Meet the Voices of Motion

Hendrik Bourgeois leads Government Affairs at Mastercard in Europe. With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of business, law and policy, Hendrik represents Mastercard with European governments, EU institutions, and public stakeholders on a wide variety of issues, promoting Mastercard´s growth and investment strategy in Europe. He is the former President of the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, and he has a long career in the private sector, including at Intel, Apple, and Cargill. Before that, Hendrik served for almost two decades in several senior executive positions at General Electric (GE).

Hendrik worked as an attorney in private practice in Washington DC and Brussels, obtained his law degree at the Rijksuniversiteit Gent, Belgium, and has an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School.

Seasoned business leader with a product management background co-founded and leading a tiny, efficient, and very experienced team of Velebit AI since 2019 that implements B2B solutions and delivers AI services across various industries. Serial entrepreneur starting in the early internet days but also spent five years in academia and 15 years in the corporate environment in various roles across industries like telecommunications, online publishing, and technology transfer. Driven to understand how AI will interact with humans and change our livelihoods in the years to come.

Kristian Kamber is the former CEO and Co-Founder of SPLX, a pioneer in the AI Security space and leading AI Red Teaming Platform which was acquired by Zscaler.

As a Business Executive and Leader with 10+ years of experience in ICT and IT Solution GTM space, Kristian has worked and led teams previously at the likes of Vodafone, Gartner, Cisco and Zscaler. He is a top achiever with a strong track record, a dedicated professional and Team Leader who has been serving and scaling in global markets from EMEA, US and APAC successfully.

Entrepreneur – Building AI agent applications at Finmetrika d.o.o.
Currently helping enterprise customers build and launch in production AI agent applications. Focusing on improving customer experience during the sales process and also providing agentic customer support.

In the past led the team that developed and implemented the mobile application Keks Pay. The first app on the market developed by one bank but can be used by anybody. All the details can be found on www.kekspay.hr

Worked in Erste Bank Croatia for 20 years, most of the time in the area of Risk management. Started as a model developer building credit scoring ML models, later as Head of the Risk management division responsible for loan underwriting, portfolio management, model development, etc. Later moved to the area of digital banking and was leading the teams that were working on all customer-facing applications: Keks Pay, George, mBanking/Netbanking for Corporate, etc.

Reinhard Holl is a senior executive in financial services and transformation, with extensive international experience spanning banking, finance, and management consulting. Since June 2025, he has served as Chief Transformation Officer (CTO) at NLB d.d., and since October 2025, he has also been responsible for IT, leading large-scale transformation, digitalisation, and efficiency initiatives.

Before joining NLB, Reinhard spent 13 years at McKinsey & Company (2012–2025), becoming a Partner in 2020. He led over 150 engagements across Europe, advising banks, fintechs, payments companies, private equity funds, and technology companies. His work focused on corporate and digital strategy, IPO readiness, cost optimisation, go-to-market strategy, and M&A support.

Earlier in his career, he worked at Standard Bank PLC (2008–2011) as Manager, Treasury & Capital Management, following his role at Lehman Brothers as an Analyst / Summer Analyst in Structured Finance and European Convertibles.

He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a Chartered MCSI and Chartered Wealth Manager.

Antonio Argir is a senior banking executive and member of the Management Board of NLB d.d., where he is responsible for Group governance, payments, and innovation. He joined the NLB Group Management Board in 2022, following his role as Executive Assistant to the Management Board for Group Steering.

From 2016 to 2021, he served as President of the Management Board and CEO/CMO of NLB Banka Skopje, where the bank achieved exceptional growth across all business segments, became widely recognised as the most innovative bank on the market, and significantly increased profitability, with the share price rising fivefold during his tenure. Earlier, he held several senior roles within NLB Tutunska Banka, including Management Board Member (CMO/COO), Division Manager of the Retail Banking Branch Network, and Branch Manager of the Skopje Center branch.

In addition to his executive roles, he has held numerous supervisory and governance positions within the NLB Group, including President and Member of Supervisory Boards in Prishtina and Podgorica, and Member of the Supervisory Board of NLB Lease&Go in Ljubljana. He also served as Vice President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia and as a member of the Assembly of the Macedonian Banking Association.

He holds an MBA from IEDC Bled School of Management and a degree in Economics from the University “Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje.

Mirela Ciobanu is Lead Editor at The Paypers, where she has worked for nearly a decade, starting in mobile payments and gradually expanding her expertise to compliance, crypto, blockchain, and the Web 3 ecosystem. 

She now aims to bridge the knowledge gap between TradFi and DeFi. Besides DeFi, she is also passionate about digital identity solutions, data privacy, and balancing security with great user experience, delivering accurate, educational insights through interviews, webinars, reports, and articles. 

Her work has allowed her to meet leading personalities such as Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Bernstein, the Obermeyer brothers – the investigative journalists behind the Panama Papers – and, in crypto, top voices like Raj Dhamodharan, Executive Vice President of Blockchain & Digital Assets at Mastercard. At the core, Mirela helps collaborators make their voices heard and craft compelling campaigns that inspire the fintech community. When not working, she runs long distances – completing a 105 km run in 15 hours – and is driven by the pursuit of the most compelling version of the truth.

For over 20 years, Darko has advised clients and delivered IT solutions across a wide range of industries. He is the CEO and co-founder of Robotiq.ai, a Croatia-based product company focused on building a cutting-edge automation platform.

Throughout his career, Darko has held diverse roles spanning software development, sales, and consulting. He was a partner at InfoCumulus, where he led the Microsoft Dynamics CRM practice. Prior to that, he worked at Microsoft in several positions, ranging from developer evangelism to enterprise pre-sales.

Maryna Peikova is a Wartime CEO, President of the Global Council for Business Resilience, and board advisor to companies in the retail, production, and restaurant industries.
She led Ukraine’s largest convenience chain through the war and brings deep expertise in retail operations, financial management, and crisis leadership. Maryna Peikova is a Wartime CEO, Business Resilience expert, and President of the Global Council for Business Resilience (France).
She led Ukraine’s #1 convenience retail chain through the full-scale invasion and now serves as an advisor and board member for several companies across retail, production, and restaurant sectors.
Maryna brings 20+ years of expertise in retail strategy, financial management, and crisis operations—helping organizations build resilience, restore performance under pressure, and lead confidently in uncertain times.

Nilixa is an experienced policymaker and regulatory strategist shaping the future of digital money, payments innovation, and financial market infrastructure. She is the Founder and CEO of Payments Solved, a regulatory consultancy advising regulators, banks, and fintechs on digital-asset frameworks, including stablecoins, tokenisation, CBDCs, and the intersection with payments and open finance in the UK and globally.

A qualified lawyer with a Master’s in European Competition Law, Nilixa brings deep regulatory and market insight shaped by senior roles across industry and public authorities. She has worked extensively with the European Commission, European Central Bank, UK Government and national regulators on the evolution of payments, digital money, and data-driven finance.

Nilixa has been appointed to multiple strategic European advisory bodies, including the ECB Digital Euro Market Advisory Group and several EU payments and data expert forums. Her career spans senior roles at the FCA, EBA, Open Banking Implementation Entity, Mastercard, and Barclays, positioning her at the intersection of innovation, regulation, and global financial transformation.

Dean Krstevski is the Chief Operating Officer of DANA Indonesia, the country’s leading digital payments and financial services platform. DANA is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion and digital literacy, supporting Indonesia’s transformation toward a cashless, digitally empowered economy. Since launching its mobile app in 2018, DANA has grown into the most used financial services app in Southeast Asia.

Dean moved to Southeast Asia in 2012 as part of the founding team of Lazada Thailand, where he helped build the company’s operations from the ground up. Prior to joining DANA, Dean spent six years in senior leadership roles across Lazada Group and TrueMoney throughout Southeast Asia.

Faustine Fleuret is the Head of Public Affairs at Morpho, the second biggest DeFi lending protocol in the world.

Before joining Morpho, she was the co-founder and CEO of Europe’s largest industry association (Adan) for 5 years: she represented and defended Web3 professionals mainly by educating and negotiating with policy-makers and non-native Web3 companies, as well as participating in building all major French and European regulations (including MiCA).

Before Adan, she worked for the French financial regulator (AMF), the French financial markets professional body (AMAFI) and ConsenSys. She is the co-author of two books on the European MiFID 2 regulation, followed by two on the regulation of crypto-asset markets, the latest of which was published in October 2024.

Panagiotis has spent his career in the borderline between business and technology with a leadership background at an international level. 
Panagiotis brings senior expertise across Financial Services, Banking, Payments, FinTech, Retail and E-Commerce. 
Innovation, strategy, business development, strategic partnerships and building businesses and products from scratch have been at the center of his work and attention throughout his career.
Being a recognized voice in the financial services industry, Panagiotis has contributed to various publications and podcasts and is often invited as a public speaker at events around the globe.

David is Principal at advisory practice 15Mb Ltd. and Global Ambassador for Consult Hyperion, the consulting arm of Fime. He is Non-Executive Chairman of Digiseq Ltd and holds several board-level advisory roles with leading organisations in Europe and the US, including OneID, PaymentWorks, Au10tix and the HMRC Payments Advisory Board.

He is Honorary President of EEMA (European e-ID Association), Senior Research Fellow at King’s Business School in London, Digital Fellow at the University of Exeter Business School’s DIGIT Lab, and Senior Research Fellow at the Qatar Centre for Digital Finance.

Recognised globally as one of the most influential voices in banking, fintech and payments, he has been named among the top fintech influencers worldwide and Europe’s leading commentator on emerging payments. A Forbes contributor and columnist for Financial World, he has written for The Financial Times, The Guardian and numerous industry publications, and is a frequent media commentator on BBC, Sky and international channels.

His latest book, Money in the Metaverse (2024), explores the intersection of virtual worlds, digital assets and financial services.

Frank Schwab is a professional board member, strategic advisor, and co-founder of FinTech Forum Frankfurt. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Gulf International Bank (Bahrain) and on the Supervisory Boards of Addiko Bank (Vienna) and Hauck & Aufhäuser Innovative Capital (Frankfurt).

His expertise spans megatrends and innovation in technology, banking transformation, FinTech, and cryptocurrencies. Over the past decade, he has spoken to global audiences more than 200 times. Frank is the author of three books: 42 Megatrends Shaping the Future of Banking, Tomorrow’s Money, and The Ideabook.

With Fidor, he won Celent’s Model Bank of the Year award in 2015 and was named one of Germany’s Top Minds in Digital Finance in 2020. As Chairman of the Innovation Committee at Gulf International Bank, he led initiatives that won more than ten digital banking innovation awards in 2023 and 2024.

Previously, he held senior roles at McKinsey, Deutsche Bank, PayU, and multiple FinTech ventures. He lectures in innovation, creativity, and banking technology at leading business schools.

Sabrina leads Mastercard’s Start Path, an award-winning program supporting over 500 startups across 60+ countries in areas like payments, AI, financial inclusion, and open finance. Previously, she was a product manager in Mastercard’s core payments team, contributing to innovations like Apple Pay and Mastercard Move.

She serves on the Leadership Committee of The Resolution Project and the Board of Directors of the FinSec Innovation Lab, supporting student-led ventures and early-stage cybersecurity startups. Sabrina has been recognized by American Banker, Venture Capital Journal, and Fintech Magazine for her leadership in fintech.

She holds a B.A. in Economics and Sociology from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.

Mikel Ayala is General Manager at Backpack, leading market entry and regional operations in Europe, and overseeing the company’s global business with Asset Managers, Brokers, Affiliates and Exchanges.

The Backpack ecosystem comprises Backpack Exchange, a fully compliant digital asset exchange (operating in the European Economic Area under its MiFID II–licensed subsidiary Backpack EU), Backpack Wallet, a multi-chain and self-custodial wallet, and Mad Lads, the top NFT community on Solana. Backpack was founded in 2022 and is one of the fastest tech start-ups ever to surpass $100M in cumulative revenue.

Mikel brings 15+ years of experience building technology-driven businesses in regulated  financial markets and advising global financial institutions. He is also a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe, the leading postgraduate school for European public policy, where he lectures future policymakers & regulators about digital assets, and is a proud Mad Lad.

Djuro Stojanovic is the CEO and co-founder of Uhura Solutions, AI company that has developed an Agentic AI platform to automate complex processes in financial services. With more than 15 years of experience in business leadership and innovation in technology companies and research institutions, he has also worked as a professor and researcher at several universities in the fields of computer technologies and telecommunications. He is responsible for managing technical, operational, and business requirements, capacity planning, resource and budget management at Uhura Solutions, and he led the process of raising investment from prestigious U.S. and European venture capital funds. His corporate experience includes key roles at Deutsche Telekom, where he was responsible for the development and monitoring of services in both business and residential segments. He holds a PhD in digital signal processing, and his interests include innovation, business operations in high-tech companies, product development, and digital services.

Ana Brajković is a retail and sales consultant, business trainer, and founder of Circled, a consulting company focused on human-centric retail, customer experience, and people development. With over 20 years of experience across retail, FMCG, and B2B environments, Ana has delivered more than 3,000 trainings for sales teams, store managers, and leaders across the region and internationally. She regularly writes for leading professional and business media, sharing practical insights on retail trends, customer behaviour, and people development. Ana is a TEDx speaker and a frequent speaker at regional and international conferences. She has been recognized for two consecutive years on the global Top Retail Experts list as a respected international retail expert. Ana is known for translating global retail trends into clear, actionable insights, with a strong focus on people first, technology second.

