‘We’re excited to welcome more startups to Malta’ – Malta Enterprise CEO George Gregory 

“We are excited to continue welcoming more companies who are looking to make Malta their home,” said Malta Enterprise Chief Executive Officer (CEO) George Gregory, regarding the Startup Festival Malta which took place on 17th and 18th October.

The festival links startups to investors all year round through new platforms, and this year’s edition featured discussions on topics such as sustainability, digital transformation, and emerging technologies.

The two-day event attracted over 3,000 registered attendees, including more than 400 international participants who visited Malta specifically for the festival.

With more than 60 exhibitors of which more than 40 were startups, and 70 investors engaging in dynamic discussions, the festival showcased the strength of Malta’s startup ecosystem.

Malta has “once again proven itself to be a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, as the festival concluded with resounding success,” said Malta Enterprise in a statement.

A highlight of this year’s event was the participation of 300 students from various educational institutions, “marking the festival’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

It featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops, offering attendees insights into the “latest trends across multiple industries.”

Malta Enterprise CEO George Gregory said that the Malta Enterprise is “confident that the Startup Festival will yield positive outcomes for our startup community. I encourage startup founders and anyone who thinks that they might have an idea to start a company to approach Malta Enterprise and make use of the various schemes which are available for you.”

Minister for Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects Silvio Schembri noted that “The Startup Festival is a testament to the innovative spirit of our local entrepreneurs and the vibrant ecosystem we’re cultivating in Malta. The success of this festival showcases the incredible talent and creativity within our startup community, and it reaffirms our commitment to fostering an environment that supports young minds and encourages them to pursue their dreams.”

Vice President of Prime Air at Amazon, David Carbon, also took the stage to share his insights on technology, and the use of AI in business.

Launch of DealRoom.co partnership

Another highlight of this years’ festival was the launch of Malta’s partnership with DealRoom.co, a global provider of data and intelligence on startups and tech ecosystems. The company works and lists many of the world’s most prominent investors and entrepreneurs to “provide transparency, analysis and insights on venture capital activity,” read the statement.

Malta-based companies will now also be able to create a free account on the platform which will help them improve the visibility of their companies and link with investors throughout the whole year.

Launch of course for people with disability

At the festival, the Entrepreneurship for People with Disability Course with the Foundation for the Promotion of Entrepreneurial Initiatives course (FPEI) was launched. This programme, “aims to create opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs with disabilities, offering support to help them develop their ideas in a safe and empowering environment.”

Those interested in the course can contact info@fpei.mt for more information or register on www.fpei.mt.

The organisers of the festivals thanked their sponsors, Residency Malta Agency, Malta VC, Moneybase, Supercharger Ventures, Melita Business, Projects Malta, EY Malta, and National Skills Council, which “played a pivotal role in making this year’s event an outstanding success.”