Behind every Start-up Success Story - How Ecosystems Shape Growth, Scale and Impact

Behind Every Start-up Success Story – How Ecosystems Shape Growth, Scale and Impact.

Start-up success rarely happens in isolation. Around every thriving company is a network of actors shaping the conditions for growth – from policymakers and investors to incubators and research organisations. Organised by INNOVATE-EU, WE-RISE and EPIC-X and taking place in connection with Start-up Fair 2026, this event looks at how these ecosystems can be strengthened to better support Europe’s next generation of innovators.

Although Europe offers a strong foundation of talent and ideas, many start-ups continue to face barriers when expanding their activities – whether due to limited access to finance, fragmented markets, or missing connections to key stakeholders. This session brings the focus to the structures and collaborations that make a real difference in overcoming these challenges.

Experts and practitioners from across the innovation landscape will come together to share experiences and insights from initiatives that have supported start-ups across Europe. The discussion will centre on what works in practice, where gaps remain, and how joint efforts can lead to more impactful support systems.

Participants will explore:

• How ecosystems can better support start-up growth and scaling
• What start-ups really need from investors and policymakers
• Which support measures and interventions deliver the greatest impact
• How collaboration can strengthen Europe’s innovation competitiveness
• Lessons learned from successful start-up initiatives across Europe

The format is designed to encourage open exchange between stakeholders who actively shape innovation environments and entrepreneurial success.

Who should attend?
Policymakers, investors, innovation agencies, business support organisations, accelerators, incubators, clusters, universities, research organisations, as well as start-up founders and entrepreneurs.

The conversation continues on 17 September 2026 at Start-up Fair, where participants can connect with emerging start-ups and explore their solutions during dedicated pitching sessions.