Mary Alcantara is Senior Partner at Interactive Venture Partners. She is a trusted mentor, startup advisor and investor with significant experience in North America and Europe. Prior to joining IVP, she was a founding partner of tandemLEAP, an innovation and business development firm with offices in Budapest and New York. She has consulted for and guided entrepreneurs at many leading incubation and accelerator programs, including Alchemist Accelerator (Silicon Valley), Summerside Xchange (PEI), and MKB Fintechlab (Budapest). She also led Strategic Partnerships for Sellerant, a Texas-based sales and marketing agency supporting startups and scaleups. She received a BA from Harvard University and an MBA from Central European University.

Dr. Bánfi Zoltán 1997-ben a Pénzügyi és Számviteli Főiskolán pénzügy pénzintézet szakirányon
szerezte meg a főiskolai alap, majd 1999-ben a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetemen, pénzügy
főszakirányon a mesterdiplomáját. 2013-ban PhD címet szerzett, értekezésének a témája a magyar
bankrendszer helyzete volt a válság tükrében.
Zoltán lassan 25 éve dolgozik a bankszektorban. Először az OTP Banknál a Treasury igazgatóságon
dolgozott több munkakörben (FX, equity, opciós- és határidős piacok), majd a Bankcsoport egyik
leánycégénél (OTP Hungaro-Projekt) volt a pénzügyi tanácsadásért felelős vezérigazgató-helyettes.
Ezt bő egy éves MFB Group Treasurer igazgatói kinevezés, majd az életében a legmeghatározóbb, az
MKB Bank következett. Itt először ügyvezetőként, majd vezérigazgató-helyettesként felelt a
Bankcsoport „Befektetési Banki” területéért, hozzá tartozott többek között a tőkealapok rendszere (2
alapkezelő: Solus Capital és MKB KTAK), az inkubáció (MKB Fintechlab), a befektetési alapkezelő
(MKB-Pannónia), a teljes privátbank, az MFB pontok rendszere illetve a teljes MA és IPO terület. A
kockázati tőkealapok esetében – későbbiekben elnök-vezérigazgatói főtanácsadóként kizárólag azokra
koncentrálva – aktívan részt vett közel 50 befektetésben, az MKB Fintechlab oldaláról pedig több mint
10 sikeres inkubációs projektet hajtott végre a munkatársak aktív részvétele mellett. A tranzakciós
tanácsadási terület vezetése során több sikeres rábocsátás, XTEND bevezetés és cégértékesítésben is
közreműködött.
Az MKB kötelékében eltöltött évek legnagyobb sikerének vezérigazgató-helyettesként, majd elnöki
főtanácsadóként a tőkeprogramok beindítását, a kockázati tőkealap-kezelők felállítását és
működtetését tartja. Jelenleg a Platina Consulting Zrt. operatív Igazgatósági elnöke továbbá a Platina
Capital vezérigazgatójaként vezeti a céget, és aktívan részt vesz mind menedzsment, mind tulajdonosi
oldalról az Alapkezelő működésében.
2025-től az MKIK Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt. vezérigazgatója és igazgatósági tagja.

He currently serves as Deputy State Secretary for National Development Financing at the Ministry of National Economy. He began his professional career in 2012 at FHB Mortgage Bank Plc., where he worked across several departments, including the Qualified Credit Management Department, the Controlling Department, and the Portfolio Rating Department.

In 2015, he joined the Central Bank of Hungary (Magyar Nemzeti Bank), starting at the Directorate for Budget and Competitiveness Analysis within the Competitiveness Department. Later, he worked at the Directorate for Monetary and Foreign Exchange Markets, specifically in the HUF and FX Market Operations Department, and subsequently in the Structured Financing Department.

From August 2020, he continued his public service at the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, initially within the Secretariat of the Chief Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister. From June 2022, he was appointed Deputy State Secretary for National Development Financing. He held this role first at the Ministry for Economic Development and, from January 2024, at the Ministry of National Economy.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Applied Economics from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and a Master's degree in Economic Analysis from Corvinus University of Budapest. He also completed a joint Master of Business Administration (MBA) program offered by Corvinus University and Fudan University in Shanghai.

