The CEE Connection Forum - 2nd Edition (a Bits & Pretzels side event)
CEE is building. Europe is looking. Let's connect.
The CEE Connection Forum returns to Munich for its second edition during Bits & Pretzels. Last year, 150+ founders, investors, corporates, and ecosystem leaders filled one room to make the connections that carry CEE companies beyond the region.
This year, we're taking it further - more ambitious companies, more international connections, more ways to turn CEE potential into European growth.
One room. High-value connections. Real opportunities.
What's on the table
Capital - meet investors looking for the next CEE success stories
Markets - connect with the partners and leaders who can open new ones
Partnerships - find customers, corporates, and strategic collaborators
Growth - trade practical insight on scaling beyond CEE
Who's in the room
Start- & Scale-up founders. Investors. Corporate leaders. Ecosystem builders. The people building, funding, and opening doors for CEE tech.
Organised by BSMEPA and The Recursive
The Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) helps Bulgarian SMEs expand internationally - connecting them with new markets, partners, and opportunities.
The Recursive is the media and ecosystem platform connecting founders, investors, corporates, and innovators across CEE.
Official Agenda
[15:05-15:08] Aneta Grouytcheva - Welcoming words
Counsellor Trade and Economic Affaires
General Consulate of Bulgaria in Munich
[15:08-15:11] Teodor Antonio Georgiev - Welcoming words
CEO, The Recursive
[15:11-15:14] Arjan Ymeri - Welcoming words
Director General, Innovation4Albania
[15:14-15:17] Tamara Zajec Balažič - Welcoming words
Director, SPIRIT Slovenia
[15:17-15:20] Nebojsa Bjelotomic - Welcoming words
Advisor to President, Chamber of Commerce Serbia
[15:20-15:40] "Capital: What It Takes to Raise Outside CEE"
Diana Stefanova (General Partner, BrightCap Ventures)
Kristýna Machová (Investment Director, Inven Capital)
Angel Angelov (Managing Partner, Innovation Capital)
Radoslav Ivanov (Founder & Managing Partner, Ivanovlegal) - moderator
[15:40-16:00] “How CEE Startups Actually Win Globally”
Vassil Bakalov (Co-founder & CTO, Mirror360)
Brendon Ahmeti (CEO, Synaps)
Vita Pur (CEO, Margarita Finance)
Ersoy Soyer (Founder & CEO, Nexrone Global) - moderator
[16:00-16:15] “The Infrastructure Behind Expansion”
Dénes Kovácsházy (CEO, MULTICOM Group)
Oleksandr Lozinskyi (Founder & CEO, Razom Software)
Dimitar Savov (Co-Founder & CEO, Skillplate)
Armin Philippen (Territory Director DACH, Droxic) - moderator
[16:15-17:00] Closing words and networking
Together: public-sector reach and deep ecosystem expertise in one room.
CEE has the talent, the technology, and the ambition.
Now let's connect it to the opportunities beyond the region.