RiSEE Summit 2026

What to expect in 2026?

In 2026, the event officially integrates the Scale SEE initiative, moving beyond just starting to scaling. The focus is on the "S" in SEE — Sovereignty and Scaling— showing how founders from Belgrade to Sofia and Zagreb can maintain their engineering roots while building corporate structures that withstand global scrutiny.

"RiSEE is where conversations end and the work begins. It’s for the founders who are tired of being 'local heroes' and are ready to become global contenders."

The 2026 program is built on the philosophy of curated collisions, meaning every session is designed to result in a deal or a strategic partnership:

• The $100M Question: A signature panel featuring founders from the region who have successfully raised over €100M+, sharing unfiltered stories of failures and the specific tactics required to win globally.
• Startup Pitching Sprint: A high-speed arena where 20 hand-picked startups have exactly 120 seconds to grab the attention of a room filled with institutional VCs.
• Curated Matchmaking: No "speed-dating" chaos. Every 1:1 meeting is pre-scheduled based on a data-driven double-opt-in process to ensure compatibility between founder needs and investor portfolios.
• The US Bridge: In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, the summit hosts deep-dive workshops on navigating the American regulatory and venture landscape.

Speakers Lineup

The 2026 investor and speaker roster features the heavyweights of European and US venture capital, including:

• Dan Lupu: Earlybird Venture Capital (the firm behind UiPath’s rise)
• Goran Stevanović: South Central Ventures
• Ivana Henckel von Donnersmarck: Skybound VC
• Miloš Matić: Omorika Ventures
• Tipten Troidl: Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy, opening the dialogue on transatlantic collaboration