The CONNECT University Session on "Startups: how to scale-up and face world competition" will gather stakeholders and experts on startups in order to understand the current trends, identify barriers that prevent startups from scaling up and discuss potential policies. The event is organised by the European Commission's Directorate‑General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (Units F1. Digital Policy Development & Coordination and unit F3. Digital Innovation & Blockchain).

Key objectives:

• Showcase ecosystem best practices
• Discuss policies and regulations around ecosystems capital, technology, employment, education, culture. 
• Highlight the global tech scene opportunities and what is needed to enter into the global market.
• Identify the barriers that still exist and the market failures that need to be addressed

Join us live for an inspiring workshop and find out how start-ups should deal with competition and stay at the forefront of the market.

Agenda

09:00 –10:00

Registration & Coffee

10:00 –10:30

Welcome Message

• Gerard de Graaf, Director for the Digital Single Market Directorate, DG CONNECT, EC
• Jorge Remuinan Suarez, DG CONNECT, EC
• Isidro Laso, DG CONNECT, EC

10:30 –11:15

Keynote: Employee ownership: The policy lever that will unlock entrepreneurship in Europe

• Dominic Jacquesson, Index Ventures

11:15–12:15

What can the European Commission do to connect European ecosystems which help startups to scale-up?

• Danielius Stasiulis, Startup Division  [Moderator]
• Kat Borlongan, Director of La French Tech
• Emilio Corchado, Startup Ole
• Paulo Calçada, Scaleup Porto

12:15 –13:30

Networking Launch

13:30 -14:00

Fireside Chat

• Xavier Corman, Founder Edebex
• Bogdan Ceobanu, DG CONNECT, EC

14:00 –15:15

Which are the key points needed for startups ecosystems to help businesses to become global tech companies? Case study debate.

• Robin Wauters, Tech.eu[Moderator]
• Ali Khan, Pitchbook
• Yoram Wijngaarde, Dealroom
• Rosa Jimenez, TheVenture City

15:15 –15:30

Networking Coffee

15:30 –16:30

What are the regulatory aspects to build a pro-startup environment/ecosystem in EU: ecosystems aspects, capital market, technology related aspects, employment and education.

• Sunnie Groeneveld, Inspire 925 [Moderator]
• Dan Nechita, Smart Everything Everywhere
• Anna Vildaus , TechChill
• Karen Boers, ESN

16:30 –17:00

Conclusions of the workshop

• Martin Bailey, HoU Digital Policy Development & Coordination unit, DG CONNECT, EC
• Peteris Zilgalvis, HoU, Digital Innovation and Blockhain , DG CONNECT, EC

17:00

Closing