MeOut Summit 2026

As late autumn sets in, Budapest is preparing to serve as the central gathering point for Central and Eastern Europe's startup and innovation ecosystem. MeOut Summit 2026 is taking over the iconic Akvárium Budapest, bringing together founders, investors, corporate innovators, researchers, and policymakers for two high-energy days of actionable insights and cross-border networking.

Taking place from November 24 to 27, 2026 (with a dedicated Day Zero on November 24), the summit aims to unify the regional landscape and provide the practical tools required to scale European tech globally.

What to expect?

The summit moves beyond traditional keynotes, structuring its agenda into practical tracks:

• BizHack AI Marketing Hackathon: Kicking off on Day Zero (Nov 24), this 3-day international hackathon pairs SMEs with AI experts to solve real-world marketing challenges using low-code/no-code tools, concluding with live demos on the main stage.
• Global Startup Awards CEE: Hosting the regional celebration and grand gathering for top founders and ecosystem champions across Central and Eastern Europe.
• Scaleup Fest: Dedicated entirely to the hurdles of international expansion; focusing on go-to-market strategies, enterprise sales, talent acquisition, and global exit planning.
• HunBAN Startup Arena & Pitch Marathon: Hosted by the Hungarian Business Angel Network, this track features a non-competitive Pitch Marathon focused on visibility and feedback, alongside six showcased startups and high-level angel panels.

Stage One: Main Stage

Focuses on macro trends, deep tech, and groundbreaking founder journeys. Key sessions tackle structural challenges for women founders across CEE, building entirely new tech markets, and pioneering high-impact industries.

Stage Two: Ecosystem & Action Stage

Where practical business mechanics take center stage. Sessions explore alternative financing beyond traditional VC, AI-driven sales transformation beyond basic automation, and interactive investor simulations like "Your First Angel Cheque."

"MeOut Summit isn't just about passive listening; it’s an active engine uniting CEE’s ecosystem to solve real business challenges, rethink funding models, and scale high-impact innovation."

Session highlights

The 2026 speaker roster brings together seasoned founders, AI experts, and investors across CEE:

• Andrea Basilova: Co-founder of Sensoneo, sharing lessons on scaling a global waste-management solution.
• Bruno Santos: Founder of Exobiosphere, breaking down how he built a space biotech startup in just 18 months.
• Richard Bavlsík: Co-founder & CEO of InnoMaker Partners, delivering the opening keynote for the BizHack AI finale.
• Funding & AI Panelists: Anikó Ivanics leading interactive angel investing; Andrei Dudoiu, Nora Szeles, and Ciprian Man exploring alternative venture funding; plus AI sales insights from Jan van Schuppen, Drew Calin, and Christian Voss.

Beyond the official program

Community organizers, accelerators, VCs, and corporates can extend the experience by hosting Official Side Events between November 24 and 27. From investor breakfasts and curated dinners to demo nights and community meetups, the entire city of Budapest turns into a multi-day innovation festival.

The Recursive members have discount on tickets, option available below upon registration.