Speakers
Jean-David Malo
Director (European Innovation Council / EISMEA)
Jean-David Malo became Head of Unit in charge of regional aspects in DG R&I (2006-2010) and of the unit (2011-2013) in charge of increasing private finance and closing market gaps by expanding existing EU innovative financial instruments (see RSFF) and by developing new ones in the fields of debt (including guarantees) and equity financing (InnovFin). Horizon 2020SMEs was also addressed by the unit (i.e. EUROSTARS II, SME Instrument and the Fast Track to Innovation). Director for Open Innovation and Open Science in 2017, he designed and expanded initiatives such as the VentureEU Initiative and the RDI dimension under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) among other things. In 2019 following the European Council’s request to set up the European Innovation Council (EIC), he became Director of the EIC Task Force.
Daria Saharova
FOUNDING PARTNER WORLD FUND
Daria Saharova, born in Riga, is a founding partner of the World Fund. She has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor and was awarded the German Startup Award as the best investor by the German Startups Association in 2020. Daria is an expert advisor to the European Commission and maintains a close relationship with international industry thought leaders as co-founder of the think tank 1E9 Denkfabrik.
Falk Müller-Veerse
PARTNER, CO-HEAD OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION, SUSTAINABILITY AND INDUSTRIAL TECH PRACTICES AND HEAD OF THE DACH REGION AT BRYAN, GARNIER & CO.
Falk boasts three decades of investment banking and tech industry expertise. Falk founded Cartagena Capital, leading it for 16 years before merging it with Bryan, Garnier & Co in 2016. He initially started in investment banking in the late '90s, leading the Continental European operations of Durlacher, an LSE-listed investment bank later acquired by Lazard. His early career also included management and consulting roles at Nokia, Gartner Group, and McGraw Hill. Falk holds an MBA from California State University and a BA in Management & Technology (Mechanical Engineering) from the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Ernestos Panayiotou
GENERAL MANAGER TRANSFORMATION, STRATEGY & INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Ernestos Panayiotou is General Manager of Transformation, Strategy and International Activities and member of the Executive Committee of the National Bank of Greece (NBG) Group. He leads the Group’s business strategy – including sustainability and partnerships –, the implementation of the Bank’s Transformation Program, and the oversight of the NBG’s international subsidiaries.
Before rejoining NBG in 2019, he was Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he worked during the periods 2001-2005 and 2012-2018. At McKinsey, he focused on serving financial institutions in Greece, Cyprus, the USA and the Middle East on strategy, transformation and risk management topics. During the period 2006-2011, he worked for the NBG Group as strategy advisor.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from the University of Oxford and a Master in Public Administration & International Development from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
Laurent Samama
MANAGING PARTNER & IMPACT OFFICER - Jolt Capital
Laurent Samama has experience across large corporations and dynamic start-ups. His experience as a senior manager includes serving as VP Business Development with Orange, Country Manager for France with both NEC and Nokia, and also as Global Business Unit Manager with Nokia. Laurent has also held executive positions with smaller technology companies (DxO Labs, Coronis Systems, Varioptic) where he experienced all stages from growth to exit, including equity raising, technology development, commercial expansion and trade sale. He graduated from Telecom Paris Tech and won the French Digital Technology Manager award in 1998. Laurent is currently a board member of Alpha MOS, Boydsense, Virta, and BC Platforms
Special guests
Dora Trachana - Partner @ Uni.Fund VC
Misa Lukic - Founder & CEO @ NEW STARTEGY
Digital Group Attendees
Next-Gen Computing
Investor/Corporate
- Carson Bradbury - Director - EU Chips Act & Cofounder Cre8Ventures @ Siemens
- Daria Saharova - Managing Partner @ World Fund
- Ion Hauer - Principal @ APEX Ventures
- Juha Lehtola - Director @ Tesi
- Kirk Ouellette - Corporate Strategy Vice President @ STMicroelectronics
- Rick Hao - Partner @ Speedinvest
- Serban Mogos - Investment Manager @ TRUMPF Venture
Government Agency Representative
- Claudia Pingue - Head of Tech-Transfer Fund @ CDP Venture Capital
- Mario Branciforti - Senior Partner @ CDP Venture Capital
- Orestis Trasanidis - EIT AI & Silicon Valley Manager @ EIT Digital
- Sofia Bravo - Tech SMEs and Startups support @ ANI
- Vita Markeviciute - Science and Innovation Advisor @ Research Council of Lithuania
Selected Company/SME
- Evangelos Eleftheriou - CTO @ Axelera AI
- Hugh Brown - Chief of Staff @ Axelera AI
- Hugo Melvin - Investor Relations and Fundraising Manager @ Multiverse Computing
- Sverre Dale Moen - CEO @ sensiBel
Selected Mentor
- Kaija Pöysti - CEO @ Aldanella
- Maria Luisa Garcia - President @ AABAN
- Mary McKenna - Co-Founder @ AwakenAngels
Stakeholder Member
- Pedro Carvalho - Associate @ Dealflow.eu
EIC representative
- Samira Nik - Programme Manager for Quantum Tech & Electronics @ European Innovation Council (EIC)
Digital Security & Trust
Investor/Corporate
- Beate Stecher - Investment Team @ Round2 Capital
- Heinz Marx - Partner @ Round2 Capital
- Roula Bachtalia - Director @ egg - enter grow go | Eurobank
- Victoria Hernandez Valcarcel - Council Member @ EIC Scaling Club
Government Agency Representative
- Egita Aizsilniece-Ibema - LIAA representative in Brussels @ Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, office in Brussels - Lat.tech
Selected Company/SME
- Fabrizia Zanca - VP of People @ SettleMint
- Olivier Beg - Chief Hacking Officer @ Hadrian
- Rogier Fischer - CEO @ Hadrian
Selected Mentor
- Anna Maj - Founder @ CreatLink
- Daniel Kahn - CEO @ Red Bridge
- François-Xavier Meyer - Managing Partner @ Capital Impact
- Mikko Suonenlahti - Mentor @ EIC Scaling Club
Other
- Jean-Jacques de Dardel - President @ Sicpa SA - Economy of Trust Foundation
New Space
Investor/Corporate
- Georgios Belesiotis - Project Management & Ecosystem Development Officer @ 5G VENTURES S.A.
