PROGRAM

The Investment Bridges 2026 – From Local Capital to Global Opportunities.

Discover what awaits you at The Investors Edge.
More speakers and sessions will be announced soon.

Tuesday, 9 June

08:00 - 08:45

REGISTRATION

09:00 – 09:15 STRATEGIC OPENING

Where Capital Is Moving Next — And Who Gets Access

Samo Turel,
Mayor of the Municipality of Nova Gorica

09:15 – 09:35

Angel Investing: Your Fastest Entry Into Deal Flow

Dr. Žiga Vavpotič

09:35 – 10:20 PANEL 1 – SLOVENIA Bridge

From Slovenia to Global Deals: What Actually Works – Learning from the Best

Nina Urbanič, Maša Šiftar, Guri Koiava (panelists) dr. Žiga Vavpotič (moderator)

09:35 – 10:20

SIDE EVENT - Vesna Deep Tech Venture Fund: Expert Advisory Panel

10:20 – 10:50

Coffee Break

10:50 – 11:35 PANEL 2 – MENA Bridge

Cross-Border Investment: Capital Flows Between Europe, MENA, Africa & Georgia

Magdy Shehata, Thomaz Dominguez, George Simongulashvili (panelists), Dana Al Salem (moderator)

11:35 – 12:20 PANEL 3 Ecosystem Foundations

What Makes an Investment Ecosystem Actually Work (and Fail)

Jana Budkovskaja

12:20 – 13:20

Investors Lunch

13:20 – 13:50

Deep Tech: Investing Before the Market Exists

Shubber Ali

13:50 – 14:35 PANEL 4 ESG & Impact Investing

Impact Investing: Alpha or Illusion?

Dalibor Marijanović, Marco Gullà (panelists)

14:35 – 15:05

Coffee Break

15:05 – 15:50 PANEL 5 Angels & Early Stage VC

What Smart Angels & Early VCs Do Next

Christoph Berndt, Iva Rakočević, Walid O. El Cheickh (panelists), Karlo Kukec (moderator)

15:50 – 16:20 Closing Roundtable - Adriatic Bridge Part 1

Fireside Chat

The Missing Million: A Slovenian founder, the €1M round that wasn't there, and the bridge Pan-Adria is building. Rok Habinc, CFA — Founding Partner, Pan-Adria VentureOne

16:20 – 17:00 Closing Roundtable - Adriatic Bridge Part 2

Building Investment Bridges That Actually Deliver Returns

Regional roundtable with representatives from: Albania, North Macedonia (Elena Hajdi Pecova, CEED Macedonia), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sabina Selvič, BHBAN), Croatia (Mihovil Barančić, CBAN), Serbia (Danijela Grubnić) and Slovenia (panelists), Niko Slavnič (moderator).

17:00 - 19.00

Smuggling tour – Optional Experience

20:00 Exclusive Investors’ Gala Dinner

A limited number of seats available Venue: Restaurant Tiffany, Hotel Park

Prepare for an extraordinary evening of networking, culinary excellence, and sophisticated entertainment. The atmosphere will reach new heights with a captivating live musical performance by the sensational Ajda Podgornik Valič, adding a touch of pure elegance and a true "wow" factor to this memorable night.

Participation is free of charge upon registration.
Due to limited capacity, we recommend securing your spot early.
We are fully booked. 🤩

Wednesday, 10 June

09:00 – 10:00 WORKSHOPS

Three workshops will run in parallel. Please select your preferred session during registration.

Becoming a Lead Investor – Driving Deals That Win

Guest Expert from Estonia - Jana Budkovskaja

This workshop dives into the pivotal role of a lead investor. Learn how to identify high-potential startups, structure deals, manage syndicates and add real strategic value — positioning yourself to lead investments that deliver maximum impact and returns.

The Exit Table: Interests, Power, and Mindset Shaping Exit Outcomes

Mohamed Shehab Eldin

The exit process is driven by different interests, intentions, perceptions of power, and mindsets, shaping the process in ways that are often unexpected.

Beyond numbers and valuation there are moments where:
incentives collide, alignment fractures, leverage shifts, relationships are tested under pressure.
emotions influence judgment, behavior, and decision-making,

This workshop explores exits as living negotiations shaped throughout the investment journey, exploring how to navigate towards a successful process, for all parties. Participants should leave with:
sharper awareness of negotiation dynamics during exits, stronger understanding of alignment and leverage,
practical tools for navigating complex stakeholders dialogue.

Is middle management officially obsolete?

The role of AI in management - Darko Butina

Jack Dorsey (Block) and Roelof Botha (Sequoia Capital) seem to think so according to their latest blog post “From hierarchy to intelligence”. While Silicon Valley only starts to understand how AI influences management, the team around RELIABL.IT has been writing about the topic already since 2023 - besides being active developing RELIABL.IT Management OS, which helps companies lead their strategy and business successfully in the ever changing environment.

In the workshop you will learn why AI isn’t just a tool; why it's a structural reset for business, driving complete transformation in how organizations think, decide, and grow.

Above all, you will get practical insight on how to successfully execute AI transformation, rather than just observing it.

10:00 – 11:30 Adriatic Investors Annual meetup in person with a special guest from Georgia - Ketevan Aghoshashvili

Business angels of Slovenia and Adriatic Investors member event only. Interested to become a member? Contact us via info@businessangels.si.

11:30 – 13:00 We Heard You: Networking & Exploration

We listened to your wishes for more time to network, share open conversations, and explore Nova Gorica. This dedicated time is now entirely yours to deepen connections with representatives of international networks and discover the beautiful city at your own pace.