Márton Bókay is a native speaker of Italian and is fluent in English.

Viktor Déri is a seasoned financial and investment professional with over three decades of experience in the Hungarian capital and venture capital markets. He began his career in financial IT and quickly rose to leadership positions in bank-owned investment service companies, including those affiliated with Budapest Bank, CIB, and MFB, during the transformative years of the 1990s.

Throughout his career, Mr. Déri has been actively involved in shaping Hungary’s capital market infrastructure, serving as chairman and member of several professional organizations related to the stock exchange.

In the 2000s, he played a pivotal role in developing Hungary’s venture capital ecosystem, particularly in initiatives supported by the state. As Chairman of Kisvállalkozás-fejlesztő Pénzügyi Zrt. and CEO of Corvinus Kockázati Tőkealap-kezelő Zrt., he oversaw a broad portfolio of venture capital investments and successful exits. He further contributed as Investment Director and member of the Investment Committee at Biggeorges NV Venture Capital Fund Management during the first phase of the Jeremie program, guiding investment selection and decision-making.

Over 12 years in the venture capital space, Mr. Déri has developed deep expertise in the operational dynamics, opportunities, and challenges of Hungary’s SME sector, with a strong track record in identifying high-potential target companies and executing strategically aligned investments.

György Dráfi is an economist who earned his MSc degree from Corvinus University of Budapest. He began his professional career at MKB Bank, where he spent four years in corporate finance supporting both SMEs and large enterprises. In 2017, he joined the newly launched Hiventures, where over the past eight years he has risen through the ranks: initially as Senior Investment Manager, then Deputy Investment Director, later Investment Director, and since 2024 he has been leading the entire startup investment division.

During this period, more than 100 investments are linked to him and his team, including several notable exits within the portfolio. He focuses on investing in highly motivated teams whose products deliver real innovation and international growth potential. His mission is to support Hungarian startups in achieving scalable growth across all stages of their lifecycle and in a wide range of industries.

Open-minded, persistent, and collaborative. A true entrepreneur and problem-solver. He believes that human connection and communication are the key to solving any challenge. His thinking and approach are unconventional, his pace like a tornado.

As the founder of THBE (Association of Socially Responsible Investors), he is a committed contributor to building the Impact ecosystem in the CEE region and to spreading related investment methodologies. He is also a founding member and Managing Partner of Impact Ventures.

Bori is an international venture capitalist with over a decade of experience partnering with ambitious founders to build high-impact, scalable companies—especially in HealthTech and SaaS.

She has worked with leading European funds including UNIQA Ventures, Speedinvest, HiVentures, and she is currently with SHAPE Capital Partners, supporting startups through key growth phases, follow-on rounds, and successful exits. Known for being a hands-on partner, Bori helps sharpen strategy, break through growth barriers, and drive European expansion.

Before entering venture, Bori led corporate fundraising strategy at UNICEF.

At the core of her investment philosophy is a belief in the power of people: connecting the right minds to create momentum and drive meaningful, positive change. She values honest, transparent partnerships and backs founders who pair bold ideas with exceptional execution and a clear mission.

Bori holds an MBA from CEU Business School and a Master’s in International Business and Economics from Corvinus University.

Péter Gál has nearly two decades of experience in corporate and investment finance. He began his career in the commercial banking sector, working on corporate and project financing transactions, and later took on leadership roles in large-scale investment deals and the management of capital funds. Currently, as Deputy CEO of MFB Invest, in addition to overseeing the company’s daily operations, his responsibilities include preparing and executing new investments, as well as preserving and increasing the value of the existing portfolio. He plays a key role in the implementation of the Housing Capital Program with a budget of HUF 300 billion, which aims to expand housing supply in Hungary through 19 fund managers. His work is characterized by a comprehensive strategic approach, a deliberate focus on building investment portfolios, and a strong commitment to enhancing the international competitiveness of Hungarian companies.