- Jorge-A. Sanchez-P. - Partner @ Corallia Ventures
- Tim Hos - Associate @ APEX Ventures
Selected Mentor
- Antonis Tzortzakakis - CEO @ 5G Ventures S.A.
- Tero Vauraste - Founder, CEO @ Mariadi Oy, ICEYE Oy
Other
- Anne-Cécile PAYET - Investor Relations Manager @ AEROSPACE VALLEY
- Tanja Lukanović - PCM7NCP EIC7EIE @ Hrvatska zaklada za znanost
Climate Group Attendees
Smart Mobility
Investor/Corporate
• Arthur Puig - Associate @ SUPERNOVA INVEST
• Joseph Boadi-Darkwah - Investment Associate @ Hyundai CRADLE
• Laura Gaspard - Advisor EuroQuity Belgium @ EuroQuity - Wallonie Entreprendre
• Matthias Mitlacher - Open Innovation and Corporate Venture Capital @ Hyundai CRADLE Berlin
• Remy De Tonnac - Partner @ ETF Partners
• Ricardo Zapatero - Tech Scout & VC Investor @ REPSOL
• Roel Callebaut - Senior Investment Manager @ Finindus
Government Agency Representative
• An Meers - EuroQuity Belgium Manager @ Wallonie Entreprendre
Selected Company/SME
• Alexander Lapshin - Head of Marketing @ Transmetrics
• Asparuh Koev - CEO @ Transmetrics
• Eoghan Huston - CFO @ Manna Drone Delivery
• Esther Daweke - Head of Partnerships @ Vay Technology
• Hermann Stockinger - CEO & Founder @ Easelink GmbH
• justin spratt - CBO @ Vay.io
• Karla Kammer - Head of BD @ Vay
• Luka Ambrozic - Chief Commercial Officer @ Elaphe Propulsion Technologies
Selected Mentor
• François Baudu - CIB Strategy @ BNP Paribas
• Laureen Cook - CEO & Executive TMTS Adviser @ Extelcon
• Luisa Munaretto - VC in EU India cross border corridor @ Tech IA Impact Invest Paris Delhi
• Milen Ivanov - Managing Partner @ SAV
• Rubina Singh - Principal @ Foresight Group
Other
• Branislav Vujovic - Partner @ New Frontier Group
Renewable Energies
Investor/Corporate
- Alberto Emprin - General Partner @ Excellis Holding S.r.l.
- Daria Saharova - General Partner @ World Fund GmbH
- Joana Larsen - Open Innovation and Smart Retail Lead @ Galp
- Nikos Giannakakis - CIO @ Motor oil Hellas
Government Agency Representative
- Elena Karagianni - Senior Innovation Officer @ HELLENIC DEVELOPMENT BANK
- Lucia Bogdányová - Head of Department of International Cooperation @ Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency
- Martin Svoboda - director, section for innovation and international affairs @ Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency
- Natalija Silina - Deputy director @Innovation and Technology department @ Investment and Development agency of Latvia
- Robin Henri - Team Manager, Investment @ Solar Impulse Foundation
Selected Company/SME
- Eunice Silva - Senior Project Manager @ CorPower Ocean AB
- Michael Moser - CTO @ eologix-ping
- Nicolas Heuzé - CEO @ Sweetch Energy
- Pascal Le Melinaire - Chairman @ Sweetch Energy
- Sebastian Wojczik - Director Business Development @ Focused Energy
- Gustav Nilsson - Head of Strategy and Sustainability @ Modvion
Selected Mentor
- Bernd Wacker - CTO @ DTC Digitalization& Technology Consulting GmbH& Co.KG
- Constantinos Peonides - CEO @ MEGGITT
- Nicoletta Zappatini - Managing Director @ Olea Capital Ltd
Other
- Laura Mendera - Director Business Development @ CLEAR
- Willem-Jeroen Stevens - Managing Director @ CLEAR
Batteries & Energy Storage
Investor/Corporate
- Francois Gaudet - Head of Unit @ European Investment Bank
- Jan Olsson - Investment Associate @ Extantia Capital
- Jesús Lozano - Director @ A&G
- Omer Hantal - Chief Innovation Officer @ Fark Labs İnovasyon
- Petra Sokolova - Investment Director @ INVEN Capital
- Saimon Satyanathan - Project Lead @ EIT Manufacturing
- Taha Adnan - Deep Tech Innovation Scout @ Zaz Ventures
Government Agency Representative
- Brian Hotani - Senior Analyst @ SPRIND
Clean Fuels & Hydrogen
Investor/Corporate
- Alexander Cruz - Technical Leader - R&D @ Baker Hughes
- Dominika Niewierska - Director @ Orlen S.A.