Balázs Pál Békeffy became the CEO of OTP banka d.d. in Croatia in 2011. After graduating in Economics (major: Accounting and Corporate Valuation) from the Budapest University of Economic Sciences and Public Administration (BUES), he joined the PwC before starting an ascend within the banking industry in the OTP group in 2003.

Bartosz Ciolkowski is Division President, South East Europe. The Europe South East Cluster includes Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia. Within his remit, Bartosz is responsible for implementing the strategy in the region, developing electronic payments, and working with business and government partners.

Bartek joined Mastercard in 2005.  He previously held the role of General Manager for Poland, where he significantly contributed to the dynamic development of the electronic payments sector through the introduction of innovative solutions and products, as well as the expansion of the acceptance network. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Cashless Poland Foundation and in Mastercard’s investment in the Polish Payment Standard (PSP), the owner of BLIK.

He also managed Mastercard business in the Czech and Slovak markets.

Bartek is a member of the supervisory board of the Polish Payment Standard and a member of the supervisory board of the Cashless Poland Foundation.

He is a technology and innovation enthusiast with a mission to coach startups, helping them to scale. He recently joined the Board of Endeavour in Poland and also actively supports diversity and inclusion, being a co-founding member of the Champions of Change Club and a supporting member of the Polish chapter of the 30% Club.

Bartek is a happy father of a daughter, Helena. He is passionate about cycling on a road bike and an MTB, and is a pet lover. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics of Poznan University of Economics and Business with a specialization in the field of economic policy and strategy.

Christoph Schoefboeck has been appointed President of the Management Board of Erste Bank Croatia in May 2015.

Mr Schoefboeck has extensive and long-standing experience in various management positions. Before coming to his current position, he was the CRO (Chief Risk Officer) in Erste Bank Croatia in the period 2011-2015, at the same time holding various Supervisory Board functions within Erste Group Croatia. Before that, he was the COO (Chief Operating Officer) and a Member of the Board in ZAO Raiffeisenbank in Moscow, in charge of all operational and IT activities of the bank, including a successful large bank merger and holding business responsibility for a large business region. From 2003 to 2006, he was the CRO and COO in HVB Splitska banka, and from 2002 to 2003, he was the authorised representative and Member of the Board in HVB Croatia d.d.

Mr Schoefboeck holds a doctorate in economics from the Faculty of Economics at Vienna University, where he was also involved in large research projects. He attended numerous management trainings in Switzerland, Great Britain and the USA.

Apart from his mother tongue, German, Mr Schoefboeck is also fluent in Croatian, English and Russian.

Ernest Vlačić, PhD, prof. is a university professor, innovation and sustainability strategist, and founder of the R&D and advisory organisation NOVAMINA. His work focuses on the intersection of technology development, strategic positioning, entrepreneurship, geopolitics of sport, and long-term value creation, particularly in the context of young people, professional athletes, and startup founders who are increasingly required to make complex financial decisions early in their careers.

He is actively involved in numerous European and regional projects related to innovation ecosystems, ESG, digital transformation, and sustainable finance, and regularly works with universities, startups, policymakers, and industry leaders. Known for his engaging and pragmatic style, he translates complex national ecosystemic concepts into clear, actionable insights, helping individuals and organisations better understand risk, opportunity, and long-term financial resilience.

Ivan Kurtović is Managing Partner at InterCapital, a leading independent financial services group in Croatia and the broader SEE region, where he leads sales, business development, and digital transformation efforts. 

Before his current role, Ivan spent 12 years in various leadership positions in within InterCapital’s investment banking & brokerage company (InterCapital Securities), serving as both Board Member and CEO, helping build the leading independent investment banking & brokerage platform in South & Eastern Europe. From 2016 to 2025, he led InterCapital Asset Management, delivering a 7x growth in assets and launching several innovative products, including regional ETFs and the Genius digital robo-advisory and savings APP.

Ivan holds an Executive MBA from IMD in Switzerland and INSEAD certificates in Global Management, Coaching, and Corporate Governance. His focus includes growth strategy, corporate governance, digital transformation, leadership development, and investing.

Katarina Đulić, PhD is a Senior Advisor, board professional, and policy leader with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of finance, governance, and institutional reform across Southeast Europe. She has served as an Independent Supervisory Board Member and Audit Committee Chair in regulated financial institutions, including Eurobank Direktna, and previously held board and oversight roles in Serbia’s Central Securities Depository, Deposit Insurance Agency, Jubanka, and DDOR Insurance.

A former Assistant Minister of Finance of Serbia, Katarina, led national reforms in banking, capital markets, insurance, and financial sector restructuring, working closely with the World Bank, EBRD, and IFC on strengthening financial systems and corporate oversight frameworks.

She holds a PhD in Economics, an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School, and an LL.M. from Northwestern University, and is a Full Professor at FEFA Faculty.

Katarina is widely recognised for translating complex financial and policy concepts into practical, decision-oriented tools that empower leaders, founders, senior executives and board members to build sustainable growth and long-term value.

Kristian T. Sørensen is the Global Ambassador for Digital ID at IN Groupe. In this role, he serves as the strategic voice for a newly consolidated European powerhouse – combining IN Groupe, Nets eID, and Idemia Smart Identity – dedicated to securing the entire “Chain of Trust” from sovereign issuance to digital wallets.

With a perspective rooted in the “Nordic Model” of high-trust digitisation, Kristian bridges the gap between technical capability and geopolitical reality. Having been involved in more than 30 digital wallet projects globally, he advises governments and enterprises on building infrastructures that citizens actually trust and adopt.

He also serves as Co-Chair of the Digital Wallet Expert Group at the Mobey Forum. A veteran with 20 years in fintech, he previously co-founded The Tokenizer and served as a strategic advisor to the European Payments Initiative (EPI).

Martin Bruncko is a technology entrepreneur, executive and investor with extensive experience in deep tech, fintech and public policy. He is the Founder and CEO of Schuman Financial, a leading provider of infrastructure and solutions for European stablecoin-based finance, including the euro stablecoin EURØP issued under Schuman’s French EMI licence.

Previously, Martin held senior executive and board roles at highly innovative companies, including Executive Vice President for Europe at Binance, founding CFO and Chief Strategy Officer at AeroMobil (advanced personal aerial vehicles), and board member at GA Drilling, a global leader in ultra-deep geothermal energy technologies.

He founded and led Steam Capital, a London-based deep tech and fintech investment and advisory firm, and served on the Investment Committee of the European Innovation Council Fund. Earlier, he founded Neulogy, the first major deep tech advisory and investment boutique in Central and Eastern Europe.

Martin also held senior roles in the Government of Slovakia, including junior minister for innovations and deputy for European affairs at the Ministry of Finance, and later served as Senior Director and Head of Europe at the World Economic Forum. He remains active as an advisor to the European Commission and the Government of Dubai.

He holds a BA from Stanford University and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School and was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.

Ron Oliveira is a senior financial services executive with more than 30 years of global experience spanning banking, fintech, startups, crypto exchanges, and investment firms. Over his career, he has held every C-suite role except CFO and served on numerous boards.

Ron currently works with Hard Yaka Ventures, a private family wealth fund that has completed more than 200 global investments, primarily across payments, remittances, crypto, blockchain, and banking—often at the startup or early-stage level. Hard Yaka’s mission is to build the world’s first identity-based, fully compliant network for tokenized deposits. The firm began investing in the Balkans several years ago and is expanding its regional footprint.

Previously, Ron served as CEO of Revolut USA, part of one of the world’s largest fintech organisations headquartered in London. Before Revolut, he was the President of a Silicon Valley bank focused on financing technology companies. He currently serves on the board of Uphold, a leading global crypto market maker headquartered in the UK with operations across the U.S. and Europe.

Ron’s experience spans the United States, Europe, Guam/Saipan, and the Pacific Rim. He has led numerous capital raises and acquisitions and has guided organizations through periods of hypergrowth and regulatory or financial complexity while balancing the needs of regulators, shareholders, and customers.

Vedran Bajer is the General Manager for the Adriatic Region at the fast-growing AI startup Wonderful, where he leads a regional hub dedicated to enterprise transformation across Southeast Europe. 

Building upon his deep expertise from global tech giants, Vedran is focused on guiding enterprises through the practical application of AI agents. His work is centered on automating complex, multinational enterprise workflows – from customer communication and sales enablement to internal functions like HR and IT support, with solutions uniquely localized for every language and market nuance. 

Prior to joining Wonderful, he served as the Country Manager for Microsoft Croatia and held various leadership roles during his over decade at Google. 

Born in Zagreb, Vedran holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and is a doctoral candidate in Information Sciences (AI), bringing 20 years of robust, analytically driven experience from high-growth tech companies.

Zorana Milidrag (ex Hinić) is a Digital Business Director and Team Leader with 19 years of experience in retail and a strong track record in digital transformation. She is driven by the highest standards of quality, performance, and execution.

Currently, Zorana serves as Head of E-commerce for Foot Locker SEE, where she leads the digital business of one of the world’s largest sneaker concepts across the region.

Previously, she spent eight years at Sport Vision Group as Group E-commerce Director, overseeing 13 European markets and taking responsibility for the end-to-end customer journey across 40 e-commerce websites.

Zorana is a graduate of Bocconi University and holds a Master’s degree from Cotrugli Business School.

She is also a co-founder of the E-commerce Association of Serbia and served as its President for five years, working closely with the digital ecosystem to help develop Serbia’s e-commerce infrastructure from its earliest stages.

A highly motivated professional with proven leadership skills, Zorana is also a proud mother of two boys.

Jón Helgi Egilsson is an economist and engineer working at the intersection of money, technology, and public policy. He is a co-founder and executive director of Monerium, the first company to issue regulated fiat currency on blockchains, and previously served as chair of the supervisory board of the Central Bank of Iceland. He holds a PhD in economics and an MSc in engineering, has taught finance and financial engineering, and was a visiting scholar at Columbia University. Jón Helgi is a regular contributor to Forbes and other international outlets, writing on stablecoins, monetary policy, and the future of financial infrastructure.

Anita Erker works at the intersection of payments, technology, and real-world adoption. With experience across fintech, blockchain, NGOs, and public institutions, she focuses on driving market understanding, adoption, and growth around complex financial infrastructure. As Chief Growth Officer at NAKA, she leads a global growth strategy for the next-generation of payment infrastructure.

Bálint considers himself fortunate, as his work and personal interests are closely intertwined. As a member of the Dorsum team, he spends his days at the intersection of banking and technology, contributing to the ongoing evolution of financial services. Dorsum is one of the region’s leading fintech companies, supporting more than 80 financial institutions across Europe in making investment services more transparent, intuitive, and accessible to a wider audience.

As a Partner and Board Member, Bálint is responsible for international expansion, business development, the wealth management product portfolio, as well as the company’s Business Consulting and Digital Asset Competence Centres. Prior to joining Dorsum, he built his career in the financial sector, holding senior leadership roles in bank treasury, asset management, and brokerage. He is also a founding member of First Principle Innovation, an early-stage angel investment team supporting European technology startups with both capital and hands-on mentoring.

Cédric Sieber, commercial employee and business economist, is working for the swiss Bank PostFinance Ltd. in Bern since 2009. Between 2013 and 2021 he was the Product Manager for various products in the realm of payments and apps, such as remittance-Services like “Mobile Money Transfer”, “Western Union” or the digital loyalty Solution “ProfitApp”. He was managing digital channels to buy or gift digital vouchers or was working in innovation project like “PostFinance Benefit” a predictive-analytics Offeringplattform for merchants, integrated into the PostFinance e-Banking. For 4 Years Mr. Sieber was responsible for the swiss mobile payment Wallet “PostFinance TWINT”, bevor he occupied the position of Customer Journey Owner Payments in 2021 where he was responsible for the customer experience for everything payments for the private customers of the retail bank, doing this as also a team lead from 2024 onwards. Since December 2025 he is in an advisory position to the head of client journeys Corporate Clients and involved with the whole service portfolio surrounding Shopping/Checkout, Billing and Payments. In 2022 he joined mobey forum as a co-chair for the digital wallets expert group. 

Đivo Pulitika is a Board Member at InterCapital ETF, Croatia’s first ETF issuer. He began his career in 2014 as a sell-side equity analyst and went on to become Head of Equity Research, with a strong focus on South-Eastern Europe alongside global markets. In 2023, he transitioned into the role of ETF fund manager at InterCapital Asset Management, where he led the creation, management, and distribution of ETF products. Following the establishment of InterCapital ETF as a separate entity in 2025, he assumed his current board role, continuing to drive the growth and development of the ETF business.

Goran is the Head of Business Sales Support at Hrvatski Telekom, with more than 20 years of experience in sales support, business excellence, and operational leadership across Hrvatski Telekom, T-Mobile, and Transfer Equipment International. In his current role, he is responsible for optimizing complex business processes and improving operational efficiency through automation, RPA, and the practical application of AI solutions.