Medical doctor, economist, serial entrepreneur. Speaker at the OECD World Economic Forum, former consultant at BIAC for OECD. The author, who has won the Golden Blog Award from Startupdate Blog and the Website of the Year Award several times from 7Blog, is also the co-founder of Traction Tribe, in addition to his several businesses. The American-type early-stage investment company, together with PBG, has invested in 15 Hungarian startups in the United States market in recent years. Traction Tribe was the first to send Hungarian entrepreneurs to the MassChallenge program in Boston and Techstars in London. Their investments have won Microsoft Imagine Cup and CEE Women Startup Competition and have received investments worth tens of millions of dollars from funds such as Samsung Ventures, LG and Qualcomm. In 2015, Fundacity selected Traction Tribe as one of the most promising early-stage investment companies. Dr. Péter Kádas is currently a member of the board and majority owner of 7Digits Agency, one of the largest domestic digital agencies. Due to his achievements in the field of digital marketing, he is a regular participant in domestic and international marketing conferences. His writings and case studies can be read on 7Blog, typically on the topic of strategic marketing.

László, an angel investor and tech advisor, fueled startup growth and exits, contributing to Logiscool, Games for Business, and co-founding Power Angels. He serves as an investor and the product head of dicomLAB, an E-Commerce System for implantology with EU MDR Quality Management System certification. He also manages his own venture studio, Goroid Ltd, giving tech support to scale-ups, like the Swiss iGroove A.G. in the music publishing industry.
László is also a founder of White Unicorn Incubator, an investment company that aims to foster the creation and growth of international Health and MedTech companies, with a specific focus on investing and incubating very early-stage startups. 
Previously, as a co-founder and product lead, he played a pivotal role in building NNG, a global leader in navigation software, renowned for its award-winning solutions. 

Péter Langmár (Peták) is one of the most authentic voices in the CEE startup space. He pivoted to entrepreneurship from a background in arts and media theory, discovering startups via the Paris-based Artscience Lab. His first startup, Brickflow, laid the groundwork for Lab.Coop, and later Green Fox Academy—an IT bootcamp training 2,000+ students annually across three countries and successfully exited in 2022. He then founded SmartWare.tech, a seed investment firm focused on hardware startups. At STRT, Péter oversees the full investment lifecycle—from managing deal flow to structuring syndicates and preparing a new venture fund. He honed his investment mindset at London’s Newton Venture Program and constantly balances fast execution with long-term ecosystem building.

Dávid Lencsés is an experienced digital strategist and the founder and CEO of the AI-based marketing startup, Infinite∞Ad. His company has developed a technology that uses artificial intelligence to automatically create content for social media, and then creates and optimizes advertisements from it. The startup has successfully closed a funding round with the investor group Incubator Zero.

Dávid has more than 15 years of experience in the digital media and technology sectors. Before launching his own venture, he worked in the media industry's digital field for over a decade, first as a digital creative professional and later as a leader of digital departments. Throughout his career, he has received international recognitions such as the Red Dot Design Award, the German Design Award, and awards from the Art Directors Club.

A California native and ex New Yorker currently living abroad in Budapest, Vannett has been described as a “rare talent” and “one of the most gifted intuits”. An award winning brand & innovation strategist and futurist, Vannett’s ability to effortlessly leverage points of friction into competitive advantages has led her to unprecedented success in revitalizing 35+ heritage brands and creating 15+ new brands for both giant corporations and startups across 12+ industries — defining strategic foundations that has lead to to a 246%+ increase in brand value.

Vannett's client list includes behemoths like Anheuser-Busch InBev, Diageo, Nestle, Unilever, Bayer, Google, and Hain Celestial, and small but mighty clients like Debut Biotech, Exponent, Sunrise Session, Playground and Superzero. She’s given branding talks to international audiences of 600+ and mentored founders and up-and-coming creatives via Venture Capital World Summit, Dell Entrepreneur Mentorship Program, Sephora Accelerate, Credo for Change, SF Design Week, The One Club for Creativity, and Pratt School of Design.

