The European Business Angels Congress organised by CorkBIC has attracted c.350 attendees for the two-day event at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.
Cork ministers Simon Coveney and Michael McGrath both attended the event today while Taoiseach Micheál Martin will deliver a virtual address at the gala dinner awards ceremony.
The EBAN Congress is the second-largest angel congress in the world and a number of Ukrainian entrepreneurs are attending to speak about their businesses, and the value of investing in Ukrainian start-ups. They are:
+ Oleh Derevianko, co-founder and chairman of Cork-based GuardYoo, received special permission from the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ukrainian Department of Defence to travel from Kyiv to Cork for the Congress. In 2018, Oleh participated in the CorkBIC International Security Accelerator.
The cybersecurity company is an Enterprise Ireland client, with some of its technology team currently locked down in Ukraine.
In Association with
+ Inna Ushakova is the co-founder and CEO of Scalarr, which develops AI-based cybersecurity solutions for mobile and edge. Based in the US, she is currently a fundraiser for the aid organisation Help Kharkiv, consisting of a team of business leaders using their business expertise to efficiently allocate financial and humanitarian aid across key volunteer groups on the ground.
+ Cork-based Alex Chernenko, CEO and founder of translation service provider, Translit, will take part in a live pitching event on the Main Stage. His company is currently providing free translation services to Ukrainian refugees coming to Ireland. Alex participated in the CorkBIC Entrepreneur Experience.
The event will feature panel discussions, roundtables and workshops that will promote business angel investing and enable attendees to share their knowledge and unique experiences. In addition, pitching events will see 30 high-potential start-ups from across the EU pitch for investments of €50,000 to €5m.
Minister Coveney commented: “Success comes from working together and for CorkBIC and EBAN to do that on an international scale is hugely valuable for Europe’s economies and those working in them. Attendees will be able to connect, network and share ideas with some of Europe’s most successful investors.
“In doing so, this Congress will create greater opportunities for the international community to work together and back the ideas that will shape our future.”
Michael O’Connor, CEO, CorkBIC, stated: “This event demonstrates the value of the investment community to start-ups in Ireland and across Europe. Particularly in times of uncertainty, it is important that we buoy the start-up community to come up with solutions that make a real-world difference.”
