Behind Every Startup Success Story

On 16 September 2026,  EPIC-X project  will bring together startups, investors and innovation ecosystem stakeholders for a full day of activities at Tech Park in Vilnius, Lithuania, focused on growth, investment and stronger connections across Europe.The programme will open with “Behind Every Startup Success Story: How Ecosystems Shape Growth, Scale and Impact”, an official side event of Startup Fair 2026 jointly organised by INNOVATE-EU, WE-RISE and EPIC-X.

Bringing together policymakers, investors, innovation agencies, accelerators, incubators, universities and founders, the session will examine how European innovation ecosystems can improve startups’ access to networks, funding, expertise and new market opportunities.

The event will include the discussion about:

• How ecosystems can better support start-up growth and scaling
• What start-ups really need from investors, policymakers, and support organisations
• Which interventions deliver the greatest impact
• How Europe can strengthen its innovation competitiveness through collaboration
• What lessons can be drawn from successful start-up support initiatives across Europe

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