What can you expect from Vannett?
Sunshine mixed with a little bit of hurricane. Vannett is unconventional, provocative, and honest. Never one to back down from a challenge, she always delivers clear and concise solutions strategically grounded in timeless human truths.

Nimród Ludescher is the founder of BDN Automotive, a company developing hydrogen–diesel dual-fuel retrofit systems that revolutionize the sustainable operation of heavy-duty and industrial engines. He built his professional foundation in motorsport engineering, graduating from Cranfield University, where he was recognized with the British Racing Drivers’ Club award. His career led him to Koenigsegg Automotive in Sweden, where he contributed to the engine controls and calibration of the 1600 bhp Jesko hypercar. He was also involved in the development of the groundbreaking Freevalve camless engine, one of the most innovative combustion technologies worldwide. These experiences provided him with high-level expertise in engine controls, combustion analysis, and emissions compliance. By founding BDN, his goal was to transfer innovation from hypercars and motorsport into industrial applications. The company’s retrofit technology enables existing diesel engines to operate on hydrogen, significantly reducing emissions while improving economic efficiency. This solution simultaneously addresses environmental challenges and the cost-efficiency demands of fleets. Within the company, Nimród leads product development, business strategy, and international partnerships. His vision is a future where the precision of motorsport and the innovation of hypercars meet the practical needs of industry, accelerating the green transition.

Barnabás Málnay is partner at the hardware and IoT startup accelerator Smartware.Tech and business developer at the European digital innovation and international business development organization EIT Digital. He has been managing director at the Hungarian Mobility and Multimedia Cluster since 2011 and partner at early-stage startup advisory and investment formation White Summers Cofounder since 2014. Earlier, he was business development director at AVEC, a startup accelerator launched by one of Hungary’s largest VC groups, the DayOne-PortfoLion Group; director of external relations and development at Kitchen Budapest, Magyar Telekom’s innovation lab; and senior advisor at Magyar Telekom’s Innovation and Business Development Directorate. He studied social and political theory at ELTE and CEU in Budapest, and at Stanford University, where he also worked as a teaching assistant and instructor in various teaching programs.

Ákos is a lawyer with nearly two decades of experience advising on M&A and capital markets transactions, with a particular focus on complex, cross-border matters. Throughout his career, he has advised multinational corporations and institutional investors on acquisitions, disposals, restructurings, and equity investments. He has deep experience in private equity and venture capital transactions and co-investment structures, where he seeks to align investor and founder interests through legal solutions that foster sustainable, long-term value creation.

Rita Molnar earned her BA business communication degree in the Budapest College of Communication and Business in 2008. She completed her MBA master program at Budapest Metropolitan University in 2020 and she also finished the Health Policy, Planning and Financing Master’s program at Budapest Corvinus University in 2023. This program is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of health care systems both at macro- and micro-levels within the context of technological development, an ageing population and patient expectations. 

She started her career as a professional photojournalist from 1997 to 2002. Rita was just 21 when she started organizing events, and she founded her own company. Her first event was an amateur film festival in Eger in 1998. Ever since, she has been organizing 3 conferences per year, mainly in healthcare and VC investing fields. Between 2001-2005 Rita also worked as a movie producer. She was involved in co-producing a movie directed by the iconic Magyar movie-maker Miklós Jancsó. From 2006 to late 2007 Rita managed the event marketing team at Ringier Publishing, a Hungarian subsidiary of a Swiss-based leading publishing firm. In the summer of 2010 Rita founded Slimexpo with a venture capital involvement, and she organized with her own team a Slimexpo Festival with a diet, health and beauty theme at a premium event venue in Budapest Aréna in the spring of 2011. 

Robert Müller is a technology entrepreneur and the founder & CEO of Vooze Global Kft. He holds a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Robert Morris University (Pittsburgh, USA), where he developed a structured and analytical mindset that later guided his transition into digital product development. Between 2022 and 2024, he completed a Software and Mobile Development Bootcamp in Spain, specializing in React Native, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Firebase. His professional focus lies in modern app development, UX design, and technology-driven innovation. Before founding Vooze, Robert worked as a Sales Manager at Titanium-Metal Kft., where he managed international client relations, led negotiations, and oversaw the business development aspects of metal and battery recycling projects. His experience in B2B sales and project management strengthened his strategic and leadership skills. In 2025, he founded Vooze Global Kft. and launched Vooze, an event-based, invitation-driven dating app that redefines modern dating by bringing back elegance, intention, and authentic connection to the digital space. Robert’s work reflects a deep commitment to innovation, human-centered design, and creating technology that builds genuine value.