He works closely with sales, IT, vendors and business teams to design and implement real-world AI use cases, focusing on scalability, reliability, and measurable business impact. His experience includes translating high-volume operational challenges into data-driven solutions that support decision-making, reduce manual work, and enable sustainable digital transformation in large enterprise environments

Ivan Đurđević, executive director, is Head of ETF Distribution for Switzerland, Germany, Austria and CEE at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, based in Zurich. In this role, Ivan is responsible for leading and further developing J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s ETF business in all three countries. Before joining the firm in 2018, Ivan worked at Amundi for over 7 years; first as Senior Client Relationship Manager for ETF & Indexing in Germany, and more recently as Deputy Head of ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta Sales Switzerland. Previously, he was with BlackRock Germany as Senior Business Development Associate for the iShares products and with NOMURA Bank Germany as Equity & Equity Linked Products Sales. The business economist started his career at INVESCO Germany.

Senior investment professional with 14+ years of experience across equity research, portfolio management, and leadership roles in Southeast Europe. He began his career as a sell-side analyst at InterCapital Securities, then joined InterCapital Asset Management to build the buy-side equity research function and later took over management of all equity strategies. In 2024 he joined the Management Board as Chief Investment Officer. Since May 2025, he has been serving as CEO of InterCapital ETF, a dedicated ETF management company focused on expanding UCITS ETF access across Southeast Europe. In addition, he is a Member of the Board of Directors at CFA Society Croatia, supporting the Institute’s mission to promote ethics, education, and professional excellence in the financial industry.

Marina Repo is an economist from education and Head of Proposition and Growth in Transaction Banking at Nordea Bank, where she leads a Nordic team that are spear heading the customer centric business development. With over 20 years of experience in banking, Marina has been part of shaping the evolution of financial services across mobile wallets, cash management, merchant acquiring, payment service providers and business banking. Her career spans both strategic vision and hands on advisory sales bridging customer needs, technology and scalable growth.
As Co-Chair Mobey Forum Mobile Wallet Expert Group she actively shapes the industry dialogue and collaboration around the future of digital payments.

Marko Badurina is managing Hrvatska poštanska banka since 2019. Under his leadership, the Bank has achieved a record financial performance and the greatest business successes since its establishment, including the project of takeover and merger of Nova hrvatska banka and entering the top 5 banks in Croatia by total assets at the end of 2023. He is responsible for Large Corporates and the Public sector, Financial markets operations, Internal audit, Compliance, the Management board office, as well as for the business sustainability, strategic development and digital operations, human resources management and legal affairs functions. 
In 2005, he graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb, majoring in Business Economics, and in 2012 he completed at the same faculty the postgraduate studies in Finance and Banking, Banking.

Nikola Škorić graduated in Computer Science from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb in 2007. After graduation, he obtained a reactor operator license and worked in the nuclear industry. After seven years, in 2014 he founded Electrocoin to enable simple, legal, and professional cryptocurrency trading in Croatia. Over the years, the company became Croatia’s largest crypto exchange, serving clients across the European Union, and a fully regulated entity offering multiple services through its platforms. Electrocoin works with many strategic partners, enabling crypto payments at thousands of locations nationwide, including Tifon gas stations and Croatia’s leading webshop bazaar.hr. Škorić is a co-founder of UBIK and the Money Motion conference, and a strong advocate for regulation and transparency in the industry.

International technology professional with over 25 years of experience building trusted, enterprise-grade digital solutions in regulated environments.

My work focuses on digital identity, trust services, and legally compliant digital transactions, supporting governments, financial institutions, and enterprises in moving from paper-based processes to secure, privacy-preserving digital interactions.

I advocate an identity-first approach to digital wallets—wallets designed for credentials, authentication, and trust, rather than asset-centric or speculative use cases. In this view, wallets are foundational infrastructure, not products: interoperable, user-controlled, and grounded in regulatory frameworks such as eIDAS.

I bring a combined product, technology, and go-to-market perspective, shaped by real-world deployments across banking, insurance, telco, and public-sector ecosystems, covering electronic identity, electronic signatures and seals, onboarding, KYC, AML and related financial crime controls, remote and qualified signing, and trust services.

Robby Schwertner is active in the blockchain and web3 domain: he serves as CEO and founder focusing on blockchain-based use cases in retail, mobility, real estate and energy supporting large European and Asian companies. His critical insights are published on his blog www.cryptorobby.com and on his LinkedIn profile. Robby is a frequent speaker at international blockchain-related conferences, was expert speaker at the British Parliament, held a TEDxTalks and was speaker Davos World Economic Formum, Financial Times Next Web Conference, at the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum. He holds a master’s degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Vienna and a postgraduate degree in European Advanced Studies (EU Law and Business Administration). As cofounder of Validvent (www.validvent.com) he focuses on blockchain and web3 advisory, and as head of the supervisory board of RDDL foundation (rddl.io) he supports a promising energy blockchain solution.

I started my career as a quant and risk manager in OTC derivatives. Now I design decentralized infrastructure that embeds systemically important functions – market making, intent solving, credit – directly into the protocol layer.

My focus is social mechanism design: how protocols can distribute responsibility rather than concentrate power. User constraints are often added to simplify system design, but they create hidden asymmetries. I work on auditable, on-chain roles that reduce reliance on privileged access and let participants take on real economic responsibility through open mechanisms.

I’m building Sprinter – trust-driven, intent-based infrastructure that started with intents and naturally evolved into credit, because capital is an essential cog in solving. The goal: markets that are trustworthy by design, not just efficient.

Kene is Chief Blockchain Officer at Ubyx, the clearing system for stablecoins and tokenized bank deposits. Bringing together the benefits of public blockchains and traditional finance, his work across digital currency strategy and transformation has been recognized by multiple organizations, including the Bank for International Settlements and G20. He also contributes to policy and research through outlets including Global Digital Finance, the Digital Euro Association, and King’s College London.

Hassan Salamony is COO and Co-Founder of 3AI, a machine-learning company building a foundational intelligence layer for institutional investing. 3AI applies large-scale, explainable AI to transform vast financial and market datasets into live, stock-level forecasts and deep factor intelligence across global equities.
At 3AI, Hassan leads commercial strategy and institutional partnerships, working closely with asset managers, banks, index providers and ETF issuers to translate advanced AI research into deployable, decision-ready products. His work focuses on how modern AI systems can augment human judgement in complex investment environments — improving signal quality, robustness and transparency — rather than replacing existing processes.

Prior to co-founding 3AI, Hassan spent two decades in senior roles at global investment banks, including Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in London and Director at Barclays. Hassan brings a practitioner’s perspective on scaling AI responsibly within regulated financial institutions. He holds a Distinction in Algorithmic Trading from the University of Oxford and a BSc (Hons) in Management Science from the London School of Economics.

Ivan Glazer is a Business Line Manager with over a decade of experience in telecommunications and fintech, specializing in mobile banking and digital channels. He holds a degree in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER) in Zagreb.
Currently at ASEE, Ivan leads digital channels delivery initiatives, having progressed through roles in business analysis, project management, and delivery management. His work focuses on large-scale mobile banking implementations, agile delivery, risk management, and aligning product, technology, and business stakeholders across complex, multi-market environments.
Outside of fintech, he writes for independent culture platforms and has a strong interest in art and pop culture.

Matija is a founder and coordinator of deep-tech venture builder Nuqleus. He has been involved in startup development since 2016 when he founded his startup. Over the last 4 years with Nuqleus, he helped create 25 spin-offs and raised more than € 1.1 million to build a Croatian deep-tech ecosystem. Nuqleus supports researchers and scientists transitioning from academia to the startup world, providing them with education, mentors and access to financing. In 2023 and 2024, Matija worked for The World Bank as a project lead for the Scinergy project, organizing the biggest matchmaking program in Croatia for more than 100 scientists and more than 100 firms in Croatia. Matija was also a fellow of the U.S. Department of State’s Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) Fellowship Program, spending more than a month in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City and Washington D.C. As a head of Nuqleus, in 2025 he kicked off Liftoff, the largest deep tech event in the region.

Ante-Janko Bobetko was appointed the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors in July 2021, after serving as a member of the Board of Directors for two years. He graduated in business economics at the University of Zagreb. Through his work and experience, he has gained specific knowledge and skills in the field of creating development programs intended for the development of entrepreneurship, which include: developing strategies, laws, aid schemes, lending and the use of all forms of aid from national and EU funds.
From 2016 to 2019 , Bobetko has been the Assistant Director of the Zagreb Innovation Centre, where he participated in the preparation and implementation of projects, creation of entreprenurial programs and building of entreprenurial infrastructure intended for the innovation of ecosystem’s development.

Dušan Obradović is a general manager and leader with extensive experience in business development, strategic investment, and digital transformation. He currently leads the SEE UP accelerator, a unique program supporting startups from Southeast Europe. The accelerator specializes in BioTech, Health, Pet, and FMCG sectors, with a mission to help revenue-generating startups scale their businesses through mentorship, investor connections, and product commercialization support.

Dušan is the driving force behind SEE UP’s strategic partnerships with renowned institutions, with a strong focus on attracting local and international investments for startups. He actively works on building a supportive ecosystem by collaborating with key stakeholders and designing programs that provide startups with direct benefits for growth and success.

Gergő has extensive experience in venture capital and innovation, having played a key role in launching two venture funds, three accelerators, and supporting over 1,000 startups across 60+ programmes. He has been directly involved in 28+ investments, with a 60%+ survival rate, 16 follow-ons, and 5 exits. His experience spans fund structuring, capital deployment, investment operations, and portfolio management.

Most recently, he helped launch and structure Óbuda Uni Venture Capital, a €26M fund focused on deep tech, AI, robotics, and sustainability. Prior to this, as part of the investment board, he led investment activities at Startup Campus (where he was also leading the London unit), reviewing 300 applications annually, deploying £1.25M across 39 startups YTD (23 during his tenure), generating exits, and securing over £6M in follow-on funding—with a current TVPI of 2.2 and a 19% IRR.

Beyond direct investments, he has been involved in accelerator programmes, serving as CFO and board member at Wolves Summit, where he oversaw corporate partnerships and innovation initiatives, managing €1.5M in venture funding. He also co-founded cLAB Ventures, an oncology-focused accelerator supporting 40+ startups.

Josip Volarević is the Founder of Fundl and a consultant with Superteam Balkan, where he supports founders and startups across the Web3 ecosystem. He has extensive experience working with Solana-based projects and has helped startups raise over $6M through grants, hackathons, and VCs. Josip is known for his hands-on role in building community initiatives and educational programs in the Balkan tech scene, including mentorship, workshops, and collaborative events that foster blockchain innovation and entrepreneurial growth. With a strong focus on empowering early-stage builders, Josip brings a practical and inspiring perspective on decentralized technologies, crowdfunding, and ecosystem development.

Since starting his career in 2007, Karlo has established himself as a prominent leader in the deep tech and startup ecosystem. As a Venture Associate at Vesna Deep Tech Venture Fund since July 2024, he focuses on scouting, mentoring, and forging strategic alliances with industrial and research partners. Karlo is dedicated to systematic professional development, building on a robust background that includes serving as Managing Director of Technology park Varaždin, implementing over 40 EU projects, and developing business support solutions at Invento Capital Partners. As an alumnus of the U.S. Professional Fellows Program, he remains committed to driving innovation within the deep tech and technology transfer sectors.

Lucija Reić, professionally known as Luce, is a startup and disruptive technology enthusiast and the backbone of Infobip Startup Tribe. With years of experience working on different consultation projects, she knows all the tips and tricks when it comes to business development. Her current mission is to use this knowledge to help young startups navigate the rough sea of entrepreneurship. Whatever the Q, she has an A.

Michal Ciffra is a founding partner at DEPO Ventures, one of the most active first-ticket VC funds in Central and Eastern Europe, with a strong focus on fintech and deep tech. At DEPO, he leads investment strategy and portfolio development, supporting early-stage startups from pre-seed through their growth journey. Michal is an early investor in companies like Tatum.io, Flowpay,  and a co-founder of The FinTechers, an accelerator and CEE-wide fintech community designed to connect top fintech founders with banks, investors, and regulators. He is also a recognized mentor and angel syndicate leader, actively shaping the startup ecosystem across Europe.

Bernhard is the co-founder & CEO of IDCanopy, where they’re rethinking digital identity and onboarding.

Their UmbrellaID platform unites KYC, KYB, eSignatures, and eID into one seamless flow — built for conversion first, compliance always.

Bernhard brings 25 years of experience in payments & identity to help banks, telcos, and regulated businesses onboard faster, fight fraud, and build trust at scale.

Fernando Cabello-Astolfi is CEO and co-founder of Devengo, a regulated Spanish Payment Service Provider. Devengo specializes in instant account-to-account payments with direct participation in Iberpay’s clearing system, pioneering cross-border instant payment interlinking. Fernando is also an active fintech business angel with over 40 investments across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Lena Govedarica is the CEO and co-founder of Outpost Chess, an AI-powered chess platform with 96K+ users, redefining how people learn, compete, and earn through chess. She is a Woman International Master (WIM), certified FIDE Arbiter (FA), and FIDE Instructor (FI), a chess streamer, with extensive experience across competitive play, coaching, and international chess events, including European and World Championships, as well as Chess Olympiad. She has a heart for sports and a soul for singing.

Tibor is a serial entrepreneur specialising in finance, AI/ML, and data science. He is the founder of DigFin, a FinTech startup building a digital mortgage platform for banks and brokers, and is currently pursuing a European mortgage licence to enable EU-wide cross-border mortgage lending. In his free time, Tibor enjoys travelling, learning languages (eight fluently), and extreme sports such as skydiving and scuba diving.

