Programme

Opening Speech

The Great Pitch Contest Semifinals

Why sustainability makes business sense for your startup?

Today’s climate emergency calls for urgent solutions. Given the tech sector’s sizeable contribution to global warming — each year, the internet and its supporting systems produce 900 million tons of CO2 — it’s up to us to find those solutions. With cloud computing usage currently growing exponentially, reducing our sector’s carbon footprint is a number one priority. But how can we do that without hindering financial growth?

Fuelling the new generation of Investors in CEE

Central and Eastern Europe is the new hot spot in technology and innovation, with a promising pipeline of startups that raised their first funding rounds and aspire to become the next global unicorns. Hence, it is no wonder that the CEE investment ecosystem indicates the highest growth rate in the EU, attracting international financial institutions, national and regional financial bodies, and private funds of funds ready to share this stunning burden of greatness.

Do you want to be part of the new golden age of Central and Eastern Europe? Then join us in our mission of educating, providing guidance, and accelerating the next generation of CEE Investors.

What Will the Next Decade Hold for Female Founders?

It might seem like there are more and more women founders and investors in the startup world, and that there are more initiatives than ever to bring women into the tech scene. However, the numbers show only slight progress in this area. We are inviting four role models of the startup world to share their experiences, observations, and advice in a panel discussion about women’s power in the startup world and what the next decade holds for female founders.

Networking Party Powered by APX & Ringier Axel Springer Polska

Fireside chat: Media & Startups Mixer
Cooperation with startups can shake and stir the ecosystem of a media company. APX is joining the startup party in the CEE. How do those things mix? Let’s get this party started at a Wolves Summit networking event kicked off with a bubbly chat about media innovation and investments in CEE.

Silicon Vallies 2.0

Session powered by MIT Enterprise Forum CEE

Silicon Valley is losing its advantage. Technology hubs are growing
all over the world – from Tallinn to Kyiv to Shenzhen. At the panel
we will meet local ecosystems, examples of the unicorns or the
most promising successful startups and will learn about how to take
the benefit from each of the location.

THE GREAT PITCH CONTEST SEMIFINALS

Is CEE already a Global Cluster of Innovation?

While the pandemic generated a long-term crisis on many layers of the economy, some players foresaw an opportunity in accelerating the pace of innovation and technology adoption. As during the tech bubble or the financial crisis, new players emerged as winners of the COVID crisis, leading a new growth wave through the world. UiPath listing on NYSE in Spring 2021 after a three-fold growth during the pandemic or FintechOS latest 60$m Series B led by Draper Esprit with the participation of International Finance Corporation are positioning Central and Eastern Europe as the next hot spot for technology innovation. But are these examples enough to impose CEE as a Global Cluster of Innovation?

The golden age of Southeast Asia Tech and how Europe can be a part of it

Southeast Asia (SEA) is home to 38 unicorns with at least 19 being minted in 2021 alone. SEA is known for its US$300 billion market opportunity presented by a young and burgeoning digitally-savvy middle class, and depth and diversity of tech talent. The growing concentration of sophisticated investors is also garnering attention. On the whole, regional VC investments into Southeast Asia grew 5.2 times to US$8.2 billion in 2020 from 2015. Increasingly, European scale-ups are tapping into what some have called the golden age of Southeast Asia Tech. Come find out more about the why and how they are doing so.

How to Tap into Southeast Asia's $300 Billion Tech Economy

If you are a technology startup or scaleup based in Europe and may be interested in doing business in Southeast Asia, this workshop is for you.

How to tell when is the right moment to scale internationally? What are the key actions that can improve your ability to operate across multiple countries in Southeast Asia concurrently?

These are some of the questions that will be addressed during the 1h workshop provided by Singapore Economic Development Board.

How to gain from EU financial instruments?

Presentation aims to further the understanding of how financial instruments can support the development of enterprises.

• What kind of products financing business activity is currently available?
• What are the preferences offered within EU financial instruments?
• Where can SME apply for financing with EU guarantee?

UiPath Automation Awards – Finals

UiPath – Panel Discussion (Jury deliberation)

Expanding your Solution into the US market

Session powered by MIT Enterprise Forum CEE

The session will focus on how, in practical terms, to enter the US market
as a CEE startup, what are the key difficulties and challenges and how
these can be overcome. The session will be led by representatives from
SmartGate VC and Hero House Gateway, who facilitate US entry through
their acceleration programme and investment fund. 

