Info

Behind every Start-up Success Story - How Ecosystems Shape Growth, Scale and Impact

Wednesday 16 September 2026, 09:30-16:00 | Tech Park, Vilnius | Official Side Event of Start-up Fair 2026


INNOVATE-EU, WE-RISE and EPIC-X warmly invite you to join us – a collaborative event set to take place in Vilnius on 16 September 2026.

This event brings together policymakers, investors, innovation agencies, accelerators, incubators, clusters, universities, and start-up founders to explore a fundamental question:

What does it take to create more start-up success stories in Europe?

Europe is rich in talent, ideas, and innovation. Yet many promising start-ups struggle to access the support, networks, funding, and market opportunities needed to grow and scale. While individual success stories often take centre stage, the ecosystems behind them receive far less attention.

Drawing on the experience of European initiatives supporting hundreds of start-ups across different sectors and regions, this event will explore what works, what barriers remain, and how ecosystem actors can work together to create stronger pathways for start-up growth.

Have a look at our agenda:

9:30 – 10:00

Registration & welcome coffee

10:00 – 10:15

Welcome & introduction

Victoria Blessing | Steinbeis Europa Zentrum | INNOVATE-EU

10:15 – 10:35

Interactive Kick-off Session

10:35 – 11:00

How INNOVATE-EU, EPIC-X and WE-RISE support start-up ecosystems

11:00 – 11:15

WE-RISE legacy blueprint

Aleks Gruszkiewicz | Toro Ventures | WE-RISE

11:15 – 12:30

Building Stronger Start-up Ecosystems: Innovation, Investment and Growth in Europe

Moderated by Daina Kleponé | Agrifood Lithuania

  • Danielius Stasiulis | European Innovation Council

  • Jorge Martins | VTT, Finland

  • Valentina Garonzi | Diamante Società Benefit, Italy

  • Ekaterini Alexiou-Chatzaki | ABCureD, Greece

  • Jovita ŽėkaitÄ— Moconko, Phd | Deeptech Analyst & Angel Investor, Lithuania

12:30 – 13:30

Lunch break

13:30  – 15:00

Policy recommendation world café

15:00 – 15:20

Results presentation world café

15:20 – 15:40

Closing Keynote

Monika Paulè | CEO, Innovation Agency Lithuania

15:40 – 16:00

Wrap-up

16:00 – 16:30 

Afternoon coffee & Networking


This is not just an event to listen to what is going on on stage, but also to become active and create recommendations together.

Join us in Vilnius on 16 September 2026.

REGISTER HERE>>

Participation is free and open to all but it is mandatory to register.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.