Engaged Investments 2026

Engaged Investments is a leading international conference for venture capital investors and founders of early-stage technology companies. It was launched in 2019 by DEPO Ventures and J&T Ventures, and over the past seven years, it has become a key platform for cross-border investment and cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Room

The conference will bring together around 500 investors, founders, and innovation leaders from more than 20 countries. Participants include representatives from leading venture capital funds, startup accelerators, financial institutions, and high-growth technology companies across Europe and the United States. The speaker lineup features Marcel Müller-Marbach, Ben Kolada, Martin Olczyk, Jakob Stein, Christian Noske, and Vuk Lau, alongside investors and ecosystem leaders from across the Central and Eastern European startup ecosystem.

The event is designed to connect venture capital firms, angel investors, founders, and innovation organizations to foster new partnerships and cross-border collaboration.

The Agenda

• State of Venture Capital – Comparing the U.S. and European VC markets and exploring the outlook for the investment landscape.
• Building Companies for Successful Exits – Lessons on creating long-term enterprise value and navigating international acquisitions.
• Scaling Startup Ecosystems – Best practices from global accelerators and strategies for strengthening Central Europe's innovation ecosystem.
• Deep Tech Investment Trends – How leading funds identify opportunities in AI, defense, enterprise software, and other emerging technologies.
• Cross-Border Investing – Perspectives from investors across Europe and the U.S. on regional opportunities, international expansion, and venture collaboration.
• Founder & Investor Networking – Dedicated sessions connecting venture capital firms, angel investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders.

What to Expect

• Insights from leading venture capital investors on the latest trends shaping the U.S. and European startup and investment ecosystems.
• Practical advice on building companies with exit potential, including cross-border growth strategies and M&A opportunities.
• Discussions on strengthening Central Europe's startup ecosystem, featuring experienced investors, accelerator leaders, and ecosystem builders.
• Deep tech and venture investment perspectives from partners at some of Europe's top VC funds, including Creandum and NGP Capital.
• Networking with around 500 investors, founders, and innovation leaders from more than 20 countries, focused on cross-border collaboration and dealmaking.

Why It's Different

The conference is also supported by a number of partners who share the belief that the Central European ecosystem needs stronger foundations. These include ICON Corporate Finance, which brings cross-border transaction experience. Other partners include the Polish private equity fund Warsaw Equity Group, which focuses on technology and industrial companies in Central and Eastern Europe, and the Brno-based JIC, which invests in deep tech startups from the Czech Republic and Central Europe through its CZK 400 million fund, especially those commercializing research developed at universities. CzechInvest, through its technology incubation program, is also preparing startups to present directly at the conference.

Early-stage startups will have a dedicated section at the conference called the Engaged Startup Showcase. There, a jury will select the best companies from 50 startups from the region based on live pitches on stage. Startups can apply through the application form.

The main partner of the conference is the international law firm Bird & Bird, which has long specialized in legal support for technology companies and venture capital investments across Central and Eastern Europe.

The Organizer

DEPO Ventures invests in early-stage startups from the CEE region, with a focus on strategic technologies. Since 2019, DEPO has made more than 50 investments. Its notable portfolio companies include the global blockchain platform Tatum, the home heart-monitoring solution Kardi AI, the smart business financing platform Flowpay, the mobile guide SmartGuide, and the logistics platform Ringil.