EU-Startups Summit 2026 Brings Top European Tech Leaders to Malta

Malta will welcome Europe’s startup community on 7 and 8 May 2026 as it hosts the 12th edition of the EU-Startups Summit, bringing together approximately 2,500 founders, investors, corporates, and media professionals for two days of networking, keynotes, and deal making.

The event will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta with a growing roster of high-profile speakers already confirmed, including Wouter Durville, founder and CEO of Amsterdam-based TestGorilla, and Ekaterina Gorbacheva, Global Expansion Director at gifting marketplace Flowwow.

Durville will deliver a keynote entitled “Hiring for the AI Era: Why the CV is Dead and ‘AI-Fluency’ is King” at the Summit. His company, which has raised over €70 million in funding, is transforming recruitment by replacing traditional CV screening with science-backed, skills-based assessments. Drawing on data indicating that 71 per cent of business leaders now prioritise AI skills over years of experience, Durville is expected to challenge founders still relying on outdated hiring practices and outline strategies for building AI-fluent teams.

Gorbacheva will share insights drawn from Flowwow's expansion across more than 40 countries. Founded in 2014, the platform connects over 18,000 local shops with customers worldwide, enabling them to discover and send flowers, gifts, and curated experiences. Gorbacheva, who oversees the company's international growth strategy, specialises in deep localisation and data-driven market entry, with particular expertise across the UAE, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

The Summit will feature fireside chats and keynotes from over 80 industry leaders, alongside an exhibition hall showcasing more than 80 startups. A pitch competition will see 15 of Europe's most promising early-stage companies compete for a prize package valued at over €1 million. 

The agenda for the two-day Summit will be released imminently but for immediate information about confirmed speakers and sponsors, visit the EU-Startups website here.