Economic journalist and communications expert, currently serving as Senior Advisor to the CEO of Garantiqa Credit Guarantee Co. Ltd. For more than two decades, he has specialized in topics related to the financial sector, economic policy, and enterprise development.

Previously, he was Head of the Economics Desk and Professional Director of Conferences at Világgazdaság, Head of the Economics Section at Heti Válasz, and Senior Editor at Napi Gazdaság.

As Head of Communications at money.hu and Advisor to the Hungarian Development Bank (MFB), he gained extensive experience in financial literacy and corporate lending.

He is co-author of several professional books and a regular analyst of Hungarian economic trends in television, radio, and online media. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Fáy András Award and the Budapest Stock Exchange Media Award.

László Ákos Németh is a seasoned investment and finance professional with more than thirty years of experience in leadership and business development roles. He began his career in audit at Arthur Andersen, followed by corporate lending at Citibank, where he gained deep hands-on expertise in corporate finance. He later held CFO positions across various industries — from media to infrastructure — overseeing financial management and driving operational efficiency.

Since the mid-2000s, he has specialized in M&A transactions, acquisitions and corporate valuations, contributing to numerous domestic and international deals as Acquisition Director and Associate Director. Since 2013, he has served as Investment Director — and until 2017 also as a Board Member — playing a key role in shaping investment strategy, building a diversified portfolio and supporting startups and growth-stage companies. His scope of work includes investment evaluation, due diligence, strategic business planning and exit strategy development.

He holds a degree from the Corvinus University of Budapest and completed international economic studies in San Francisco and Aix-en-Provence. Throughout his career, he has earned several specialized professional qualifications, demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning and high-quality professional work.

Zsolt Nyitrai received his in Economics in 1997 at the Faculty of Economics at the University of
Miskolc. He worked for Postabank PLC between 1992 and 2000 in the accounting and account
management departments and later as an internal auditor. He continued his career at MKB Bank
PLC between 2004 and 2012 as corporate liaison then as risk management specialist. From 2012,
his key responsibility as head of risk control department at Hajdu Takarek Credit Union had been
to coordinate and manage the risk control functions of the branch, including credit risk
management, operational and liquidity risk management and oversight of arrears management.
From 2017, his main task as the risk control director of Tiszantuli Takarek Credit Union was to
coordinate the risk control functions of the institution, to manage credit risk, and to manage
operational and liquidity risks. Between 2019 and 31st March 2020, at Takarekbank PLC, as
head of regional credit risk management, he was responsible for coordinating the credit risk
management tasks of the region, participating in strategic planning and key decision making.
Zsolt Nyitrai has been granted the title of director of risk management at Capital Fund
Management as outlined by the Kbftv. (operative law of collective investment schemes and their
managers).

Péter Oszkó is a seasoned investment executive and former technocratic Minister of Finance of Hungary, with an extensive track record in corporate leadership, venture capital, and strategic growth transactions across Central and Eastern Europe. He currently serves as CEO of OXO Technologies Holding, a Rotterdam-based, Budapest Stock Exchange–listed regional technology investment group.

Oszkó began his career in professional services, joining Deloitte in 2004 as Partner and rising to Country Managing Partner in 2007, where he also oversaw the advisory operations in the former Yugoslav markets. That same year, he was named Young Manager of the Year. In 2009, he accepted the role of Minister of Finance, leading a one-year crisis management mandate during which he implemented substantial fiscal reforms and restored Hungary’s access to market-based financing.

From 2010, Oszkó headed the OTP Group’s venture capital subsidiary, where he launched multiple funds and expanded assets under management to €100 million. In 2014, he founded OXO, specializing in early- and growth-stage technology investments and buyouts.

