Last week, Bucharest became the center of attention for innovation and entrepreneurship as the How to Web Conference 2024 brought together key players from across CEE and beyond. Over 3,000 attendees from 840 companies gathered at the Face Convention Center for two days filled with dynamic discussions, thoughtful keynotes, and vibrant networking sessions. As one of the region’s most significant tech events, How to Web 2024 showcased the latest trends, startup success stories, and highlighted the growing influence of the CEE on the global tech stage.

CEE’s startup scene captivates global investors

Now in its 14th edition, the event featured over 100 speakers who explored a broad range of topics. These included product development, UX, sales, and investment strategies—covering crucial aspects for startups and investors alike. April Dunford’s session on product positioning stood out, offering actionable insights that resonated deeply with startup founders. Meanwhile, Fonz Morris engaged the audience with his focus on customer experience design, and Chris Heilmann presented a forward-looking discussion on the future of open web technologies. Talks from Andy Budd on design leadership and Staffan Helgesson from Creandum on scaling startups further enriched the event, each speaker adding a new layer to the broader conversation on innovation and growth in the region.

One different aspect that I observed at this year’s conference was the attendance of major international investors. Representatives from prominent firms like Lakestar, Atomico, and Northzone didn’t just attend—they expressed genuine excitement about the region’s potential. “There are a lot of good points to be excited about Europe. Europe is hungry for technology,” said in a panel Radu Bozga, Vice President at Notion Capital. The CEE’s startup ecosystem is clearly gaining momentum, with over €1B raised to be deployed into tech startups across the region, as highlighted in our State of AI in CEE 2024 report.