The Real Deals That Came Out of the EU-Startups Summit

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-24

A potential angel investment, a newly appointed CEO, fresh customers, and international partnerships were just the beginning of what the EU-Startups Summit in Malta sparked. For many attendees, the conversations that started there didn't end when the venue closed. They turned into contracts, hires, and collaborations that stretched across Europe and beyond. Don't believe us? Here are some of the best stories and new partnerships that came out of the event. ### Investments Take Shape One of the most immediate results came from Noctra Labs. Founder and CTO Apeganan Elangeswaran met a Luxembourg-based business angel who expressed interest in investing up to $27,500 in the startup (converted from €25,000). The contract has since been sent out. The meeting was also serendipitous: the investor had booked a ticket just 30 hours before attending. After meeting at the Summit, the two continued their conversation over dinner. "This deal wouldn't have happened without the EU Summit," said Apeganan. Liberbyte founder Tero Salomaa also met an investment adviser who has become instrumental in shaping the company's investment story. Meanwhile, the managing partner of FINANCIERING+ connected with the managing director of a Dutch biotech company. After first meeting in Malta, they continued discussions in the Netherlands and remain in contact about future funding plans. Ravencourt Capital founder Rohan Kapoor has used successive editions of the Summit to build relationships with founders and general partners, leading to conversations and collaborations on both the sell-side and buy-side. "I've already secured my ticket for next year's conference and am looking forward to being back," Rohan said. The Summit also helped turn introductions into substantial investment activity. Following last year's event, 3TS Capital managing partner Pekka Mäkki connected with Wamo, an SME-focused neobank licensed in Finland and operating largely from St Julian's, Malta. In April 2026, 3TS Capital announced a $11 million investment in the company (from €10 million), before Mäkki returned to the Summit alongside Wamo founder and CEO Yanki Önen to introduce the startup to the wider community. ### Customers, Partners, and New Markets Several attendees turned Summit introductions into direct commercial opportunities. CoralTalk AI co-founder and CEO Melissa Morgan met an Italian distribution partner and secured a customer from the University of Malta. The event also delivered a personal connection: Morgan met a new friend from Australia with whom she later played padel. Fleece AI founder Loïc Jané secured Elevated Leads as a new client following a connection made at the Summit. The startup went on to implement AI-powered automations for SEO and answer engine optimization content, as well as automating the client's invoicing process. Implex made connections across several areas of its business. The startup found a cloud provider for an upcoming project with specific infrastructure needs, met potential clients, and identified partners to support its expansion into Switzerland and the EdTech sector. Detelio met fellow founders who later became collaboration partners. The company connected with other Barcelona-based entrepreneurs who could become future clients, proving that an international Summit can also uncover opportunities close to home. "It's been a great event with great conversations and great panel discussions," added Sergiu Frasineanu, co-founder of Detelio. Durana Tech Park Ecosystem recorded more than 30 B2B meetings, followed by 17 follow-up meetings. One memorandum of understanding is currently in progress. ### What This Means for You The EU-Startups Summit proves that face-to-face events still drive real business results. From small startups to established investors, people are turning handshakes into contracts and conversations into cash. If you're looking for funding, partners, or customers, attending such events could be your next smart move.