Scaleup Fest 2026: a gathering in Budapest focused on international growth

On 16 and 17 September 2026, Scaleup Fest plans to bring together around 250 founders, executives and investors in Budapest. Focused on the growth of technology companies in Central and Southeastern Europe, the event combines practical insights, workshops and networking around international expansion, funding and acquisitions.

Scaleup Fest is built around smaller gatherings to encourage discussions among entrepreneurs, operational leaders and investors. Sessions are expected to bring together between 40 and 80 people across several venues in central Budapest, with conversations continuing over lunch and during informal gatherings. The organisers say more than 30 investors will attend.

The aim is to help participants assess their plans through discussions with executives who have already entered new markets, structured their teams or completed financial transactions. The format also seeks to facilitate connections with people familiar with the region’s companies and markets.

A gathering for companies preparing for their next stage

The event is aimed at scaleup founders and executives, startups that have moved beyond their earliest stages of development, and small and medium-sized technology companies. Growth, sales and operations leaders will find a programme relevant to their everyday decisions: winning customers, organising teams, choosing funding options and expanding internationally.

For a company exploring Central Europe, the event could provide an opportunity to connect with regional business leaders and partners. For investors, its value lies in the opportunity to meet growing companies and speak with their financial backers.

Speakers from software, AI and defence

The programme covers four main areas: sales growth and international expansion; funding and acquisitions; team organisation; and defence technology. AI features across several sessions, particularly in relation to its impact on sales, marketing and software business models.

Announced speakers include:

• Tamás Kukla, product lead at Prezi, will discuss how AI is changing software offerings and pricing.
• Gergely Bihary, growth engineer at ElevenLabs, will present AI tools used by growth teams.
• Richard Malovič, founder and CEO of Whalebone, will share his experience of expanding a cybersecurity company internationally.
• Kevin Morgan, investment director at Vesta Software Group, will discuss the criteria used when acquiring software and IT services companies.
• Balázs Szekeres, co-founder and CEO of Perciv AI, will discuss the company’s expansion into defence following its beginnings in the automotive sector.

These sessions aim to bring together entrepreneurs’ experiences, operational teams’ practices and investors’ expectations.

Practical information

• Dates: 16 and 17 September 2026.
• Location: Budapest, Hungary, across several city-centre venues. Addresses are provided upon registration.
• Format: Workshops, panel discussions, masterclasses and meetings in small groups.
• Organisers: The event was founded by Lenard Horgos and Ivan Gyuracz Nemeth, partners at the consultancy Absolvo.
• Admission: Most places are by invitation, with a limited number of tickets available to the public. Some lunches and dinners are reserved for designated invitees.
• Registration: Official ticketing page. The programme and participation details are available on the Scaleup Fest website.