From Breakthroughs to Ventures

Across Europe, strong ideas and technologies emerge every day, yet many never become viable ventures. The gap is not only about funding, it is about timing, incentives, capabilities, and the ability to navigate complex ecosystems.

This session brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem builders from across the region to focus on the practical side of venture creation. What does it take to turn early-stage innovation into something investable? Where do founders get stuck? What do investors actually look for? And which support structures truly make a difference?

With perspectives from Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, the discussion will highlight what works in different contexts and where common bottlenecks persist. The goal is to move beyond theory and identify concrete ways to accelerate venture creation, improve access to capital, and build stronger pathways from idea to scale.