Business development and growth leader with experience scaling teams across SaaS and FinTech. Yurii works as Chief of Growth at Spendbase, Director of Business Development at Chargebase, and Head of Growth at Mailerr, where he focuses on developing and improving growth strategies, expanding product presence and recognisability worldwide.

Over the past few years, Yurii has built and led high-performing SDR teams of 20+ people at Spendbase, Partnerway, and Belkins, helping companies turn outbound sales into a predictable growth channel. He believes strong processes and small teams can deliver big results – especially in fast-moving environments.

Cosmin Ochisor is a Partner at GapMinder VC with over a decade of experience in venture capital, specializing in early-stage deep-tech startups. Passionate about the CEE startup ecosystem, he actively mentors founders, connects them with investors and corporate partners, and supports various startup programs and events. Cosmin focuses on B2B, enterprise, and consumer-focused platforms, leveraging his expertise in software products. He led GapMinder’s Fund I investments in Frisbo, Smart Dreamers, Veridion, DeepStash, Machinations, Innoship, and Planable. Previously, he was an Investment Manager at Deutsche Telekom’s Hubraum.

Leading a team of engineers that built one of the first “everything apps” of DeFi, a crypto consumer app that is “so simple your grandma can use it”. Defi App’s innovations in account, chain, and gas abstraction and UX tailored for a broad retail audience attracted over 600,000 users and tens of billions in transaction volume, demonstrating clear retail demand for usable DeFi.

​Before Defi App, Ajdin worked on a range of DeFi protocols and products, spanning from real-world asset tokenization (RWA) products to lending protocols. With almost a decade of experience bringing finance on-chain, Ajdin witnessed the explosive development of financial innovations, and breakthrough use cases of DeFi, but also a spectrum of legal, technical, and UX constraints.

​With a Computer Science background and a career built in tech, Ajdin brings a deep technical perspective on DeFi, balanced by close proximity to product and users – challenging the industry’s tendency to mistake technical sophistication for real-world usability.

Filip is the co-founder and Co-CEO of Solflare, one of the largest Web3 wallets globally with 4M+ active users securing over $20B in assets. Solflare is building towards becoming a self-custodial neobank — a comprehensive financial suite that empowers anyone to earn, trade, and invest without gatekeepers, all with the simplicity and speed of modern finance apps.

Halid Musa is a technology leader with over a decade of experience building and operating centralized crypto exchanges and trading platforms. He has led engineering teams across exchange infrastructure, matching engines, risk and margin systems, and regulatory-aligned market operations.

Halid focuses on the evolution of exchanges as core financial infrastructure, working at the intersection of technology, market structure, and regulation.

Silvije Radišić is a Managing Partner at AYMO Ventures, a venture capital fund investing from pre-seed to Series A and beyond, with a focus on Croatia and the South-East Europe region. Prior to founding AYMO Ventures with his partners, Silvije spent over 20 years in investment banking at CreditAnstalt Investment Bank and UniCredit/Zagrebačka banka, where he led numerous flagship transactions across Croatia and South-East Europe, spanning mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets, and debt capital markets.

Tech Veteran ▪️ Serial Entrepreneur ▪️ Angel Investor ▪️ Former VC & Investment Banker

Francois is a seasoned tech entrepreneur, investor and a former investment banker.
After building 7 companies, joining the startup-to-NASDAQ IPO ride, experiencing one bankruptcy and everything in-between, Francois has a thing or ten to share.
He has raised over $200m for his startups, and has been mentoring startups for years, with an ability to be both very founder friendly and very direct, being known for his no-BS and practical approach.
His experience includes RealNetworks, Polycom, Symantec, The Cloud Wifi, and co-founding Speed Ventures, Europe’s first accelerator ($70m, 28 companies, 4 IPOs).

Iva Rakocevic is Senior Investment Manager at Elevator Ventures. She brings extensive international experience in Corporate Finance, M&A, and Venture Capital to the team.

Throughout her extensive career, she has played a key role in high-value transactions, guiding companies through complex financial landscapes and driving growth through strategic investments and partnerships.

Andrea Čordaš brings experience across entrepreneurship and venture capital, spanning technology venture building, executive leadership, and early-stage investing. 

She has worked across the innovation ecosystem, partnering with founders, investors, and operators to turn ideas into enduring businesses and help established companies grow through innovation.

At Hellen’s Rock, Andrea leads investments in venture capital funds and early-stage technology companies, combining strategic focus with practical support. 

She also serves as a non-executive director and mentors initiatives that advance technology, science, and economic empowerment.

Csongor Bias is the Managing Director of Startup Hungary, a grassroots community uniting 40+ local scaleup and post-exit founders alongside key ecosystem players to accelerate Hungary’s startup ecosystem. Before Startup Hungary, he launched one of the country’s most popular coworking hubs—an early home base where teams behind companies like Bitrise and SEON got started.

Across his career, Csongor has worked hands-on with founders through accelerator programs, organized major conferences, and helped connect talent, capital, and know-how across the region. Alongside his community-building work, he is active in early-stage investing, scouting for one of Europe’s largest VC funds and leading angel syndicates, often in collaboration with the Startup Hungary founder community.

Leonarda Degoricia is a GenAI Solution Architect at Nexi Group, Europe’s leading PayTech innovator. With a background in fintech and payments, she has been driving AI powered transformation by combining hands on expertise in data analytics, intelligent automation and workflow design.

Passionate about advancing practical AI, she helps shape Nexi’s enterprise AI strategy by designing compliant, scalable, and impact driven solutions across key domains by turning complex operational challenges into AI native workflows, pushing the boundaries of how modern financial organizations adopt and trust AI.

Damir Kopljar is the Head of AI at CROZ, where he focuses on applying artificial intelligence to solve complex business challenges in enterprise environments. With a background in computer science and business administration, he bridges technical innovation with business strategy, ensuring that AI initiatives deliver real, measurable impact.
Over the years, he has led projects including real-time fraud detection systems for financial institutions, AI platforms for anomaly detection, and the training of custom LLM models for manufacturing companies. His primary focus is on industrializing AI: bringing models from prototypes to stable, production-ready systems that consistently create value.
At CROZ, he leads a team dedicated to transforming data and ideas into reliable, scalable AI products. He is passionate about making AI practical, explainable, and sustainable, helping organizations move beyond experimentation and fully embed AI into their operations.

Božidar Pavlović is an electrical engineer who, quite surprisingly, found his calling in banking. Since the late ’90s, when he led the successful implementation of card operations at PBZ (Intesa Sanpaolo), he’s driven innovation in cards and payments—serving as IT Director at American Express, Management Board Member at Intesa Sanpaolo Card (later Nexi Croatia), and ultimately CEO of Erste Group Card Processor.

Beyond corporate roles, Božidar helped with fintech adoption across the region, connecting startups with banks. As COO/CTO of fintech Oradian, he experienced the startup world firsthand – today, he mentors at multiple incubators, speaks regularly at fintech conferences, lectures at universities, and occasionally helps with the operations of Cro Startup, Croatia’s startup association. He’s now a Partner at AYMO Ventures, backing early-stage and growth companies throughout Croatia and the region.

Nikola Uzelac is the co-founder of Stampt, a high-performance fintech platform built for instant global transfers, frictionless spending, and wealth growth. Designed to serve the Balkan corridor and emerging markets, Stampt allows users to move money across borders in seconds and immediately access those funds via instantly issued virtual cards.
Nikola’s expertise in financial infrastructure was forged at Gemini, American Express, the broker-dealer Clear Street, and the YC-backed Magna. Alongside co-founder Thomas Forrest (formerly of Stripe and Ramp), we are scaling Stampt to eventually include high-performance savings and investment accounts, transforming the platform into a comprehensive financial engine for both individuals and businesses

Jürgen Schaaf is a financial expert specializing in financial economics and digital payments. He serves as an Adviser in the Market Infrastructure & Payments department at the European Central Bank (ECB). Since joining the ECB in 2012, he has held several key positions, including Counsellor to the Executive Board and Secretary of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) Project Team. Before his tenure at the ECB, Schaaf was a Personal Adviser to the Governor of Banque centrale du Luxembourg, an ECB watcher at Börsen-Zeitung, and a Senior Economist at Deutsche Bank.  He started his career as economist at Deutsche Bundesbank.

Schaaf holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Phillips University Marburg and studied economics in Marburg and Canterbury (UK). His research focuses on the intersection of traditional finance and emerging digital technologies, particularly in the context of European monetary policy and financial systems. He is writing on topics such as the future of digital payments in the Eurozone, cryptocurrencies and stablecoins or the digital euro. He is a frequent contributor to the ECB’s blog.

Sašo Knap is a Special Advisor for Business‑Technical Solutions at Bankart, providing business-technical colsulting and Support to financial institutions in adopting Bankart’s services building value‑added payment services. He previously led Bankart’s Issuing Business Unit (2016–25), overseeing card issuance, card account services and card authorization/value‑added features. He coordinated major issuer migrations and collaborated on delivering innovations including contactless rollout, HCE/mobile wallets, instant (digital) issuing, PCI DSS compliant digital PIN distribution, lifecycle/user management, and AML/KYC‑aligned prepaid card product. He also contributed in delivering eIDAS‑certified, agnostic Rekono digital ID onboarding based on card PIN. In 2025, he spoke at the Bankart Shield Forum on transaction risk and fraud prevention, domain expertise with advanced analytics and machine‑learning‑assisted detection to improve decisioning and deliver a better customer experience.

Samo Kumar is the Chief Executive Officer of Bankart d.o.o., a leading provider of payment processing services and financial infrastructure in the region. Samo brings extensive leadership experience and a successful career in the technology and financial sectors. Prior to joining Bankart, he served as Chief Executive Officer of IBM Slovenia, where he successfully led the company through key transformations, with a strong focus on innovation, digitalization, and the development of business solutions. Under his leadership, IBM Slovenia strengthened its market position and made a significant contribution to technological advancement across various industries.

Kumar’s career includes strategic leadership roles in the technology sector, supported by a deep understanding of digital transformation, operational excellence, and corporate strategy.For his achievements, Kumar received the prestigious Best Young Manager of the Year 2024 award, confirming his leadership excellence and impact within the industry. He also serves as Vice Governor of AmCham Slovenia.

Marko Škreb is a former Governor of the Croatian National Bank and an international central banking strategist who bridges two eras of monetary history: the transition from state-led economies to independent central banking, and today’s shift toward digital finance and systemic complexity.

As Governor (1996–2000), he helped anchor macroeconomic stabilization in post-transition Croatia, modernized monetary instruments, strengthened institutional independence, and oversaw deep banking sector restructuring while maintaining financial stability. Since then, he has advised central banks across Europe and Africa as an IMF long-term expert and international consultant, guiding reforms in inflation targeting, governance design, research capacity, and crisis resilience.

His work increasingly focuses on how credibility, institutional architecture, and human capital determine whether central banks can remain anchors of stability in an age of digital currencies, regulatory overload, geopolitical fragmentation, and AI-driven financial transformation.

Liana Keserić began her career at Raiffeisen Bank in the then Transaction Services Sector. She soon took on her first managerial position as Head of the Client Relations Department for Transaction Services, and in 2015, she joined the RBA Management Board as the person responsible for IT, Security, Operational Services, Process and Project Management, as well as Procurement and General Affairs. When she was elected President of the RBA Management Board in 2020, Liana Keserić became the first woman to hold that position in one of the major banks in Croatia. Her third term, which began in 2024, only confirms Liana’s success at the helm of Raiffeisen Bank, during which she led the bank through its largest project in history – the transition to the euro. The focus of this term remains on customer satisfaction and employee care, which are at the core of Raiffeisen Bank’s operations in Croatia.

Board Member of Croatian Postal Bank since 2023 in charge of Direct Channels (Mobile & Internet Banking, ATMs, web, credit card business), Payments and Transactions, Business Support, Information Technology (IT), and Organization & Project Management. Currently leading strategic digital transformation of Croatian Postal Bank from the position of a COO.

Throughout more than 20 years of professional experience in financial industry held senior positions at an industry leader in insurance, advisor to the minister for pension funds in the Government of Croatia, served as a delegate of Croatia to the OECD. 

Holding graduate and postgraduate degree from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb, Executive MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and London Business School (EMBA Global – joint program) and Executive Certificate in Digital Business Excellence from the Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Currently finishing Executive Certificate in Technology and Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School.

Henry has been in the ETF business for over 20 years beginning as an ETF arbitrage trader in 2000 at a hedge fund in Chicago. He then joined State Street SPDRs in Boston as an ETF developer for the U.S. and Latin American markets, and then BlackRock iShares in San Francisco launching ETFs for Canada and the U.S. Henry joined Bloomberg in 2022 and is based in Geneva, Swtizerland.

Driving the AI strategy at Infobip, leading cross-functional teams and global go-to-market initiatives to bring innovative products in the cloud communication industry from concept to launch. Experienced in product development, software engineering and business development, with a track record in launching zero-to-one products, defining long-term vision, and applying models such as Product-Led-Growth (PLG) and Product-Led-Sales (PLS).

