The annual PODIM Conference, a meeting point for innovation, connection, and collaboration, was held from May 13th to 15th in Maribor, Slovenia. This year, it provided a platform for startups, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders to converge and catalyze transformative change. This inspiring environment provided an excellent opportunity for Maika Gorostidi and Miguel Rodriguez Villarroel, who represented the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator.
Their participation at the conference not only expanded the accelerator’s global network but also enriched it with valuable insights from high-level panels and interactions with key industry players. Here are some specific insights that Maika and Miguel brought back:
Strategic Networking: Maika and Miguel explored potential collaborations with influential figures such as Sašo Djoković from Startup Slovenia and corporate entities like Infineon Technologies and Aetlan, led by founder Shaheer M. Hussam. Their meeting with Miguel García González, CEO of Sploro, and their discovery of the EmpoWomen Program, a European initiative empowering women entrepreneurs, provided valuable insights for the accelerator’s future endeavours.
Investor Engagement: Engaging with investors such as business angel Jorma Heinonen and Stevica Kuharski from FILROUGE CAPITAL opened doors for future investment opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Global Connections: Establishing connections with foreign trade agencies like the Vienna Business Agency, ICEX, and ITA – Italian Trade Agency, as well as academia representatives from institutions like the University of Romania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, broadened the accelerator’s international reach and knowledge base.
Insightful Panels: The conference featured high-level panels discussing critical topics such as Digitalization, Digital Transformation, and Mitigating Challenges of Cross-Border Investing, providing insights from industry experts and thought leaders.
PODIM 2024 was an enriching experience. With a renewed focus on navigating the complexities of digital transformation, the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator continues to empower entrepreneurs and drive innovation across Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean regions.
“By leveraging the experience and connections gained at PODIM, we will make significant progress toward our mission of accelerating business collaborations that start with a corporate facing a challenge that can be solved collaboratively with a digital solution provided by a startup from a different region,” expressed Maika Gorostidi. In this regard, she also wanted to share one quote heard at a panel: “Do not fear failure by challenging, but failure by doing nothing”, Soichiro Honda, Founder.
