and closing set by Bad Colours.

Our overall Webby experience

The whole experience was unforgettable. From the nomination to the red carpet, the ceremony, and the after-party, every moment counted. We met fellow innovators and industry legends. It was an honour. Now we're back to doing work worth celebrating.

This Webby means the world to us

A Webby is more than a trophy on the shelf. It's recognition of the passion our team poured into Equality AI. It's also a big motivator to keep building solutions for real-world problems. Most of all, it shines a light on responsible AI. We hope it inspires others to build a fairer, more ethical future with technology.

Huge thanks are in order

Thank you to our team for making this happen. Thank you to the Webby Awards for recognising Equality AI. Thank you to our friends for their votes and support. And thank you to our partners at Equality AI for trusting us with their vision. This award was a true team effort.

Want to build a powerful web or mobile app, or bring AI into your product? We're here to help. Email us at contact@wolfpack-digital.com and let's bring your ideas to life.