MeOut Summit 2026 to Connect CEE Startup Ecosystem

The MeOut Summit 2026 will bring together founders, investors, and corporate innovators from Central and Eastern Europe in Budapest on November 25-26. The event at Akvárium Budapest features over 50 speakers across two stages, focusing on scaling businesses and the regional funding landscape.

A pre-summit 'Day Zero' on November 24 will host BizHack AI, a three-day international marketing hackathon. This programme aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises turn real business challenges into AI-powered solutions. Teams from seven countries will use workshops, mentoring, and low-code tools. The hackathon will run through the main summit days, culminating in a finale on stage.

Main Stage: Building and Scaling Ventures

The primary stage will host discussions on technology, deep tech, and female entrepreneurship. A specific panel will examine barriers for women founders in the CEE region, including access to funding. Founders will share their scaling journeys in keynote speeches.

Bruno Santos, founder of Exobiosphere, will explain how his company built a space biotech business in 18 months. Andrea Basilova, co-founder of Sensoneo, will deliver a keynote titled "Solving the World’s Waste Problem: From Startup Idea to Global Scale." This stage will also host the Global Startup Awards grand finale for the CEE region.

Stage Two: Practical Funding and AI Insights

The second stage will feature practical sessions on startup financing and artificial intelligence. Experts will explore how AI is moving beyond automation to reshape sales and customer engagement. Another discussion will focus on alternative funding options for startups beyond traditional venture capital.

Andrei Dudoiu, Nora Szeles, and Ciprian Man will lead the funding talk. A session titled "Your First Angel Cheque," led by Anikó Ivanics, will give a practical look at how angel investors evaluate opportunities. It is built around real investment decisions.

Ecosystem Events and Pitch Opportunities

The summit schedule includes several community-led events designed for visibility and connection. These provide direct engagement opportunities for founders at different stages.

Organisations can also apply to host official side events around the summit dates. These can take the form of investor breakfasts, workshops, or roundtables. Hosts must organise and finance their events independently, but the summit provides promotion and visibility. Events must be free for attendees and focused on meaningful content rather than product promotion.

The full programme is live and will be updated with more speakers. According to the source, EU-Startups, the event aims to connect multiple parts of the European startup ecosystem under one roof in Budapest.