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STARTUP FESTIVAL 2026
PROGRAMME
09:30
Registrations, Welcome Coffee & Startup Connections
10:00
Welcome note by Minister of the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri
10:10
Opening Remarks by the CEO of Malta Enterprise, George Gregory
10:30
Keynote: Think Bigger. Go Further. by Piers Linney | Entrepreneur, Investor & Former Dragon
11:15
Coffee & Meet Someone New
11:45
Mental Resilience - One Size fits One by Zach Muscat | Longevity Lifestyle Strategist
Thriving Through the Highs and Lows
Building a startup means navigating uncertainty, rejection, pressure and setbacks, often while making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information. The ability to stay focused, adaptable and grounded can be just as important as having a great strategy. This session will explore the human side of entrepreneurship by tackling how to handle investor and customer rejection, manage uncertainty, overcome imposter syndrome and make difficult decisions under pressure. It will also look at how founders can build resilience without burning out, lead their teams through challenging periods, and turn failure into useful feedback rather than a reason to stop.
12:30
Networking Lunch
14:00
The Brand Lab by Grace Andrews | Brand Builder and Creator Economy Expert
Your startup has a story. The question is: are you telling it in a way people remember?
In The Brand Lab, founders step beyond their product and explore how to build a brand that people recognise, trust and want to be part of. Founders will learn how to define what makes their brand distinctive, communicate their story without sounding like a sales pitch, and build a recognisable presence across platforms such as LinkedIn. The session will also explore why the founder can be such a powerful part of a startup’s brand, and how to use your own voice and perspective to build credibility, attention and connection.
14:45
Keynote: Create. Learn. Repeat. by Zack Xuereb | Entrepreneur and Technologist
15:30
Coffee Break
16:00
The Reverse Pitch
What if an investor had to pitch to you?
In ‘The Reverse Pitch’, an investor and a startup take the stage for an engaging conversation that explores what makes a strong investor-founder relationship. The investor will share what they look for when investing in companies; from the qualities they value in founders to the opportunities, potential and signals that make a startup stand out. At the same time, the startup will give the audience a real-world perspective on how the relationship developed and the value it has brought to the company. This session gives founders an inside look at how investors think while showcasing a real example of an investor-startup partnership that has delivered value.
16:45
My One Action & Concluding Remarks
17:00
Networking Event
ORGANISED BY
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