Bestselling Author Paulo Andrez Joins the EU-Startups Summit

The speaker line-up for this year's EU-Startups Summit continues to take shape, with the addition of Paulo Andrez, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Zero Risk Startup, to the roster ahead of the event's return to Malta on 7-8 May. 

Widely recognised as one of Europe's most experienced voices in early-stage investment and risk mitigation, Andrez has backed a broad portfolio of startups and scale-ups across Europe and beyond, including Sword Health, which reached unicorn status in 2022. One of his earlier investments, United Resins, achieved €24.5 million in revenues within its first year of operations, earning him the "Best European Angel Investment" award in 2012. 

At the Summit, Andrez will take part in a session focused on risk, investment, and scaling startups in Europe - drawing on his decades of hands-on experience to share practical insights into reducing risk in new ventures, building stronger early-stage ecosystems, and what founders and policymakers can do to enable more ambitious startup growth across the continent. 

His addition to the line-up is a further signal of the calibre of expertise that the EU-Startups Summit is attracting to Malta. Now returning for its third consecutive year on the island, the 2026 edition takes place on 7–8 May at the iconic Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, with around 2,500 founders, investors, startup enthusiasts, and tech corporates expected to attend. 

The choice of Malta as a recurring home for one of Europe's premier startup events is no coincidence. The island has been rapidly establishing itself as one of Europe's most attractive startup hubs, with a growing ecosystem spanning sectors including SaaS, EdTech, FinTech, Gaming, Blockchain, and AI. Malta Enterprise, the country's economic development agency, has played a central role in this growth - actively cultivating a supportive environment for startups through tailored incentives and investment-focused support services. 

The 2026 summit will feature over 80 speakers, 80+ exhibitors, and a pitch competition offering a prize package worth €1M+, with 15 of Europe's most promising early-stage startups competing live on stage. Alongside the main programme, attendees can expect extensive networking opportunities, with thousands of one-to-one meetings facilitated through a dedicated app and curated evening events overlooking Valletta's harbour. 

With Paulo Andrez now confirmed, the summit's growing speaker roster underscores why Malta has become a natural gathering point for Europe's startup community.