In July 2012, Mr Vujčić became Governor of the Croatian National Bank for a six-year term of office and was re-appointed for another six-year term of office in July 2018. On July 2024 he was re-appointed for his third term of office

Mr Vujčić has been a Deputy Chief Negotiator in Republic of Croatia’s negotiations with the European Union 2005-2012. He was also a member of the Global Development Network (GDN) Board in the same period, 2005-2012, and a member of the Steering Committee of the ESRB in the period between 2016-2019. 

He has been a Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Vienna Initiative 2.0 since 2016, a member of the General Council of the ECB and a member of the General Board of the ESRB since 2013. Since January 1st, 2023 Governor Vujčić is a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.

Mr Vujčić won recognitions as the best governor in Central and Eastern Europe by Emerging Markets magazine in 2018, as well as the best world governor by The Banker (Financial Times) in 2019, and in 2021, he was rewarded with the Lamfalussy Award for lifetime achievement in the field of finance. 

Boris Vujčić holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Zagreb. He has been an associate professor at the Zagreb Faculty of Economics since 2003. At the Zagreb Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics, he has lectured as a visiting professor since 2004. 

Berislav Tomašić is a senior business and technology leader with over 15 years of experience in enterprise IT, consulting, and business unit management. He currently serves as Director of Business Unit at ASEE Solutions, where he leads enterprise content and process management solutions for financial institutions, public sector organizations, and large enterprises.

Throughout his career, Berislav has worked across technical, consulting, and executive roles, combining hands-on delivery experience with strategic leadership and financial responsibility. He has led multidisciplinary teams and managed complex portfolios in highly regulated environments, with a strong focus on execution quality and long-term client value.

His expertise spans digital transformation initiatives, enterprise solution design, and BPM and DMS platforms. Berislav is particularly passionate about execution – cutting through complexity, aligning people and technology, and making transformation work in real organizations.

Alexandra Soroko is Senior Director, Growth Products & Partnerships at Visa. Today Alexandra drives crypto and stablecoin initiatives in Europe. She is at the forefront of Visa’s efforts to bridge traditional finance with the next generation of digital money, helping shape the company’s global stablecoins strategy.

She brings over a decade of international experience in payments across Europe and CEMEA, with a focus on global merchants, value-added services, and strategic partnerships. Her background spans financial services and tech, including roles at JPMorgan Chase, Cisco Systems and Diebold Nixdorf.

Dajana Barbić is an Associate Professor at the Department of Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, with more than fifteen years of experience in teaching, research, and financial literacy development. Her work focuses on public finance, personal finance, and financial education, with a strong emphasis on strengthening citizens’ financial resilience. She earned her PhD in 2014 with a dissertation exploring the relationship between financial literacy and successful personal financial management. She actively contributes to educational initiatives aimed at empowering young people and women to make informed financial decisions and serves as a national financial literacy ambassador within an EU initiative promoting financial knowledge and resilience. She is the recipient of the “Dr. Pero Jurković” award and the Zagreb Stock Exchange Academy recognition for her contribution to capital market education, and the author of numerous scientific and professional publications in the field of financial and tax literacy.

Product marketing leader with 15+ years of experience in digital transformation and automation. As Group Product Marketing Lead at Nexi Group, he drives the eCommerce strategy and value propositions across markets, fostering growth through innovation and customer focus. Background in fintech, SaaS, and AI, with experience in product marketing and consulting on marketing strategy and AI training.

Stjepan Škara is a Croatian professional with a background in economics and business. He studied at the Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb, where he focused on business, finance, and organizational management. Through his academic path, he developed a strong interest in business development, strategic planning, and the intersection of finance and modern industries. He currently works as a Sales Manager for Money Motion FinTech, one of the largest financial technology events in Central and Eastern Europe.Stjepan Škara is a Croatian professional with a background in economics and business. He studied at the Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb, where he focused on business, finance, and organizational management. Through his academic path, he developed a strong interest in business development, strategic planning, and the intersection of finance and modern industries. He currently works as a Sales Manager for Money Motion FinTech, one of the largest financial technology events in Central and Eastern Europe.

Dr Iva Hraste Sočo, General Manager (Intendant) of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, graduated in solo singing from the Academy of Music in Zagreb and earned her PhD at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. As a soprano soloist of the Croatian National Theatre Opera, she performed 27 leading roles and appeared on both national and international stages.

From 2005 to 2009, she served as Cultural Advisor at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Vienna, and later held several senior positions at the Croatian Ministry of Culture and Media, including Assistant Minister for International Cultural Cooperation and Cultural Development. She is also a university lecturer at the Academy of Dramatic Art, the Academy of Music, and the Diplomatic Academy of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Since 1 September 2022, she has been serving as General Manager of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, and in 2025 she was reappointed for a new term (2026–2030). During her leadership, the Theatre has become a recognised centre of excellence in cultural management, marked by outstanding artistic achievements, numerous awards, and strong financial performance.

Born in 1983 in Croatia, Alojzije Janković is an accomplished chess Grandmaster who earned his title in 2006 and has since become a prominent figure in the chess world. A multiple-time cadet and junior Croatian chess champion, he claimed the national championship title in 2015 and has triumphed in numerous international tournaments. As a member of the Croatian national team, he contributed to their shared 3rd-place finish at the 2017 European Team Championship.
Beyond his competitive success, he holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Zagreb and a Professional Sports Manager Specialist title, where he was recognized as the best student of the year. He is a certified FIDE trainer and has authored several influential works, including The Grandmaster Mindset (2020) and contributions to major chess publications like New In Chess Yearbooks.
His media presence is extensive—he has hosted the Croatian TV show “Chess Commentary” for over a decade and has provided expert commentary at prestigious international events, including the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Monaco 2025.
As a leader in chess administration, he serves as the European Chess Union Vice President and has played a key role in organizing major European chess events while promoting the game through charity tournaments and public engagement initiatives.

Damjan Rudež is a former professional basketball player from Zagreb, Croatia.
Over his 18-year career, he played for 14 teams across seven countries, including
the Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Orlando Magic in the NBA. As
a member of the Croatian national team, he represented his country at major
international tournaments, including the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the 2015
FIBA World Cup in Spain, and multiple European Championships and
Mediterranean Games.
After retiring from professional basketball in 2021, Rudež transitioned into the
business world, founding DR9 International Sports & Media, a sports consulting
company. He is also the Director of the annual Sunset Sports Festival in Zadar,
Croatia.
In addition, he serves as Senior Advisor for Global Partnerships at Sofascore,
where he focuses on building strategic international relationships, developing new
business opportunities, and connecting sports organizations, federations, and
commercial partners on a global level.
Currently, he is pursuing further education at SDA Bocconi Business School in
Milan and the University of Kinesiology in Zagreb, expanding his expertise in
sports management and business.

Alen Delić has over 15 years of experience in information security, with a particular focus on strategic management. He currently serves as a Chief Information Security Officer and is also the Deputy President of the Croatian Association of Security Managers. preved

Ivana Herceg Batić is the Director of Retail Marketing and Loyalty at INA, leading marketing strategy for over 400 retail sites across Croatia. She drives brand development for INA’s retail fuel portfolio and the Fresh Corner gastro concept, while overseeing the INA Loyalty programme, now with more than 800,000 members. With 20+ years of experience in FMCG and retail, Ivana has held senior marketing roles at The Coca-Cola Company, Cedevita (Atlantic Grupa), and Nestlé, delivering award-winning brand strategies, product launches, and consumer engagement campaigns. Recognised as Retail Marketing Head of the Year 2023 within MOL Group, she combines strategic vision with strong execution. Ivana holds an Executive MBA from Corvinus University of Budapest and Maastricht University.

Goran Katušić is the Head of Business Development at Electrocoin. With over 17 years of experience in sales, he has held various roles within the financial and tech industries. Before joining the crypto industry, Goran served as the Head of Sales at Raiffeisen Pension Funds, his background also includes managing marketing strategies and running his own business. Today, he focuses on growing Electrocoin’s presence by connecting traditional business practices with new financial technologies.

Nikola Mehandžić is a board member of the leading electronic payments platform in the Balkan region – Monri Payments, which enables merchants and their customers to experience practical payments, as well as a member of the International Financial Corporation (IFC) team working on the development of the digital financial services and the integrated finance market. With over 19 years of international experience in Serbia and the Southeast Europe region in the field of cashless payments, digital banking and fintech industry, gained in commercial companies such as Payoneer, Mastercard and First Data, Nikola has gained excellent insight into the application of new solutions for digital payments and the importance of innovation in the financial sector.

Andrija Raičević is a senior growth strategist operating at the intersection of crypto, fintech, and SaaS. At Streamflow, he leads growth and go-to-market initiatives focused on scaling token infrastructure, ecosystem adoption, and sustainable revenue expansion. His work centers on strategic positioning, narrative design, ecosystem partnerships, and building integrated growth engines that combine product, community, and distribution. With a strong focus on measurable impact, he specializes in turning complex decentralized technologies into clear market advantages and scalable growth systems.

Dime Galapchev is the Co-Founder and CEO of FinqUP, a compliance-first AI infrastructure company serving regulated financial institutions. With over 12 years of experience in fintech, AI, and digital product architecture, he leads the vision and development of FinqUP CARE OS — a unified AI operating system that automates front-, middle-, and back-office operations for asset managers, insurance companies, banks, Telcos and Regulators

Under his leadership, FinqUP has secured enterprise clients managing over $1B in assets and is building the infrastructure layer that enables regulated entities and regulators to adopt AI responsibly while turning compliance into a growth engine

Vid is an associate at Silicon Gardens, a regional “founders for founders” VC fund ran and supported by ex and current founders.  Silicon Gardens backs early-stage startups and founders with clear vision, big aspirations, and unique ideas that scale.

With prior experience of building startups, working at startups and finally setting up BIRD Incubator from scratch, Vid brings a valuable new perspective to investing and the startup ecosystem. On top of that, he also co-founded KUT, a community built to help young academic talent grow by providing an interdisciplinary environment, mentorship, support, and access to resources – further pushing the entrepreneur/founder narrative.

Igor Madžov is a tech entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Finqup, a compliance-first AI infrastructure company helping regulated financial institutions across Europe adopt AI securely, responsibly, and at scale. Through Finqup, he works at the intersection of regulation, capital markets, and applied AI for asset managers, insurers, and banks.

He is also President of Startup Macedonia and Founder of NEST, where he has mentored 400+ startups and facilitated more than €35M in funding by designing and implementing investment and market readiness programs across the Western Balkans.

At Money Motion, Igor will share insights on investing in emerging markets and the accelerating digital transformation of the financial sector across Macedonia and the broader CEE region.

Milan Parat is executive director of the Cybersecurity, Antifraud, BCM and Corporate Security Department and Chief Security Officer of the PBZ Group, one of the largest banking groups in Croatia and in the region.

He started his career in 1994. at Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ). In 1997, he started dealing with the information security and became the head of the Information Security Office in PBZ. 

Under his leadership, the security systems of Privredna banka Zagreb’s card business, telephone and Internet banking, payment transactions and PKI infrastructure, as well as other security systems of the Bank, have been implemented.

Since 2008, Milan Parat has been the executive director of the Cybersecurity, Antifraud, BCM and Corporate Security Department and Chief Security Officer of the PBZ Group.

In addition, since 2012. he is Chairman of the Security Committee of the Croatian Banking Association. Since 2014. he is Croatian representative in the European Banking Federation – Cyber Security Expert Group. 

Marin Šušnjar joined the Wolt Croatia team in 2019, first as RPM (Sales Manager), then as RDM TL (Development and Account Management Team Lead), and in 2021, he became General Manager. During his studies, he began his professional career through the Erasmus+ programme at the Madrid office of Bloom Consulting. After returning to Croatia and graduating, he continued his career in the tourism sector — initially at the Ministry of Tourism, and later at Booking.com. During the same period, he also educated professors and professional associates on tourism agency business operations at the Faculty of Tourism in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Alongside his professional career, Šušnjar has built an outstanding sports legacy in ITF taekwondo and kickboxing. He is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the Republic of Croatia — a senior world and European champion in ITF taekwondo, a junior world and European champion in kickboxing, a multiple-time Croatian national champion in both sports, and a winner of numerous European Cups and international competitions.

Dwayne Gefferie is a payments strategist with over 20 years of experience in payments and AI. As the first data scientist at Adyen, he helped build foundational analytics capabilities that contributed to the company’s growth toward their €20B IPO. Through his newsletter (7,000+ subscribers) and LinkedIn presence (30,000+ followers), he specializes in bringing emerging payments innovations into industry conversations, with a current focus on agentic commerce.

Damir Čaušević is an entrepreneur and CEO of Monri Payments, a leading payment service provider in Southeast Europe. Čaušević co-founded Monri Payments in 2017, which has grown rapidly thanks to its innovative solutions. In 2022, with a group of fintech enthusiasts, Damir co-founded Money Motion, the largest fintech conference in the region. His achievements have significantly impacted the fintech industry in Croatia and Southeast Europe, and his leadership and commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation will continue to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs.

Zoran Balkić is a Croatian computer scientist and blockchain specialist known for his work in blockchain technology, academic research, and crypto education. He holds a Master of Science degree and has an academic background in computer science, including teaching and research roles.
Zoran Balkic is active in the cryptocurrency space, especially Bitcoin and blockchain education and technology.

