CEE Startup Voucher 2025 GRAND FINALE

10am–8pm, November 11th, 2025
Slovakia, Žilina

🚀 The Grand Finale of the CEE Startup Voucher 2025 is happening in Žilina! On 11 November, we’ll bring together founders, investors, mentors, and students to celebrate the TOP 10 startups from across CEE. You can expect inspiring talks, honest stories about the ups and downs of building companies, a real conversation about founder wellbeing, and of course the big pitch finale — followed by a well-deserved afterparty.

Event language: English

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Additional Information

🚀 GRAND FINAL — CEE Startup Voucher 2025

📅 Date & Time: 11 November 2025, 10:00–20:00

📍 Location: Žilina, Slovakia

🎤 Moderation: Martin Mikuláš

🗓 Programme (continuously updated)


MAIN STAGE

🕛 10:00 – 10:10 Opening & Welcome Hosted by Martin Mikuláš, MSIC

🕛 10:10 – 10:20*GameDevs – Level up your future: Why It’s worth working in the gaming industry *Petr Slaný, Co-Founder GameDevs Ostrava

🕚 10:20 – 10:35 Story of the CEE Startup Voucher 2024 Winner Spicy Cells Šarlota Kaňuková, Co-Founder Spicy Cells

🕚 10:35 – 11:00 Story of the CEE Startup Voucher 2023 Winner Sweet Active Boris Žitný, CEO Sweet Active

🕙 11:10 – 12:00 Panel Discussion: Is it worth investing in social impact startups? Hosted by Michal Porubän, INOVIA Martina Kolesárová, Co-CEO The Pontis Foundation, Managing Director of Impact Investment Fund Miroslav Beblavý, CEO CB ESPRI Benjamin Bekeš, CEO Umevia Martina Matejíčková, CEO Kakawco

🕙 12:00 – 12:15 Coffee break

🕙 12:15 – 12:25 Introduction to startup evaluation, Marek Blizco, CEO ScaleupReport

🕙 12:25 – 13:15 Panel Discussion: Startup ecosystem in Slovakia & Czechia – Potential, challenges, and our place in the world. Hosted by Martin Mikuláš Ivan Kristel, CEO & General Partner Czech Founders Katarína Šimková, CEO CloseRocket Marek Blizco, CEO Scaleup Honza Mayer, Enterpreneur in Residence JIC

🕙 13:15 – 14:15 iProbio block + Panel Discussion: The gut microbiome as a hidden factor of performance factor – *Martin Haranta, CEO iProbio | Sleep and m**ental silence for founders – *Tomáš Eichler\, TEDx Speaker\, Neuroscientist | Sources of happiness and c***ommon sense – *Aleš Bednařík, Psychologist & Happytarian

🕙 14:15 – 15:30 Networking lunch

🕙 15:30 – 16:45 Panel discussion: Design and services for a functional startup ecosystem from a participant’s perspective Hosted by Michaela Viskupičová Adéla Hradilová, CEO MSIC Boris Žitný, CEO Sweet Active Veronika Zrubáková, CEO Zero One Hundred VC Pavel Csank, CEO INNOlive

🕙 16:45 – 17:00 Coffee break & Final preparation

🕚 17:00 – 17:05 Competition opening Jan Čeladín, Board Member MSIC

🕚 17:05 – 18:20 Competition finals PITCHING TOP 10 CEE SUV 2025

🕛 18:25 – 19:00 Can the media help the startup ecosystem? Startitup vs. Forbes 30 under 30

🕛 19:00 - 19:30 Award ceremony & official closing

🕛 19:30 – 20:00 Group photo & networking

🕛 20:00 Dinner & afterparty with a live saxophone performance + Networking


CAFÉ STAGE


🕙 10:15 – 13:00 Startups pitching Microbiome Challenge Martin Haranta, CEO iProbio Dr. Benjamin Jensen Dr. Peter Kurti

🕙 13:30 – 14:15 Live podcast Levosphere: Panel discussion with successful startups Moderated by Naďa Kacera


SIDE PROGRAM

🕙 10:00 – 20:00 GAMING HUB - GameDevs | Interactive zone | A creative playground for creators, gamers, and digital enthusiasts.

🕙 10:00 – 20:00 TBD





















🎯 Who Should Attend?

  • Startup founders
  • Investors
  • Consultants
  • University & high school students with entrepreneurial ambitions
  • Business partners interested in innovation & collaboration

👥 Estimated Attendance

300 participants

Venue

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