Road to Market for Bioeconomy Innovations: BIOEAST Hungary–Slovakia Pitching Event in Budapest

The event is organised under the BIOEAST Initiative and the BOOST4BIOEAST project, by the Hungarian BIOEAST Hub and the Slovakian BIOEAST Hub, in collaboration with the Hungarian Business Angel Network (HunBAN).

The Hungary–Slovakia pitching in Budapest event will bring together startups, innovative teams, researchers, entrepreneurs, SMEs and other bioeconomy actors developing solutions with potential for practical application, market uptake and regional impact. The event aims to connect promising innovators with investors, business experts, public-sector representatives and relevant stakeholders in the BIOEAST macro-region.

This event is open to a broad range of bioeconomy-related innovations. Applications may address, among others, circular bioeconomy, sustainable agriculture and food systems, bio-based products and materials, biomass logistics, biomass and biowaste valorisation, digital solutions for the bioeconomy, green technologies, sustainable bioenergy, innovative wood technologies, resource efficiency and other solutions contributing to the transition towards a more sustainable and competitive bioeconomy, monitoring agri-food and forestry systems and rising awareness of the circular bioeconomy.

Useful details

• Date: 18 September 2026, Friday
• Location: Magyar tudósok körútja 2., 1117 Budapest, Hungary
• Event format: On-site pitching event
• Event language: English

The event welcomes Hungarian and Slovak bioeconomy startups, innovative SMEs, and spinoffs with a credible path to market – from validated prototype to growth stage – seeking equity, debt or other forms of external financing, especially where the solution delivers a measurable environmental or social benefit.

Selected applicants will have the opportunity to pitch their innovative business case before an investor and expert panel. The programme will include pitching sessions, feedback from experts and networking opportunities with representatives of the bioeconomy innovation ecosystem.

Each selected startup will be invited to deliver a short pitch presenting the problem addressed, the proposed solution, the innovation potential, the target market and the expected impact.

Deadline for application: 7 September 2026

In addition to startups having the opportunity to find potential investors for their ideas, the jury will select a winning pitch. Details on the prize for the winner are available on the general pitching events page.

Confirmed Investors and jury members:

• József Török – investment director, Kék Bolygó Tőkealapok / Blue Planet Venture Capital
• Michaela Vanya – investment manager, Impact Ventures
• Pamela Palková – circular economy expert project coordinator, Slovak Business Agency
• Richard Fekete – senior specialist for the non-profit sector and social enterprises, Slovenská sporiteľňa (Erste Bank Group)

Agenda

09:30 – 10:00 | Registration of participants
10:00 – 10:10 | Opening of the event
10:10 – 10:40 | Keynote speeches
10:40 – 11:20 | Pitch presentations (1.)
11:20 – 11:30 | Coffee break
11:30 – 12:10 | Pitch presentations (2.)
12:10 – 13:10 | Lunch break
13:10 – 13:40 | Panel discussion
13:40 – 14:00 | Announcement of the winner pitch, closing

Event moderators: Ádám Brándisz (HunBAN) & Csaba Bálint (AKI)

Travel & practical infromation

Selected applicants will be informed in advance of the event and contacted by the organisers with further information about travel costs.

Travel costs: The organisers will provide support for travel costs. Before booking any travel, selected participants will be asked to share an estimate of their travel expenses. The organisers will review and confirm what can be covered. Only agreed travel costs will be reimbursed.

Read more in the application guidelines.

Accommodation: Participants are responsible for organising their accommodation. Support is possible after confirmation of the expenses.

Travel options:

By train
Timetable & tickets

• From Déli pályaudvar (Southern Railway Station) – Map
• From Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Railway Station) – Map
• From Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Railway Station) – Map

By bus
Timetable & trip planning

• From Népliget bus station – Map
• From Stadionok bus station – Map

By plane

• From Liszt Ferenc Airport (BUD) – Map
  Airport Minibus (recommended)

By car
E-vignette purchase

• M1 and M7 highways – Map
• M3 highway – Map
• M5 highway – Map

Pitching Event Support

Confirmed pitchers will be offered one-to-one ‘dry run’ presentation sessions for 30 minutes with the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (IBF) in advance of the event in early September. IBF will firstly contact confirmed pitchers with useful guidelines and tips to maximise their presentations. Pitchers will then demonstrate their innovations in a five minute pitch presentation to IBF, whereby IBF will assess and provide feedback before the event on Sept 18. IBF can follow up with any support with presentation preparation if required prior to the event.