Mario Gigović (b. 1993, Labin) holds a BA in Production and a Master’s degree in Performing Arts Production from the Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb, as well as an MBA from Cotrugli Business School. He began his career as a creative producer and consultant, working on international projects across the cultural, creative and technology sectors, including initiatives ranging from performing arts production to blockchain-based projects and complex investment developments. In the 2022/2023 season, he joined the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, where he focused on improving production and organisational processes within the Opera Directorate. In November 2024, he was appointed Creative Director of the Production Office. In this role, he leads strategic coordination between artistic, production and management teams, contributing to organisational development, audience growth and the modernisation of theatre practices in Croatia.

Goran Ćudina is the Head of Delivery and Customer Success at Robotiq.ai, where he leads the delivery of RPA and AI solutions, helping organizations unlock the full potential of their people through intelligent automation.

He began his career in 2007 and brings nearly two decades of experience in IT, project management, and process optimization. Goran specializes in turning complex operational challenges into measurable business outcomes.

His focus goes beyond technology — he works at the intersection of automation, AI, and human capability, ensuring that digital workers eliminate repetitive tasks and enable employees to focus on higher-value, strategic work.

He has led initiatives across financial services, telecom, and hospitality industries, combining deep process analysis with practical implementation to make organizations more efficient, scalable, and resilient

Hajdi Ćenan is the President of CRO STARTUP, the Croatian startup ecosystem association, and Co-founder of the AI deep-tech startup airt, which was acquired in 2025 by U.S. healthcare AI company Synthpop, where she continues to work on advancing AI agent technologies. An active advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship, she works on strengthening Croatia’s startup ecosystem and connecting it with European networks. Hajdi is a frequent speaker on artificial intelligence, startups, and innovation, and has been recognized among the Top 100 most influential businesswomen and STEM entrepreneurs in Croatia. She also represents the Croatian startup community at the European level and serves on the Board of the European Startup Network.

Peter Balogh is an entrepreneur and investor, founder and CEO of STRT Holding, one of the region’s most active early stage investors with close to a hundred investments. He’s also known for his role as a Shark on the Hungarian version of Shark Tank. With a passion for supporting and mentoring startups, he built and exited NNG, a global leader in navigation systems. He began his tech career early, starting programming at the age of seven, and later co-founded one of the first mobile gaming companies. Today, Peter focuses on helping entrepreneurs grow and succeed.

Vlad Andriescu is the editor-in-chief of start-up.ro, the main source of information on startups in Romania. Vlad has been following the local startup ecosystem for the past few years and is more interested in failures than success stories because he considers there’s more to be learned from the sincerity of a defeat. Vlad Andriescu runs startup.ro, widely considered Romania’s most vibrant platform for startup news and stories. Since launching the site in 2015 to cover tech startups, Vlad has expanded the scope to include SMEs, consumer tech, and real entrepreneurial journeys. His platform connects entrepreneurs and investors, offers thoughtful mentoring, and combines storytelling with practical guidance and technology- focused content. He keeps an active presence through video interviews and reviews, engaging the ecosystem on multiple levels.

Stefan Martinić is a lawyer with strong international education and experience, having completed legal studies at institutions including Harvard Law School, the London School of Economics and the University of Zagreb. He worked as a Cyberlaw Clinician at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard and completed professional placements at the European Parliament and the Court of Justice of the European Union. Before founding his own law firm in November 2024, he spent five years working at leading law firms in Zagreb. While covering a broad range of legal areas in his daily practice, his main focus lies on European Union law and legal challenges at the intersection of technology and regulation, including data protection, artificial intelligence, blockchain and intellectual property. He is a member of the supervisory board of CroAI and part of the working group of the Croatian Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation responsible for drafting the national law implementing the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.

Emina Kolarević Čaušević is an international law scholar and human rights expert working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital governance and fundamental rights protection.
She studied International Relations at John Cabot University in Rome and completed postgraduate studies in International Law at the University of Westminster in London. She holds a Master’s degree from the European Regional Master’s Programme in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe (a joint programme of the University of Bologna and the University of Sarajevo). She is currently pursuing doctoral research in international law at the University of Belgrade, focusing on the legal implications of AI on the enjoyment of human rights, including issues of privacy, non-discrimination, transparency, and accountability.

Her professional career began at the Office of the Agent of Montenegro before the European Court of Human Rights, where she worked on cases brought against the state and participated in processes concerning the execution of ECtHR judgments before the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. She later worked in the civil society sector on projects related to non-discrimination, freedom of expression, digital rights and data protection. She was also engaged in legal education as a teaching associate in International Public Law and International Human Rights Law at the Faculty of Law for Commerce and Judiciary in Belgrade.

Emina is currently part of the law firm “Ana Đukanović” in Podgorica, where she leads the human rights practice. Her work bridges academic research and regulatory practice, bringing a human rights perspective to contemporary debates on AI governance, compliance, and responsible innovation.

As Board Member at the Austrian Central Bank, Oesterrreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), Josef is responsible for Payments, Financial Literacy and IT. He is a member of the ECB High-Level Task Force on the Digital Euro, chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Austrian Mint, member of the Supervisory Board of the Austrian Financial Market Authority and member of the Clube of Rome – Austrian chapter.
Before joining OeNB’s Governing Board, his professional focus was on banking supervision and regulation: He was head of OeNB’s Supervision Policy, Regulation and Strategy Division. Previously, he was SSM Coordinator and head of the on-site inspection team tasked with the prevention of money laundering at the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA). At the Central Bank of Ireland, he joined the Markets Policy Division for two years.
He holds a degree in economics from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, specializing in investment banking and capital market communication.

Srđan Košutić is a senior fintech and banking executive with international experience at the intersection of technology, financial services, and payments. In August 2025, he joined Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) as the Chief Transformation Officer for Payment Acceptance, where he is driving the Group’s new Payment Acceptance strategy and a large-scale business transformation.

Before joining RBI, Srđan held various C‑level roles at a fast-growing Milan-based fintech scale-up in the fraud prevention space. He previously spent more than 13 years in several international positions within the UniCredit Group, covering areas such as asset securitization, strategic transactions, and global transaction banking. He holds a Master’s Degree in Quantitative Finance from Bocconi University in Milan.

Jozo Džakula has been serving as Head of IT for Retail at Fortenova Group within mStart plus since 2025, following his role as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Konzum from 2012 to 2025 — one of the leading retail chains in the region — where he led digital transformation strategy and the technological development of retail operations.

With over 20 years of experience in IT and information systems management within the retail sector, he has played a key role in modernizing business processes and implementing innovative technologies.

He is recognized for a highly practical approach to deploying advanced IT solutions in retail, including projects based on artificial intelligence and digital automation of the shopping experience.

His professional focus includes IT organization and process management, business process optimization, development of digital services, and the implementation of new business models in a rapidly evolving retail environment.

Marina Meštrović Zdunić, MSc EE, EMBA is a fintech business developer specializing in payment acceptance service and infrastructure specialized for unattended and automated retail. Leading Payment services vertical at Intis, she manages product development of scalable acquiring and payment acceptance solution that enable vending, self-service, EV charging, and other unattended formats to access advanced financial services.
With her engineering background, combined with product management and business development experience, Marina worked and launched multiple payment solutions — including POS-based digital product sales, closed-loop card and loyalty programs, fully integrated cashless ecosystems for large-scale public events and today unattended payment acceptance. Her work focuses on bridging regulation, technology, and commercial execution to build sustainable payment acceptance services across global markets.

With 20 years of experience in the banking and payments industry, Claudia Cruceru is currently Head of Visa Direct for Central and Eastern Europe.

In her role, she is managing and growing Visa’s money movement product and solutions, including Visa Direct Card, Account and Wallet, Visa Cross Border Solutions and B2B Connect with the purpose of expanding Visa’s footprint into new areas like transaction banking, cash management and remittance infrastructure across 8 markets from the CEE region.

Before joining Visa, Claudia was part of a leading European Banking Group and worked in various geographies in Austria, Italy and Germany. In the last 5 years prior to Visa, Claudia had various management roles in product development and business strategy in consumer finance, retail products and payments in Romania.

Dina Hrastović is Head of Content for Money Motion. She is a former board member of the Croatian Association for AI – CroAI, where she actively contributes to the development of the AI community with a focus on the responsible application of technology in business, media, and beyond. Her expertise is rooted in her daily work in the marketing industry as the Head of TG Studio, the in-house creative agency of Telegram, and as an educator in the application of generative AI. Her extensive background in media provides a strong foundation for addressing social and economic challenges in a tech-driven environment.

Fintech executive with over 15 years of leadership experience spanning payments, banking technology, and digital financial services. Currently serves as Chief Revenue Officer and Board Member at Field39, a white-label SaaS payment gateway and transaction switching provider partnering with major players across global markets.

Experience spans both strategic and technical dimensions—from revenue strategy and partnership development to hands-on implementation of payment infrastructure and compliance frameworks. Background includes solution sales, pre-sales management, product ownership and C-level management roles across the SEE region.

Published author in leading industry publications.

Ana Zovko is the Executive Director for Digital Business and IT at Croatia Osiguranje, where she leads key strategic initiatives in technology and innovation. She oversees the development of digital customer channels, including Croatia Osiguranje’s webshop and mobile application, as well as the company’s digital-first brand, LAQO. Her work is focused on driving digital transformation, enhancing customer experience, and integrating cutting-edge technologies into the traditional insurance sector.
Recognized as one of the leading experts in digital innovation within the insurance industry, Ana has been instrumental in implementing new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to modernize business operations. Before joining Croatia Osiguranje, she built a successful career in the telecommunications sector, achieving significant results in digitalization, marketing, strategy, and human resources at Hrvatski Telekom.
Ana holds a master’s degree from the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb, where she also completed an MBA program. Additionally, she earned a master’s degree in International Management and Marketing from Leeds Metropolitan University.

A venture capitalist and angel investor with a PhD in Engineering from Cambridge, Stan specializes in empowering early-stage Web3 startups. At V3V Ventures, he leads business development, deal sourcing and structuring, while mentoring founders. His track record includes 100+ investment and partnership deals across Web3 with a previous leadership role at Kyros Ventures.

Igor Gržalja is the President of the Management Board of the IT company ASEE Solutions Croatia and co-founder of the Money Motion. He is a manager with more than 20 years of experience gained through various roles in the IT sector, including software design and development, project management, team leadership and organizational development, as well as business development and sales.

After graduating from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb, he chose to pursue a career in engineering, holding various positions from Software Developer to Solution Architect at Hewlett-Packard. He participated in the development of applications for robotic systems, later working in the field of cryptography and contact center solutions. His interest in innovation led him to transition into Business Development, followed by Sales Management.

From 2013 to 2017, he led a sales team operating across 8 countries, responsible for selling ASEE’s proprietary banking software and solutions. Since 2017, he has been leading ASEE Solutions Croatia. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its operations to 23 countries, achieving continuous growth in revenue and profit, primarily driven by international markets.

Robert Markuš is the Director of Smartis Croatia and an experienced business leader with extensive international expertise in business development, organisational leadership and the management of complex transformation projects across financial, industrial and IT environments. His career is defined by the ability to connect technology, people and business strategy to create measurable value and long-term organisational sustainability.

A strong advocate of lifelong learning and continuous professional development, he is recognised for his adaptability to change and his ability to translate new concepts into innovative, operationally viable solutions that improve processes and organisational efficiency.

Throughout his career, he has led major projects and business initiatives within financial institutions, the IT industry and the manufacturing sector, with a particular focus on building business practices, process optimisation and developing high-performing teams. He has a proven track record of delivering projects under tight deadlines while maintaining high levels of client satisfaction through strategic partnership and a deep understanding of business needs.

His areas of expertise include IT security, IT Service Management (ITSM), business development, Smart Energy and fintech initiatives. His professional experience spans multiple industries, including energy, banking and finance, outsourcing, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and smart urban systems.

Marko Bogdan is the creator and host of the YouTube channel “Podcast O Novcu,” one of the fastest-growing personal finance channels in Croatia. Through long-form videos and short educational formats, he covers a wide range of financial topics relevant to everyone – from budgeting, saving, and everyday money decisions to pensions, inflation, housing, and, among other things, investing. His goal is not to speak only to investors, but to anyone who wants to better understand how money works in real life.

Marko has built a loyal audience interested in financial literacy and long-term financial stability. Marko combines professional experience in asset management with clear, direct communication, making complex financial concepts understandable and practical. His mission is simple: help people take control of their money and make informed decisions with confidence.

Iva is a senior product and business leader with over a decade of experience across payments, telecommunications, and digital ecosystems. She began her career in the payment industry and today leads Product Marketing & Business Development at A1 Croatia.

Iva leads 25+ experts responsible for product strategy, core telecom propositions (mobile, fixed, TV), digital platforms, and G2M execution. She also develops new revenue streams through partnerships in entertainment, security, insurance, and fintech, integrating diverse payment models into scalable commercial propositions.

Her focus is simple: reduce friction in complex systems. Combining payments expertise with telecom-scale ecosystems, she brings a practical perspective on why micropayments in Europe are often “broken by design” — and how to make them seamless and truly user-centric.

Senior regulatory and product expert with international experience across the European Commission, European Central Bank, and private sector. Currently leading research and strategy at Blockchain for Europe. Erwin also works as a senior advisor to governments, EU institutions, and industry leaders on digital asset policy, product development, and the business implications of tokenization on capital markets. Trusted for high-level and strategic input, working at the intersection of innovation and policymaking. Helping shape forward-looking frameworks that enable growth while safeguarding market stability. A frequent speaker at global forums, leading cross-sector initiatives to future-proof financial ecosystems.

