CEE4IMPACT DAY 2026
8 October 2026
Venue: Museum of Ethnography
Budapest, 1146 Dózsa György út 35.
CEE4IMPACT DAY
Language: English
Location: Event Hall
09:30-10:00
Registration & Welcome
OPENING of CEE4Impact Day
10:00-10:30
Surprise Performance
Welcome Speech, Opening of Conference
Elemér Eszter, Nora Bogsch, ImpactCEE
Keynote Speech:
“Protecting the Flame in Times of Knightian Uncertainty: A Pragmatic Vitalist Manifesto”
Nikolaus Hutter, Relevant Ventures
Surprise Performance
BREAKOUT SESSIONS I.
10:30-12:00
Breakout Session I. A (Main stage)
The Impact Combinator
The Pitching Stage of CEE Impact Startups
Presenters will be invited out of the impact investing ecosystem, from various mentorship programmes, where Impact CEE has been collaborating.
Participants
Carbon.Crane: György Huszics (Hungary)
(Marc Impact Programme (Erste Stiftung, Simpact, IFUA))
Vadvirágom: Zita Török (Hungary) (VISA She’s Next (Impact HUB Budapest)
FreyZein NextGen Textiles: Jan Anders Karlsson (Austria)
(Marc Impact Programme (Erste Stiftung, Simpact, IFUA))
Nutri-Scheme: Valentin Krancevik (Romania)
(Marc Impact Programme (Erste Stiftung, Simpact, IFUA))
"Artistic surprise moment"
Social Cooperative Humana Nova, Karolina Kraljić (Croatia) (Feelsgood Capital Partner)
SAFE - ESD Czechia: Lada Jirkalova (Czech Republic)
(Marc Impact Programme (Erste Stiftung, Simpact, IFUA))
Libelula / Lulashop: Dominika és Miklós Csirmaz (Slovakia, Hungary)
(Bridge2Benefits (Budapest Chamber of Commerce, International Project Office))
Moderator
Jury Members
Edina Csányi, European Investment Bank
Mátyás Völgyi, Interactive Venture Partners
Petr Vitek, Tilia Impact Ventures
Breakout Session I. B (Smaller room)
NextGen & Impact
How is Generation Z thinking differently from Generation X and the Baby Boomer generation?
Are young people imagining a healthier, more sustainable economy?
What are they passionate about, and what values are shaping their decisions as consumers, employees, entrepreneurs, and citizens?
Participants
Erzsébet Ábrám, The Residency
Elena Rüther, Cacaowithelli
Renata Szakacsits, Szakacsits Ventures
Barna Mihalek, BigGeorge Property Plc.
Naledi Ncube, Global moderator
Daniel Gockler, Nesprit
12:00-13:00
Registration & Welcome
Light Lunch
13:00-13:15
Surprise Performance
Welcome Speech: Elemér Eszter & Nora Bogsch
MC Introduction: Gyöngyvér Balog
Surprise Performance
13:15-13:40 Keynote Talk
Dream or Reality? The Rise of Regenerative Capitalism
Can regenerative capitalism become the defining economic model of the 21st century—or is it still merely an aspiration?
Arnaud Blandin, IRIS- Institute for Responsible Innovation and Sustainability
13:40-13:55 Keynote Talk
Europe's Path to Regenerative Capitalism
How can Europe contribute to transforming the World Economy into a regenerative capitalism?
The 4 layers of the regenerative capitalism, as the USP of the EU
Cyril Gouiffes, European Investment Fund
13:55-14:05 Smart Capitalism Prize Award Ceremony
14:05-14:35 Culture & Humanity as the Roots of Regenerative Capitalism in Europe
How can Regenerative Capitalism Flourish out of the Culture and Humanitarian Roots of Europe as its USP
Moderator
Edina Csányi, European Investment Bank (EIB)
Participants
Arnaud Blandin, IRIS
Cyril Gouiffes, EIF
Bálint Nagy, IBS International Business School
14:35-15:15 Coffee Break
15:15-15:30 "Defining Moments"
Prof Vincent Sai, Modality Partnership
15:30-15:40 Surprise Performance
15:40-16:00 Impact Report by Impact CEE - KPMG
How the four layer of the regenerative capitalism and the impact investing itself is performing in the CEE region
Presenters
Gergő Wieder, KPMG Consulting Ltd.
Elemér Eszter, Impact Ventures
BREAKOUT SESSIONS II.
16:00-17:15
Breakout Session II. A (Main stage)
Wholeness in Decision-Making
We often celebrate decisive leaders. Less often do we celebrate the partnerships behind great decisions.
This session explores how people with different experiences, perspectives and ways of thinking make better decisions together than they would alone. Each conversation is a window into a different partnership - and a different way of practicing wholeness.
Moderator
Bori Főzy, Impact Ventures
Participants
Mary Alcantara, Interactive Venture Partners
László Czirják, Interactive Venture Partners
Barna Baráth, REAL School Budapest; Vertis Environemental Finance
James Atkins, Vertis Environemental Finance
Elemér Eszter, Impact Ventures
Breakout Session II. B (Smaller room)
Stop talking. Start investing.
Ukraine does not only need sympathy—it needs capital.
Invest in impact-driven solutions that support the physical reconstruction, economic resilience, and mental recovery of Ukrainian communities!
The future of Ukraine will not be rebuilt through words alone, but through courageous investment in people, innovation, and hope.
Moderator
Nikolaus Hutter, Relevant Ventures
Participants
Alena Kalibaba, SILab Ukraine & Ukrainian Social Venture Fund (USVF)
Petr Vitek, Tilia Impact Ventures
Lilla Gyarmati, Finance in Motion
17:15-18:00
Coffee Break
BREAKOUT SESSIONS III.
18:00-19:15
Breakout Session III. A (Main stage)
Food Security in the Impact World
Keynote Speaker
Moderator
Semi Hakim, Kök Projekt
Participants
Boye Hartmann, Grupo Multcom Europe Aps
Petr Vitek, Tilia Impact Ventures
Sávio Pinheiro, Grupo Multcom
Breakout Session III. B (Smaller room)
Mobilising European Pension Capital for Competitiveness, Innovation and Regenerative Growth
Moderator
Participants
Salomé Gvetadze, European Investment Bank
Renata Brkic, Feelsgood Capital
Quentin Bon, European Commission
Szabolcs Mezei, KPMG Hungary
19:15-19:30
Closing of CEE4Impact Day
19:30-20:00
Standing Reception
Light Dinner and Dessert
20:00-22:00
Impact Disco