The growing role of Media for Equity in the global expansion of startups, and what it means for entrepreneurs and VCs.

Media for equity should be the first at the top of the list of B2C-driven
startups when they are past product-market-fit and ready to scale.
The model is a great upside for their early growth trajectory. How and
when do you use it and if it’s right for you, these are questions that you can
find answers to at Wolves Summit. 

The Rise Of Global Tech Entrepreneurship

One of the most positive trends emerging out of the global health crisis is seeing more entrepreneurs starting in places that are off the beaten track, as they don’t need to relocate to raise funds and get going.

In this fireside chat, UiPath’s Chief Strategy Officer and EIF’s Head of Tech VC Investments will talk about some of the key factors favoring global tech growth.

Smart City solutions in CEE

Session powered by MIT Enterprise Forum CEE

What are some of the latest smart city solutions and innovations being developed in Central Eastern Europe? What are the particular areas where startups can bring the most value in the future in developing smart cities?

Ecosystems Matter More Than Unicorns

Insights from tracking the development of European startup ecosystems for 5+ years with the Startup Heatmap Europe and accelerating 12 ecosystems with the DEEP Startup Ecosystem Accelerator.

Breaking into VC

Venture Capital is a closed network and if you ever tried to get a job at a VC fund you know it's not easy. It's even harder if you're from an underrepresented community. In this short session Ana Wolsztajn, Investor & CMO at KAYA VC shares her experience as Included VC Fellow and gives some insights into the ongoing application process for the next cohort.

Exploring the Product-Market Fit in a Post-Pandemic World

Pandemic led to various changes in customer behavior, both in consumer and business-to-business spaces. This keynote is about exploring the emerging opportunity space or how to challenge existing market players that were established in the pre-pandemic era

7 unusual ways to marketing your startup
on a low budget

You don't always have to spend a lot of money to make your startup go through the roof. Creative marketing can help you get your startup off the ground even on a small budget. Being imaginative and creative often yields great results for a small price. Here are seven marketing strategies you can use to grow your startup.

Raising A Funding Round? Office Hours with AIN

As the world’s largest angel and early stage investment network, we’ve seen a funding round or two. If you’re raising a round and have questions, come and ask!

Accelpoint Demo Day

CEE Expansion – Solutions & Challenges

Presenting a variety of expansion methods (through distribution partners, customer’s regional presence etc) and the challenges faced by each type of business through the eyes of 4 successful startups in the region and 2 VCs (ROCA X & Impact Ventures HU). At the end, the viewer should be able to have a clear list of things to consider for the CEE expansion of a business, identify the similarities with the presented business models and plan to mitigate the challenges the business will be facing.

Inside and Outside view on CEE startup ecosystem

What is the perception of the CEE startup ecosystem from an active investor with a portfolio in-and-outside of the CEE region. Where are the opportunities to improve or strengths on which CEE should build on.

How can we fuel the growth of the startup ecosystem
in CEE?

Ecosystem builders and founders will share actionable insights, learnings, and best practices on how to boost the startup ecosystem in the CEE region. Panelists and founders represent the most active startup ecosystems builders in the CEED region.

Term sheet 101

Carbon is a complicated subject. Carbon emissions – even more complicated. But I'd want to help you understand this important issue.

• Are carbon emissions to blame for climate change?
• Why should you care about carbon emissions?
• Why does too much CO2 in the atmosphere matter?
• How much CO2 in the atmosphere is man-made?
• What we can do about this problem?

Workshop: How to get 300,000 PLN free equity grant and smoothly enter a new market?

Receive a grant and substantive support, gain reliable business partners and grow your start-up in a new place. Easily. In just a few months. Without giving away equity. To achieve international success, join Concordia Design Accelerator at the technological hub of Central and Eastern Europe.

Exploring Business Models: 50 to Choose From.

A Business Model is a description of how your business makes money. In fact, Ash Maurya, the best-selling author of Running Lean and Scaling Lean, said: “Building a product is NOT “the product” of your startup. Your Business Model is “The Product”.” In this talk, we will explore what a business model is, what makes a business model successful, and use examples from the real world to illustrate them. Participants will also get a list of 50 business models and examples of each.