Berkay leads Eastern Europe at Base (incubated by Coinbase), driving the regional expansion of one of the most rapidly expanding Layer 2 ecosystems. He is a growth-focused operator with a background spanning high-growth startups, global technology companies, and digital asset infrastructure. 

Prior to Base, Berkay held growth and market development roles at Circle, contributing to the expansion of global internet-native financial infrastructure USDC  . Earlier in his career, he built a strong data-driven growth foundation at Lyft and gained international scaling experience at Delivery Hero, after starting in early-stage startups. 

Berkay brings a practical perspective on how transformative technologies, from marketplaces to financial infrastructure, move from innovation to real-world adoption, scale across regions, and reshape user behavior.

Anthony is Head of Marketing at VeChain, bringing 20 years’ experience in growth strategy, marketing, and emerging technology delivery. ‘He has significant experience in driving technology-led transformation for enterprises and has focused exclusively on Blockchain technology since 2016.
Anthony has held leadership roles for organizations such as Deloitte, IBM, and Parity Technologies (the engineering organization behind Polkadot), has been recognized by LinkedIn as a ‘Top Voice’ for Innovation & Technology, and hosts the Blockchain Won’t Save the World podcast.

Vid spent recent years at Raiffeisen Bank International in Group Strategy, dealing with emerging technologies, with a particular focus on leading the bank’s initiatives on CBDCs and new forms of money. He spearheaded the ground-up development of Qivalis – a EUR stablecoin issuer owned by European banks – and now serves as Head of Institutional Partnerships there.

Zvonimir Mavretić is a seasoned techie with over two decades of experience in business process management, digitalization, AI, document and records management, and intranet solutions. In addition to his role as BPM International Delivery Director, he was recently appointed Engineering Director, where he is responsible for shaping engineering strategy, driving technical excellence across delivery teams, and aligning architecture, processes, and people to deliver scalable, high-quality enterprise solutions.

An alumnus of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Zvonimir combines strong technical foundations and hands-on experience with practical leadership experience. During his formal education, he developed a particular interest in software development, and his career began early when he co-founded his first start-up as a student. Despite more than 20 years in management roles across leading IT companies, he remains deeply passionate about software development—and still loves to code.

Director of Regulatory Affairs and EU Funding Department at A1 Croatia, with over 20 years of professional experience in the electronic communications sector and related industries. She holds a law degree from the University of Zagreb, a Master’s degree in EU Competition Law from King’s College London, and an MBA in General Finance from the Swiss School of Business Management (SSBM).

She leads a team responsible for sector-specific (ex ante) regulation and broader (ex post) competition law matters, covering a wide range of business support areas — from wholesale and retail electronic communications markets to energy, cybersecurity, digital and media services, as well as ESG strategy implementation. Her role also includes overseeing the effective use of EU funding to support business processes and strategic initiatives, along with managing communication with national and EU public institutions.

She actively participates in industry working groups, including the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), Croatian Chamber of Economy, AmCham, FIC and XEnergy. Within HUP, she serves as Head of the Telecommunications and Connectivity Working Group, Vice-Chair of the HUP ICT Executive Board and Lead of the Cybersecurity Coordination.

Vedran Antoljak is a business advisor specialising in strategic management, the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in business, and regulatory reform, with over 30 years of experience. Throughout his career, he has advised 22 governments and numerous companies across Croatia, Europe, Asia and the Middle East on structural reforms, digital transformation, public administration modernisation and AI adoption in business. His work has been recognised by organisations such as the OECD, the World Bank and the European Union, as well as by a wide range of international, regional and Croatian companies of all sizes. In practice, he combines strategy with applied AI to help organisations achieve sustainable growth and competitiveness in a digital environment.
Alongside his role as Partner at Best Advisory, Vedran lectures at selected business schools in Croatia, Europe and the United States on topics including AI in business, digital transformation and strategic agility. He is the author of the bestseller Design Thinking for Non-Designers and regularly publishes expert articles on the application of artificial intelligence in business. He is a member of Harvard Club Croatia and the Croatian Association of Management Consultants.

Ana Marija Kostanić is a Croatian tech journalist and editor, currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief of The Recursive, a media platform headquartered in Bulgaria focused on Central and Eastern Europe’s startup ecosystem. Her career began in mainstream media, but she quickly transitioned to tech reporting, which aligned with her interest in technology. Soon after, she found her niche at Netokracija, Croatia’s leading tech media outlet, where she advanced from a journalist position to an Executive Editor role. Over almost 7 years there, she played a pivotal role in its content production, business development, and building the outlet’s influence in the tech community. Besides reporting and editorial work, throughout her career she has managed various projects and audio-video production.

Finance professional with 16+ years of experience in the financial sector, specializing in capital structure, corporate financing, and strategic advisory for entrepreneurs. Throughout his career, he has led client relationships, managed portfolios, and supported clients in key financial and strategic decision-making.

In recent years, his focus has been on corporate bond issuances, working closely with SMEs on structuring, executing, and placing bond offerings. He has supported more than 10 bond issues, raising over EUR 10 million for client growth and expansion. He believes that an active capital market provides entrepreneurs with broader and more flexible options for growth and long-term development.

As CEO of Escont Partners, together with his team they are advising clients in corporate finance, strategic positioning, value creation and M&A transactions. They manage full cycle M&A processes on both the buy and sell side, supporting growth driven acquisitions and founder exits.

Relationship Manager at Fintech District, the Gateway to the Italian Fintech Ecosystem. Born in 2017 with the aim of driving innovation by connecting fintech companies to our cross‑industry stakeholders, Fintech District brings together the largest community of Fintech and Techfin companies active in Italy, working every day to create the right connections and synergies and to see Open Innovation spark.

Hiam Hamed is an ICF-accredited leadership and executive coach and former C-level executive with nearly a decade of experience leading teams and driving organizational growth across marketing and tech industries. With a background in economics, international business, and psychology-informed coaching, she integrates strategic insight with deep understanding of human behavior.
Hiam has held senior roles including CEO, COO, Managing Director, and Operations Director, leading digital transformation, business restructuring, while managing cross-cultural teams. She has worked with global brands and contributed to award-winning campaigns.
Through her coaching practice, she has supported over 200 founders and executives navigating growth, change, and high-stakes decision-making. Having lived in 11 countries across two continents, she brings a multicultural perspective and creates a grounded, reflective space where leaders build clarity, confidence, and sustainable impact.

Andrius joined Revolut from the very beginning almost 10 years ago and went through multiple positions there helping it scale to its current state of $75 billion valuation. He led business development, growth, people department globally and more. Currently he is a Member of the Supervisory Council at Revolut Holdings Europe, a consolidated European entity, servicing over 50 million Revolut customers in EEA. To
sum up, he’s already retired from full time job(s) and enjoying life in the middle of nowhere near Vilnius with regular trips to Croatia.

Maja Bešević Vlajo, CFA graduated in Finance in 2007 from the Zagreb School of Economics and Management in Croatia and earned the CFA designation in 2015. She is currently in the final year of her PhD studies at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and holds licenses in brokerage services, investment advisory, and pension fund management.

She began her career as a financial analyst and later worked as a portfolio manager, managing domestic and international equity investments. She subsequently served as a Management Board member at N3 Capital Partners and as a member of the Supervisory Board of the Central Depository & Clearing Company in Croatia. Since 2019, she has held executive roles in investment banking and development, and in January 2025 she was appointed President of the Management Board and CEO of ZB Invest, the largest UCITS asset management company in Croatia.  

She has been a member of the CFA Society Croatia Board since 2018, served as its President from 2021 to 2025, and currently holds the position of Vice President.

Jana Novina Cukrov is the Director of Payments solutions at Zagrebačka banka, Croatia’s leading financial institution. With more than two decades of experience in banking, she currently oversees the bank’s comprehensive payments ecosystem, including domestic and international payment operations as well as card business management.
Throughout her career, Jana has held several leadership positions across transaction banking and trade finance, leading product development, business growth and operational transformation initiatives. She is actively involved in shaping the national payments landscape through her participation in sector-level committees and industry working groups.
Jana holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and an MBA from Schiller International University in Germany and the United States.

Dr. Neven Vidaković has a BA in economics and financial mathematics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor USA: master’s in economics from the Economics faculty in Ljubljana, Slovenia; and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Maribor in Maribor. He is a tenured professor in monetary policy and banking.

Neven worked in US as a financial derivatives broker, from 2003 to 2005. In 2005 dr. Vidaković returned to Croatia and started working in the Strategic ALM office and risk specialist in Privredna Banka Zagreb and in Intesa Sanpaolo headquarters in Milan. After a career in banking from 2013 – 2016 dr. Vidaković was vice-dean for research, development, and quality at a business school. From 2017 to 2020 he worked at an asset management company managing mutual funds. Currently, he is the CEO of his consulting company Loti Trading LLC and board member at Escont Partners LLC focusing on providing consulting to SME companies and developing Croatian capital markets.

He has published multiple professional and scientific articles. Dr. Vidaković has also

Before co-founding Microblink and Photomath (now part of Google), Izet built a diverse career in telecommunications, ICT, and hospitality, holding roles at Amis Telekom, Iskon Internet, and Hyatt Hotels in the U.S. These experiences laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey and passion for creating technology that solves real-world problems.

Today, Izet is a partner at Silicon Gardens Fund, where he helps nurture the startup ecosystem in the Adriatic region by investing in promising pre-seed and seed-stage companies. With nearly 20 years of experience in product, sales, and management, he has a broad perspective on business and a talent for integrating innovative technologies into processes and products to enhance everyday life.

Outside of work, Izet loves traveling and spending time with his wife and two boys. A lifelong basketball enthusiast, he also channels his passion for the sport as a junior varsity coach.

Meyade Curfs is the Lead Sales Executive at Bybit EU, driving growth and partnerships across the European market.

He has been active in the crypto space since 2017, bringing deep expertise in business development to help expand secure, compliant services in Europe.

Bybit, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges with over 80 million users globally, secured its MiCAR license in Austria in 2025.

Dora Ljevar is an Attorney-at-Law based in Zagreb and the founder of Ljevar Law Office. She advises businesses and institutions in various industries on regulatory strategy, governance, legal risk management, and broader business development initiatives. With experience in technology-related advisory environments, she has a particular interest in regulatory development, legal certainty, and the impact of European digital policy on emerging industries.

Andrea Čović Vidović has over 15 years of professional experience in EU affairs, diplomacy, communication, management and mentoring.
Since July 2022 she has been Head of Media at the European Commission in Croatia and Deputy Head of Commission Representation since February 2023, with the role of Acting Head of Representation since 1 July 2023 until 1 April 2024.
She was in charge of public relations for the European Parliament in Croatia since its inauguration in February 2013 until July 2022.
She worked at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs as a diplomat on Croatia’s EU membership negotiations and as EU policies lecturer. Thereafter she headed EU sectors at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy. During her studies, she was a freelancer on international cultural projects at the Institute for International Relations and Development in Zagreb, before being recruited as regional coordinator of international ICT projects for UNIQA insurance.
She holds a Master’s degree in contemporary European Studies from the Sussex University in the UK, as well as in German and English Studies from the University of Zagreb. She studied International Relations and German Studies at the Technical University of Dresden and conducted her PhD research in Comparative Politics at the University of Zagreb and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Relations in Washington DC. She is alumna of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the US Fulbright Programme and the British Chevening Programme. A volunteer in several non-profit organisations, she is the author of projects
„Women in the Lead“ for the Academy for Political Development and „AI in PR: Educating the Next Generation of Communicators“ for the Croatian Public Relations Association.

Sara Borzić is a Principal Solutions Consultant at Zscaler based in Zagreb, Croatia. She advises enterprise customers on AI security, aligning business goals with secure, scalable AI usage and development.
At SPLX, she began in a customer‐facing AI Engineer role, partnering closely with enterprise teams to secure AI applications. She then moved into a Team Lead position, guiding a high‐performing group of AI engineers and fostering a great team culture and served in the same position during the SPLX acquisition. In Zscaler, she has since fully transitioned to the GTM role, shaping solution messaging, field enablement, and customer outcomes while continuing to collaborate with engineering.
Before Zscaler, she worked as a Big Data Engineer at AVL, where she designed and optimized ETL pipelines on AWS (Python/PySpark) and worked directly with clients on scoping, planning, and implementation; she also mentored student teams. She earned a Computer Science degree from FER (University of Zagreb), contributed to NLP research, and taught software engineering and robotics.

Mislav Javor is a founder, engineer and researcher active in the Ethereum and EVM space since 2016. He was the co-founder of one of the first real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platforms. Later he cofounded an Ethereum interoperability startup Klaster, which got acquired in 2024. Since then, he has been working as a VP of Product at Biconomy

Luka is a tech entrepreneur, built teams over four continents, had a successful exit, currently investing in tech startups and leads RZLT a marketing agency focused on growth companies through AI innovations.