- Grzegorz Jóźwiak - Director @ ORLEN
- Hana Uhlikova - Financial Manager @ Inven Capital
- Jens Busse - Investment Director @ Evonik Venture Capital
- Marion Pelat - Associate @ TiLT Capital Partners
- Michal Mravec - Investment Director @ Inven Capital
- Nicolas Lepareur - Managing Partner @ Tilt capital partners
- Pol Hortal - Managing Director @ Zubi Labs
- Sarah Söding - Head of Offtakes and Partnerships @ Extantia
- Stian Nygaard - Investment Director @ Yara Growth Ventures
Government Agency Representative
- Anna Laarits - Consultant @ Enterprise Estonia
- Eve Päärendson - Business and Innovation Liaison Officer @ Estonian Business and Innovation Agency
- Teresė Škutaitė - Head of GreenTech Hub @ Innovation Agency Lithuania
Selected Company/SME
- Spyridon Economou - Director General, Hydrogen Technologies @ EUNICE Energy Group
Selected Mentor
- Carmen Font - CEO @ Font Corporation
- Christian Weinbefrger - Senior Adviser Green Hydrogen Markets @ hydrogen-advisers.eu
- Dora Trachana - Partner @ Uni.Fund VC
- Sofia Fernandes - Director @ Evolution Europe
- Żaneta Kłostowska - Director @ Cluster of Hydrogen Technologies
- Aivars Starikovs - Member of the Board @ Latvian Hydrogen Association
- Audra Shallal - Vice President @ Corenvest
Guest
- Falk Mueller-Veerse - Partner @ Bryan, Garnier & Co
- Yam Efrati - Managing Director @ Doral Hydrogen
Other
- Yasemin Baran - GM @ Tech Tour
Agri & Food Tech
Investor/Corporate
- Eleni Bathianaki - Managing Partner @ Halcyon Equity Partners
- Georgios Karantonis - Partner @ Metavallon AEDAKES
- Katarzyna Gil - Principal @ ICOS Capital
- Ricardo Bras - Associate @ Sparkfood
- Robert Genieser - Partner @ ETF Partners
- Miguel Jordao - Founder & Managing Partner @ Newland Syndicate
Government Agency Representative
- Juan Manuel Garrido Moreno - Operations Director @ ENISA
Health Group Attendees
Cardiovascular Therapies
Investor/Corporate
- Benno Tieke - Director Portfolio Management @ Philips Ventures
- Frank Bulens - Partner @ Xpand Partners
- Marie Schroeder - Vice President @ Novo Holdings, Seed Investments
- Tiago Menezes - Investment Manager @ YAYA Capital
- Valeri Petrov - Partner @ Eleven Ventures
New Biotech Platforms
Investor/Corporate
- André Sarmento - Investment Associate @ Dealflow.eu
- Daniela Gamberini - Innovation Competence Manager @ Chiesi
- Dusan Obradovic - Co-Owner and Director @ Bold International Group
- Karen Wagner - Managing Partner @ Ysios Capital Partners
- Merve Akgun - Vice President @ Diffusion Capital Partners (DCP)
- Nadia Serina - Silicon Biotech and Strategic R&D Agreements Director @ STMicroelectronics
- Patrik Sobocki - Senior Investment Director @ Industrifonden
- Thanos Papaioannou - Programme Manager @ EIT Health e.V.
- Alexander Schwartz - Partner @ xista science ventures
Selected Mentor
- Ana Catarina Gomes - Healthcare and Food Innovation Consultant @ icould
- Birgit Anderegg - Owner @ ABC & D
- Devaki Bhatta - Director @ Biosenze Consulting Ltd
- Dr Dominique Delporte - Vermeiren - Founder @ Presidente Groupe Verdel holding
- Noemí Quesada - BDM @ Evolution Europe
- Stavriana Kofteros - Founder, Partner @ W11 Ventures
- Vasil Karaivanov - Chairman of the Management Board @ Sofia Tech Park Jsc.
- Volker Hirsch - Entrepreneur, Investor, NED/Chair, Mentor @ Quantified Ventures
Other
- Vesselin Drobenov - CEO @ The40 foundation
- Zivile Einikyte - Creator @ Perception Paradox