The international Engaged Investments Conference returns to Prague on October 21–22nd, 2026, expanding its focus to address two sectors central to Europe’s technological independence: fintech and defense. Organized by Czech investment group DEPO Ventures, the two-day event will welcome startup investors, founders and members of the wider innovation ecosystem, alongside specialized industry tracks, startup pitches and an extended programme. Up to 80 startups will have the opportunity to pitch directly to investors, with dedicated sessions for financial technology, defense and space ventures.
Fintech and Defense Take Centre Stage
Petr Šíma, Founder and Partner at DEPO Ventures, Founder of the Engaged Investments Conference
This year’s Conference places fintech and defense at the heart of discussions about Europe’s ability to develop and control its own strategic technologies. While the sectors operate in drastically different markets, the organizers see both as critical to the continent’s resilience, security, and long-term technological sovereignty. The expanded format is designed to connect innovative companies with international capital while giving investors greater visibility into emerging European technologies.
‘Financial technology and defense answer the question of who will own and create the strategic infrastructure upon which Europe’s security and independence rely. We see immense talent in both sectors, but to compete globally, we need to connect local innovative ideas with international growth capital. That is why we are giving both topics prominent space this year and creating a place where true technological sovereignty is born,’ Petr Šíma, partner at DEPO Ventures and founder of the Engaged Investments Conference, explains
Defense Innovation Meets Frontline Reality
The defense track will be organized in collaboration with the Invest in Bravery initiative, which has deep links to Ukraine’s technology and defense ecosystem. The programme will also involve the European EUDIS Matchmaking initiative for defense and the Cassini Matchmaking programme for space technologies, creating opportunities for startups to engage with investors, industrial partners and potential end-users.
A special guest will be Senior Lieutenant Mykyta Puz, Defense Industry Liaison Officer of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. Having previously worked in business and AI product management before volunteering for the front lines in 2024, Sr. Lt. Puz will offer a direct perspective on the technologies and capabilities modern armed forces urgently require.
Speakers will also include Erin Hallock, Managing Partner of the NATO Innovation Fund, alongside a representative of the Ukrainian Brave1 fund and other defense innovation experts. The sessions are intended to move beyond geopolitical discussion and examine the practical technologies, investment structures and partnerships needed to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities.
Maciej Nowak, Project Manager at CIVITTA for EUDIS Matchmaking
‘At the European level, the EUDIS Matchmaking initiative helps connect innovators in defense and dual-use products with investors, industrial partners, and end-users from the defense sector. However, for the rapid growth of these companies, private venture capital is essential. It is precisely in connecting these worlds that a conference like Engaged Investments can make a real difference,’ Maciej Nowak, Project Manager at CIVITTA for EUDIS Matchmaking, emphasizes.
Building Fintech Beyond Traditional Boundaries
The second day will feature the UnBundled Fintech track, prepared by The FinTechers in collaboration with Mastercard. Its programme will examine how banks, technology companies, and investors can navigate fast-moving developments including stablecoins, tokenization, AI, and operational resilience.
The track will also address liability for fraudulent payments and the challenge of helping European fintech companies scale internationally without excessive dependence on American capital or infrastructure. Discussions will focus on practical business challenges rather than technology in isolation, with financial institutions and technology leaders examining where innovation can create measurable value.
‘Robots move fast, regulation moves slow, and banks fall somewhere in between. The fintech that survives has to speak all three languages at once. At UnBundled, we’ll sit all three down at one table and show that a global company can be built from here, too,’ Michal Ciffra, partner at DEPO Ventures and co-founder of The FinTechers, shares.
Banks, AI, and the Future of Financial Infrastructure
Michal Ciffra, Partner at DEPO Ventures, Co-Founder of The FinTechers
The fintech speakers pool will include Michal Vodrážka, Director of the Payment Systems Regulation Division at the Czech National Bank. He will debate Partners Banka‘s CTO Jiří Raška on who ultimately bears responsibility when a payment reaches a fraudster, a question gaining urgency ahead of mandatory payee verification in 2027.
Stablecoins and emerging financial infrastructure will receive further attention during a session opened by Dorothea Ysenburg, Vice President of Global Partnerships for Digital Assets and Blockchain at Mastercard. Marina Muntian of J.P. Morgan will also explore the persistent trust gap between Central European banks and investors when evaluating the same investment opportunities.
80 Startups Set to Pitch Investors
Investment opportunities will remain a central element of Engaged Investments, following an edition that attracted investors from more than 20 countries. Up to 80 selected startups from early-stage through Series A will receive three minutes to present their businesses to investors actively deploying capital in their respective sectors.
The 2026 edition introduces dedicated pitching blocks for financial technology, defense and space startups. This format gives founders a direct route to investors while allowing funds to identify companies aligned with their investment strategies and sector expertise.
Hackathon Winners Join the Investment Pipeline
The Conference will additionally showcase leading projects from the Coding the Future of Finance hackathon, scheduled for October 19–20nd, ahead of Engaged Investments Conference. Organized by The FinTechers with Deloitte, AWS, and more partners, the hackathon sets out to challenge participants to develop new solutions for the future of financial services.
The strongest fintech projects will present themselves to investors on October 22nd, extending the path from technical experimentation to potential commercial and investment opportunities. The format reflects the conference’s wider ambition to create practical connections between emerging technologies, founders and capital.
In a Nutshell
Kostiantyn is a freelance writer from Crimea but based in Lviv. He loves writing about IT and high tech because those topics are always upbeat and he’s an inherent optimist!