London School of Economics-educated and having received a doctorate in economics from the University of Oxford, Richard Werner has been a full professor of banking, finance and economics at various universities since 2005, including 14 years at the University of Southampton, three years at Fudan University, Shanghai, and Goethe University Frankfurt (House of Finance). Among many professional positions, he has worked as a senior portfolio manager at Bear Stearns Asset Management, chief economist at Jardine Fleming Securities, senior consultant to the Asian Development Bank and board member of a London-listed company. He supports small banks and establishes new banks.
Dr Werner proposed a new monetary policy to end banking crises, which he called
“Quantitative Easing” in 1995. His book Princes of the Yen was a number one
bestseller in Japan. His Quantity Theory of Credit
has solved the key puzzles in modern economics. He also proved empirically that
banks create new money when they give out loans (among the most downloaded
scientific journal articles across disciplines).

Aleksandar Tolić is a product executive who led high-impact FinTech and AI platforms from build to scale across both high-growth scale-ups to the global financial backbone at SWIFT. He has led large product and engineering teams, owned a $1B+ ARR portfolio, and built products serving millions of users at global scale. As VP Product at Oradian, he leads the product powering financial institutions across South East Asia and Africa, accelerating access to modern financial services in emerging markets.

Nikola Stolnik is a Croatian entrepreneur building at the intersection of esports, media, and performance. He is the founder and CEO of Good Game Global, a company transforming competitive gaming from standalone tournaments into scalable media properties and cross-border business platforms.

With experience at Google and Deloitte, Nikola chose the founder path early, building large-scale esports ecosystems across Europe in partnership with brands such as Deutsche Telekom, Samsung and other global stakeholders.

Beyond esports events, he is developing ventures in performance nutrition and gaming hardware, with a clear ambition: to build a new-generation media and performance holding from Central and Eastern Europe that can compete globally.

Nikola operates with a long-term vision, high execution intensity, and a bias toward ownership over comfort.

Nikola is currently working with the portfolio of alternative investment funds which invest in Croatia and abroad. HBOR invests in funds which usually have generalist profile and, together, invest in all stages of company’s development. HBOR’s team continues to be focused on bringing equity investments to the Croatian market.

Nikola previously studied both in Croatia and the USA and spent several years working in audit and on various development projects.

Tomislav is a transformation leader with a background in information management and a career shaped by combining technology, business operations, and organizational development. As part of OTP banka’s Transformation Office, he focuses on applying advanced automation and AI to improve internal processes, reduce operational costs, and accelerate digital transformation. His work spans analytical and machine‑learning models, intelligent automation, and emerging agentic technologies, with a strong emphasis on identifying practical tools that deliver measurable impact across the organization. He previously co-managed several major regulatory and commercial initiatives, including Croatia’s 2023 Euro introduction, before formally taking over the bank’s Transformation program in 2025.

His earlier career combines a foundation in information management with hands‑on experience across academic, administrative, and entrepreneurial environments. During his studies he worked across multiple faculty departments, focused on smart cities technologies and contributed to socially beneficial projects—including his first independent initiative with the local

Gino Simić is a technology leader and digital transformation expert with over a decade
of experience across the global SaaS and CRM landscape. Currently leading Marketing
& Commerce efforts in the Adriatic region for Salesforce, he specializes in helping
organizations accelerate growth through cloud-based innovation and data-driven
engagement.
With a career spanning roles at Salesforce partners and the first Croatian Unicorn
Infobip, Gino has a proven track record of scaling high-growth ecosystems and
navigating complex B2B digital transformations. A graduate of the Faculty of Electrical
Engineering and Computing (FER) in Zagreb, he combines a strong technical
foundation with deep strategic expertise to bridge the gap between technology and
commercial success.

Vedran Zrilic is a Director and Salesforce Alliance Leader for Central Europe at Deloitte. He
leads strategic partnerships, market expansion, and complex digital transformation programs across
the region. With more than a decade of experience in enterprise technology and ecosystem
development, he plays a pivotal role in helping organizations accelerate innovation through cloud
platforms, AI, and datadriven solutions.
He is the founder and leader of the Deloitte Digital Salesforce team in the Adriatic region dedicated
to delivering industry-focused Salesforce solutions for both international and local clients.
Vedran holds an Executive MBA, a Master of Science in Computing, and is a certified
Salesforce Architect, combining deep technical expertise with strong business and leadership
acumen. Known for bridging business and technology, he collaborates with global tech partners and
C suite leaders to shape the future of AI enabled enterprise transformation in Central Europe

Günce Önür is General Partner at Startup Wise Guys – the leading early-stage VC fund in Eastern Europe with more than 480 portfolio companies. Between 2016-2018, Günce Önür worked for Keiretsu Forum Angel Investor Network and helped 12 startups to raise more than 3 million dollar angel investment in total. Between 2018-2019 managed a portfolio of 60 startups in StartersHub Early Stage VC Fund. Since 2019, Günce Önür has been part of the Startup Wise Guys Investment team and since 2021 invested in 160+ startups as GP. Before her career in the startup ecosystem, she worked for an R&D department in a bank that is part of UniCredit. She has a degree in Chemical Engineering and Computational Science and successfully finished the VC Unlocked invite-only VC training program run by 500 Global and Stanford University.

Gunce Onur is running masterclasses and VC Academy programs to support entrepreneurs and investor candidates, also advising new VC funds in emerging markets.

Matej Trbara is a serial entrepreneur and engineer with two successful exits, including DeepAR, which was acquired by Zalando. He previously co-founded Kod Biro and is currently a co-founder of Farseer. Matej holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and comes from a strong engineering background. He’s passionate about solving real problems for real people, and brings a pragmatic, builder-first mindset to every product he touches.

Luka Sučić is a serial entrepreneur and investor with more than 20 years of experience in technology, marketing, and finance. He built his career at Deutsche Telekom, including a role within T-Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm and startup accelerator.

Upon returning to Croatia, he became one of the founders of HUB385, an initiative that helped launch the modern Croatian startup scene and strengthen the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem across the Balkans.

He is a co-founder of Money Motion and an active investor in technology startups across the Balkans and beyond, as well as a co-founder of several startups across different sectors.

Heli Laitila is Sales Leader for Emerging Technologies at IBM Northern, Central and Eastern Europe (NCEE), driving the adoption of cutting‑edge AI, automation, security and quantum solutions. With over 25 years of experience in technology and business transformation, she combines global perspective with strong hands‑on execution.

Heli is an advocate for open ecosystems, transparent AI and human‑centered innovation cultures. She helps enterprises unlock new value from data, accelerate intelligent infrastructure, and scale AI responsibly and securel.

Łukasz Turlej is a prominent Polish chess official and administrator who currently serves as the Secretary General of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), a position he has held since October 2022. He is widely recognized for his work in chess organization and global promotion.

Alex is a Software Developer, Data Scientist, and Partner at rzlt.io, working across Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and advanced data modeling.

With a decade-long career in the music industry before transitioning into tech, Alex has worked on projects for NASA, Adidas, and Mercedes, applying his expertise to solve complex technical challenges.

He went on to run his own startup for four years, delivering solutions for clients including Google and the Eurovision Song Contest.

Today, Alex focuses on building intelligent systems, architecting blockchain solutions, and developing predictive models that turn complex datasets into actionable insights.

Alongside his core work, he advises startups on technology, strategy, and product development.

Barry de Leeuw has spent the last decade working with enterprise banks across Europe, helping financial institutions navigate complex transformation journeys, from modernizing digital channels to rethinking how they engage customers across segments. He led the Backbase’s Solutions Engineering team for Europe and now serves as EMEA Business Partner Director, supporting sales and customer operations across four regions covering Western Europe, Southeast Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Along the way, he’s been in the room with CTOs, CDOs, and business leaders at 100+ banks working through the same challenge: how to move from AI ambition to real results when you’re running a bank with legacy systems, lean teams, and real margin pressure.
 

A regulatory compliance expert with experience in financial supervision, now fully dedicated to driving progress in the crypto sector.

Goran Ličina is Tribe Lead and AI Officer at Erste Bank Croatia. With over a decade of experience in the banking sector, Goran focuses on bridging the gap between technical engineering and business strategy to create practical, scalable solutions.

His background spans software engineering, cybersecurity, and product management, providing him with an end-to-end perspective on building enterprise AI capabilities—from initial strategy and governance to final delivery. Goran is committed to moving beyond the technical hype, focusing instead on how AI can be responsibly integrated within the regulatory and security constraints of the financial industry – ensuring that innovation translates into stable, high-impact solutions for the clients.

Borko is Business Development Manager with experience in scaling fintech, digital asset, and blockchain infrastructure businesses. Having worked across multiple fintech organizations, he operates at the intersection of emerging financial technology and commercial strategy, translating complex blockchain and digital asset solutions into sustainable growth.

At Swift, Borko is in charge of driving key business outcomes for financial institutions in East European markets. Passionate about payments and evolution of financial systems, Borko brings a pragmatic, execution-focused perspective to scaling existing and next-generation financial infrastructure.

Hanan Nanić is the Program Director and MC of the Fintech 2030 Stage at Money Motion. She is the founder of Nanicaurus, a creative strategy and communications company through which she works across media, technology, and conference production.

She spent seven years at Al Jazeera Balkans as a journalist, editor, and presenter, reporting on international politics, global economics, and human rights. For the past five years, alongside her media career, she has been closely involved in the tech and fintech space. Hanan contributes to program development, moderates industry discussions, and works on projects at the intersection of finance, AI, and digital infrastructure.

Her professional path moves between journalism, technology, and communications, reflecting a continued interest in how politics, finance, and innovation intersect.

Anamarija Staničić was appointed as a member of the Management Board of the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (Hanfa) after serving as Director of the Regulatory Harmonization and International Cooperation Department, a position she held from early 2018 until now.

After graduating from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb, she joined Hanfa as a trainee in November 2006. From her initial role as an expert associate, she gradually advanced through the positions of senior advisor and chief advisor to become Director of the Department.

In this role, she was responsible for national and EU regulatory frameworks as well as Hanfa’s international cooperation activities. Among other responsibilities, she represents Hanfa in several committees of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and in working groups of the Council of the European Union.

Viktor Olujić, member of the Management Board at ASEE Croatia and Monri Payments
Over the course of his career at ASEE Group, he has been responsible for developing some of the company’s most successful international products, including the design and development of the PKI product suite and other security solutions. He has also led teams that designed mobile payment systems and solutions for protecting online card payments. The solutions he helped build are among ASEE Group’s best-selling international products and are used by more than 150 banks and banking groups worldwide to protect customers during online transactions. In Monri he coordinates technical teams and contributes to the development of new products and services.

Michael Freer is a conference MC, especially for startup events across the region. UK-born and based in Croatia, he also leads ENSOCO and the youth centre Jedna Mladost, focusing on sustainable tourism, inclusion, and digital innovation. Michael writes about social impact and works closely with local NGOs and businesses.

Mark is an early-stage VC investor at Portfolion, an USD 0.5-billion-AUM, CEE-focused Venture Capital and Growth Equity fundmanager, investing from Pre-Seed to Series B. Mark is leading Portfolion’s Pre-Seed/Seed operation. He has invested and is sitting on the board of SEON, FLOWX, Kodesage, NORBr and Tiney.

Mario Cicvarić works as a Head of Antifraud, Personnel and Asset protection in
Zagrebačka banka. He is experienced and results-driven security professional with
extensive expertise in corporate security, technical and physical protection, antifraud
operations, and incident response. Strong background in leading security functions
across the banking and energy sectors, developing regulatory frameworks, and
managing complex investigations.

Zoran Primorac is a legendary Croatian table tennis player and a seven-time Olympian, widely considered one of the greatest European players of all time. He currently serves as the President of the Croatian Table Tennis Association (HSTS) and holds key international roles as Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Chair of the ITTF Athletes Commission.

Hrvoje Krešić is an award-winning journalist in the news division of N1. He covers politics and economics, both domestic and international. He further developed his journalism skills at the University of Oxford, at the prestigious Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, and during his career he has also reported for major global outlets such as CNN. He likes to believe he is not a boomer, although reality often proves him wrong.

Ivan Šimičević was born in Zadar in 1985, where he completed his primary and secondary education. In 2010, he graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Rijeka, majoring in Finance and Banking.

He began his banking career in 2011 at OTP Bank in Zadar, in the Retail Banking Division. Having held various roles within the Retail, in January 2016 he was appointed Sales Director, where he actively contributed, among other things, to the implementation and design of digital and modern solutions.

From January 2017 to December 2018, he led the entire integration project of OTP Bank and the former Splitska banka, which remains the largest bank integration ever carried out in Croatia.

Following the successful bank integration, in December 2018 he assumed the position of Senior Director of the Sales and Marketing Directorate, a role he held until May 2019, when he became Procurator responsible for the Operations and IT Division.

From March 2021 to the present, he has been a Member of the Management Board responsible for the Digitalization and Operations Division. Under his leadership, the euro implementation project was successfully completed and a new mobile banking platform for private individuals was launched. In addition to his outstanding contribution to the implementation and promotion of a range of digital initiatives, Ivan continuously works on his professional development, particularly in the domain of Artificial Intelligence

Tomislav Vazdar, CISSP, is CEO of Riskoria Advising Professional Services and a cybersecurity and AI strategist with 25+ years of experience advising organizations on cyber risk, resilience, and regulatory-aligned security programs. He serves as Area Chair in Enterprise Cybersecurity at the Open Institute of Technology and sits on the board of the Croatian Artificial Intelligence Association (CroAI). His work focuses on AI-enabled threats, governance, and the human layer of cybersecurity. He is the author of “Agentic AI and the Evolution of Cyber Threats” (2026), presented to NIS2 regulators in Brussels.