October 21-22, 2026

national house, Prague

cee region

and

european resilience

250

Venture

investors

150

Startup

Founders

40+

TOP

Speakers

10+

Side

events

About the Conference

Engaged is an exclusive, professional VC conference connecting up to 500 active investors and ambitious founders mainly from across Central & Eastern Europe and the Baltics. It serves as a platform for cross-border investments and collaboration.

Engaged is built by active investors which means it’s designed by investors, for investors. Every element, from the agenda to the guest list, is curated with one goal in mind: to spark meaningful interactions, unlock real investment opportunities, and move the ecosystem forward.

The 2026 edition emphasizes European resilience and the accelerating maturity of the CEE region.

Engaged is built by active investors – DEPO Ventures and J&T Ventures – which means it’s designed by investors, for investors.
Every element, from the agenda to the guest list, is curated with one goal in mind: to spark meaningful interactions, unlock real investment opportunities, and move the ecosystem forward.

TICKETS

investor
TICKET

549 EUR

+ VAT

Access to DAY 1

Access to DAY 2

Premium catering

Networking app

Dealflow access

Investor dinner

buy ticket

LP
ticket

FREE

+ VAT

Access to DAY 1

Access to DAY 2

Premium catering

Dealflow access

Networking app

Investor dinner

LP Side Track

APPLY

ecosystem
ticket

399 EUR

+ VAT

Access to DAY 1

Access to DAY 2

All day catering

Dealflow access

Networking app

buy ticket

FOUNDER
TICKET

219 EUR

+ VAT

Access to DAY 2

All day catering

Networking app

buy ticket

Opportunity to pitch
if applied in Startup Showcase

APPLY

get ready for

PANEL DICSUSSIONS

Focusing on topics that early-stage investors actually deal with. We’ll explore cross-border collaboration and technology transfer, examine exit strategies and capital formation in the CEE region, and dive deeper into tech trends such as AI infrastructure, B2B fintech, defence, space, and longevity.

ENGAGED TOP STARTUP SELECTION

The second day is dedicated to showcasing up to 50 carefully selected and promising CEE startups across four funding stages: angel, pre-seed, seed, and Series A. Each category is reviewed by an investor jury. A unique opportunity to pitch live in front of international investors, with one clear goal: securing funding.

NETWORKING

Networking is an essential part of venture capital and therefore a core part of the conference. Expand your professional network of partners, investors, and founders, and make deals in an intimate and engaging atmosphere.

1:1 MEETINGS

Get full access to the list of attendees and book meetings in advance through our networking app. Choose your time slot, get an assigned table number, and get down to business. Whether you want to meet LPs, GPs, founders, or other ecosystem players, the tool gives you full visibility and helps you use your time effectively.

WORKSHOPS

Built for smaller groups looking to go deeper into key areas. We’ll offer a selection of practical workshops tailored for both startups and investors. Focused, hands-on, and led by experienced venture capital professionals.

SIDE EVENTS

Make the most of your time at Engaged by joining our official side events, hosted with our partners. From community breakfasts, investor dinners to afterparties and lighter moments in between. Most events are invite-only, but you can join the guest list. See the full side events schedule below.

agenda

Day 1

Day 2

SIDE TRACKS

9:00 - 10:00 Registration

The Maturity of the CEE Venture Capital Ecosystem

European vs US VC returns: “Rider’s Cup” data visualization comparing 20-year performance

How VC Can Participate in Building European Defence Resilience

See all

agenda

Day 1

Day 2

SIDE TRACKS

European vs US VC returns: “Rider’s Cup” data visualization comparing 20-year performance

The Maturity of the CEE Venture Capital Ecosystem

How VC Can Participate in Building European Defence Resilience

Re-shoring Europe's supply chain and what that means for VC

See all

agenda

Day 1

Day 2

SIDE TRACKS

European vs US VC returns: “Rider’s Cup” data visualization comparing 20-year performance

The Maturity of the CEE Venture Capital Ecosystem

Can Europe Build Its Own Defence Champions?

Strategic AI, Sovereignity & Infrastructure: How can EU use AI to become more resilient, secure and technologically independent?

See all

speakers

Learn from experienced investors with proven track records from thriving startup ecosystems.

Marcel Müller-Marbach

Senior Regional Representative

European Investment Fund

Martin Olczyk

Early-stage Investor

ex-Techstars Managing Director

Ben Kolada

Managing Director & Head of US Tech Investment Banking

ICON Corporate Finance

Christian Noske

Partner

NGP Capital

Miloš Sochor

Managing partner

JIC Ventures

Jan Nalbert

Investment Director

Warsaw Equity Group

Jakob Stein

Vice President

Creandum

Ivan Sagál

Managing Partner

Bird & Bird

See all

Marcel Müller-Marbach

Senior Regional Representative

European Investment Fund

Martin Olczyk

Early-stage Investor

ex-Techstars Managing Director

Ben Kolada

Managing Director & Head of US Tech Investment Banking

ICON Corporate Finance

Christian Noske

Partner

NGP Capital

Miloš Sochor

Managing partner

JIC Ventures

Jan Nalbert

Investment Director

Warsaw Equity Group

Jakob Stein

Vice President

Creandum

Ivan Sagál

Managing Partner

Bird & Bird

See all

Marcel Müller-Marbach

Senior Regional Representative

European Investment Fund

Martin Olczyk

Early-stage Investor

ex-Techstars Managing Director

Ben Kolada

Managing Director & Head of US Tech Investment Banking

ICON Corporate Finance

Christian Noske

Partner

NGP Capital

Miloš Sochor

Managing partner

JIC Ventures

Jan Nalbert

Investment Director

Warsaw Equity Group

Jakob Stein

Vice President

Creandum

Ivan Sagál

Managing Partner

Bird & Bird

See all

Get

a taste of

a taste

engaged investments

of engaged investments

Lineup of Side Events

Listed events are approved and recommended by Engaged Investments. Guest lists are managed by the partnering organizers, with events being either invite-only or subject to pre-registration.

October 19 - 20

9:00 - 17:00

THE HACKATHON by The FinTechers x Deloitte x AWS

Learn more

October 20

19:00 - 22:00

Founders Backroom by L40º and SpringWater

Learn more

October 20

19:00

LP Dinner

TBA