In 2024, under his leadership, OXO completed the acquisition and integration of 3TS Capital Partners, a prominent regional investment firm — a strategic move that doubled AUM to €200 million. Beginning in 2025, he relocated the group’s headquarters to the Netherlands and expanded its investment footprint to encompass the DACH, Nordic, and Benelux regions, positioning the firm as a pan-European growth investor.

Nora Szeles is an award-winning economist, CEO of TokePortal.com, the first Maltese Equity Crowdfunding Servive Provider. Nora is a capital market professional, recognized for her contributions in launching new market segments of regulated markets and research in capital market competitiveness, and crowdfunding. Her research is marked by the Josseph de La Vega Award by the Federation of Stock Exchanges and by the Demjan Scholarship. As the co- Founder of TokePortal.com, regulated under ECSPR by MFSA, she contributed to the birth of another new capital market segment. Nora holds an MBA from Purdue University, USA, and currently engrossed in her PhD research, exploring crowdfunding as a transformative business model for entrepreneurs.

CURRENTLY, as the Deputy State Secretary for Technology, Space and Defense Industry at the Ministry for National Economy of Hungary, my primary mission is to design and implement programs which foster technological maturity level improvement among Hungarian SMEs and the industry. I am also an Associate Researcher at John von Neumann University.

Regarding INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, I am the Hungarian head of delegation at the European Space Agency (ESA); delegate at the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA); member of the European Artificial Intelligence Board (AI Board) and Governmental Advisory Committee member at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

He was born in 1963 in Eger, Hungary. He earned his university degree at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE). As a research fellow, he studied and conducted research at Oxford University and Brandeis University in Boston. He obtained his Ph.D. (Candidate of Chemical Sciences) in 1995. He completed his postdoctoral research at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia (USA), then became a senior scientist at Neurex, a biotechnology company in Silicon Valley (Menlo Park, CA), where he worked on drug discovery and development projects targeting neurological diseases.

Between 1998 and 2001, he led preclinical drug development at Biorex Ltd. From 2001 to 2006, he served as CEO of ComGenex Inc., winner of the Hungarian Innovation Grand Prize. Under his leadership, the company was acquired by AMRI (USA). From 2006 to 2012, he was CEO of ThalesNano, where he participated in the development of the H-Cube technology, which won the Innovation Oscar Award. During his tenure, the technology was adopted by the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies and research institutes across 35 countries on 5 continents.

Since 2012, he has been Director of Business Development at ComInnex Inc., where he has led the development of new drug discovery technology platforms and their successful implementation in the global pharmaceutical industry. He is co-founder and board member of several internationally successful research and development companies. He is co-author of 110 publications, patents, and book chapters, and an honorary professor at the University of Pannonia.

I am an investment professional with a background in economics and 7 years of experience in venture capital and private equity. Since August 2024, I have been working as Investment Director at Óbuda Uni Venture Capital Zrt., the venture capital firm of Óbuda University, where I lead a two-person investment team. We support pre-seed and seed-stage startups with capital investments ranging from HUF 20 to 300 million, alongside mentoring, business development, and go-to-market support.

Previously, I worked as an Investment Manager at Széchenyi Funds for 2.5 years, focusing on financing SMEs and large enterprises, and at Hiventures for over 3 years, supporting startups through early-stage investments. Between May 2022 and August 2024, I also served as a member of the Supervisory Board at Gloster Plc.

I completed my studies at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Pécs, earning a Master’s degree in Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting. Additionally, I hold a postgraduate qualification in Online Marketing Management from Edutus University.

I am a native speaker of Hungarian and Croatian, and I speak English fluently.

Sándor Vitéz is a young entrepreneur dedicated to innovation and international collaboration. He has several years of experience in technology, business development, and innovation projects across Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of Intelligent Vision Ltd., leading the development of a data-driven pickleball platform. His work combines engineering precision, business insight, and international experience. He holds a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurial Engineering from Aalborg University, Denmark.