How can we reframe key industry challenges and start addressing problems that matter to drive future economic growth?

Key drivers of Economic growth have changed drastically in the last years. Profit and growth for every price have become nearly secondary. Drivers that take into account the long term wellbeing of our planet and humanity have become increasingly important. Fireside guests will share their observations on how corporations and the startup ecosystem is pivoting and adapting to the new “economy value” system.

Why Luxembourg? Your perfect gateway to expand in Europe.

A unique opportunity to discover Luxembourg’s startup ecosystem and hear testimonials from startup founders established in Luxembourg.
Topic points:

• Introduction to the Luxembourg startup ecosystem.
• Inspiring discussions with entrepreneurs who chose Luxembourg to expand into the European Market.

How can we inspire current and future generations of corporate innovators, leaders, and policy makers?

Inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs is complex challenges that require multi-level and coordinated effort from all stakeholders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In the panel we will confront ideas from policy makers, VC fund manager & serial entrepreneur, ecosystem builder and startup coach.

AI and the Future of Content

The Power of Building a Startup Community

How do you create value for your customer, build community and a movement? Building a customer community is more then a value proposition and product price. Building a community through customer development, user groups, and customer councils.

Coming of age - startups and venture capital in Central and Eastern Europe

Record funding, growing international investor interest, and a new generation of homegrown startups putting CEE on the map. Dealroom, Atomico and Google for Startups explore the startup and venture capital ecosystem of Central and Eastern Europe, the growth drivers, challenges, and funding dynamics.

So, where do we go now? Hybrid 2.0

We are an industry that is people-driven and talent-focused in a chain of out-of-the-box hierarchy – individualism in a modern world that has no sense of individualism. In today’s fast-paced and technology driven world, business models are changing, and entrepreneurs are rethinking the way things are done. As AI is gaining ground, the trick moving forward will be for entrepreneurs of the future to find business models where they can have talents focusing more on their crafts and become craftier, while using AI in decisions that can remove the pressure off of those talents. This is the Hybrid 2.0 model, where AI and Talents, usually seen as polar opposites, will form a harmony never seen before.

The Future of Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy

Could psychedelics help us heal from trauma and mental illnesses? Researcher Rick Doblin has spent the past three decades investigating this question, and the results are promising. In this session, he will reveal Phase 3 results of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, discuss MAPS' novel corporate structure, and their commercialization plans.

Internet of Humans

An interactive session with the architects of a safer and more reliable Internet led by New Generation Internet, EU Commission funded project with the mission to bring Internet back to humans.

How to organise your startup - avoiding expensive 'funded startup' mistakes.

Startup management disasters. What startup founders get wrong in management and leadership and how to fix them Entrepreneurial mindset - why is it so hard to teach, and how to embed it in your business, your family and yourself

How to add User Acquisition to your startup’s marketing mix

Although backgrounds may differ, the lifecycle of every startup is, by and large, similar. It can be broken into several stages, where they face a different set of tasks that need to be completed.

User Acquisition can help a business at each of these stages. You can use it to validate your business idea, check if there’s a market for your product, or even scale up your company.

In today’s talk, we’ll be covering some basic requirements for using this marketing tool to acquire paying users, and how to run a successful UA marketing campaign aligned with your business goals.

Automatic Detection of Railway Track Defects at Goldschmidt Group

Story of and conclusions from building a new product to ensure railway track safety with Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and optimisation.

Hybrid Collaboration is Hard. Three Hybrid collaboration concepts for high performing in-office and remote teams

Co-founding vs venture classics: what's next in the new VC models

In this panel discussion, we’ll talk about the challenges faced by the traditional VC business model today, as well as the new types of venture building, focusing on the co-founding model.
Panelists will discuss both pros and cons to the new and traditional approaches, which models are more effective when applied to different industries, and what makes the foundation for trustful relations with founders in both cases.

THE GREAT PITCH CONTEST FINALS

10 startups selected from the semifinals will pitch again and fight to become the winner of the 14th edition of the Great Pitch Contest.

The Great Pitch Contest - Panel Discussion & Jury Deliberation

Hybrid Events - A source of new market growth and innovation

Award & Closing Ceremony

Find out which entrepreneurs get the Main and Special Awards at Wolves Summit and tune in for the announcements from the President of Wolves Summit about the plans moving forward.