We had the opportunity to speak with Valentina Greif, the Content Creator & Community Manager at Podim, a premier event in the European tech and entrepreneurial landscape.
Keep reading to hear directly from the Podim team!
For those unfamiliar with Podim, what makes the event unique? What can attendees, startups and investors expect over the 2 and half days?
Podim, a dynamic two-day event, offers captivating stage programs featuring global thought leaders, complemented by the exclusive Podim Deal Room which facilitates personalized one-on-one meetings and mentorship sessions. Attendees can also look forward to a series of engaging informal networking opportunities, including the iconic Podim Party held on Tuesday night.
Startups have the opportunity to shine through the Podim Pitching Competition and Marketplace, showcasing their innovative products to an eager audience. The event brings together renowned investors, established corporations, and the best startups from the CEE region. Podim is unique on its own, and this region definitely needed (and still needs) an event that boosted collaboration and spread the entrepreneurial spirit.
Podim emphasizes quality over quantity in order to ensure meaningful and intentional networking. What is the thought process behind this decision, and what are some of the benefits of a smaller conference?
Implementing a selection process for startups not only elevates the caliber of attendees but also ensures a high-quality gathering, which is particularly valuable for investors. This is the place where perfect matches can be made – and we have seen it happen numerous times before.
With only a bit over 1000 attendees, getting lost in the crowd is not an issue; engaging in casual (or formal) conversations is effortless—whether it’s expanding your network or pitching your vision. The event’s intimate scale provides opportunities to personally interact with top-notch speakers and fellow attendees, making it the ideal platform to gain new insights and foster meaningful relationships.
Can you highlight any workshops or talks at the conference that are specifically beneficial to startups at different stages of development?
Podim’s program is extremely diverse, with each block meticulously curated to cover the hottest topics in the entrepreneurship world. From discussions on artificial intelligence and the health revolution to deep dives into deeptech, corporate innovation, digital transformation, growth strategies, legal frameworks, and beyond, every bit of the entrepreneurial landscape is covered.
Our international speakers come from esteemed companies and are ready to share their journeys, give invaluable advice, and talk about how they navigated through adversity and more.
The pitching competition is a highlight of the event. Can you tell us more about the selection process and the competition?
At Podim, we take pride in our meticulous approach to reviewing and screening startups by hand, ensuring that each applicant receives an equal opportunity. Once selected, startups are offered the chance to participate in the Pitching Competition, designed to refine their pitches and showcase their innovations.
The journey begins with a Bootcamp session led by Francois Mazoudier, providing invaluable insights on how to elevate their presentations ahead of the online Demo Day.
During the first round, startups pitch their ideas to a panel of investors, answering any questions they may have. Following this round, the top 10 highest-scoring startups advance to the semi-finals, held live in Maribor on the pre-conference day, May 13th. That determines the final 5 contenders, culminating in the announcement of the ultimate winner on Tuesday evening, May 14th. This ensures that only the most promising and innovative startups rise to the top, setting the stage for groundbreaking collaborations and success stories.
Why is Podim an unmissable event?
The people, the energy of innovation, newness, and hope, and the overall atmosphere!
To learn more about Podim >> visit here
