​Welcome to The Venture Mindset, where we take the next step in our journey of fostering innovation and entrepreneurial growth. Building on the momentum of our previous gathering, Visionary Minds: From Expected to Explosive, which united innovation leaders from 29 countries in Vienna.

​Today we delve even deeper into what drives real success - mindset.

​In a world of rapid change and unprecedented challenges, the mindset we bring shapes not only our ventures but also the future of industries and communities. This event is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip you with the tools needed to harness the power of mindset, unlocking new levels of creativity and resilience to drive your ventures forward.

​Let’s embrace this opportunity to share, learn, and forge connections that will propel us from potential to performance.

​Who this event is for

​Investors: VCs, CVCs, Accelerators, Angels, FOs, SWFs, and LPs gain insights into shifting market dynamics and exclusive partnerships, fostering a mindset for strategic, high-impact growth.

​Corporate Innovation Teams: Find strategies to accelerate solutions, building a mindset geared for collaboration, market alignment, and resilient, future-focused innovation.

​Corporate Venturing Units: Engage with peers to spot trends and explore deal flow, cultivating a mindset that empowers high-impact decisions and next-gen venture success.

Founders & Startups: Learn from industry leaders, gaining a mindset for investor relations, strategic scaling, and the resilience to drive sustainable, breakthrough growth.

​Ecosystem Enablers: Showcase their expertise in support systems like legal, funding, and acceleration, fostering a collaborative mindset to empower innovation on all fronts.

​Academia & Public Sector: Position programmes to attract investment, using a forward-looking mindset to align educational initiatives with real-world market priorities.

​Agenda

​​📅 Tuesday, 29th April

​A day of exclusive, invitation-only peer exchange, uniting investors, corporate innovators, academic leaders, and government representatives—primarily from the DACH and CEE regions—to tackle high-impact challenges in an environment rich with knowledge sharing and high-level networking.

​09:00-15:00: Adventure Networking at the Kahlenberg forest rope park (Investors & Innovation Leaders + Venture All Star pass holders only).

​The experience begins with an interactive workshop led by former special forces coaches, where attendees will learn key skills such as focus, trust-building, and resilience. These foundational lessons will then be put to the test on the aerial assault course, allowing participants to apply what they've learned in a high-pressure, collaborative environment.

​This structured approach ensures that attendees not only experience personal growth but also gain practical insights they can take back to their ventures and organisations. By integrating these techniques, leaders will be better equipped to foster teamwork, enhance decision-making under pressure, and build stronger, more resilient relationships with their teams and partners.

​17:30-22:00: Networking Evening with insights from GCV (Investors & Innovation Leaders + Venture All Star pass holders only).

​18:00-18:10 Opening - Michael Chaffe & Tereza Reh, Co-Founders of The Alpha Omega Foundation

​18:10-18:30 Insights from Global Corporate Venturing - James Mawson, Founder of GCV

​James, founder & CEO of GCV will share his extensive experience in fostering corporate investment and ecosystem growth. He’ll provide strategic insights on forming impactful partnerships and navigating today’s investment landscape.

​18:30-19:00 Innovation in Extreme Environments - Rob Colley DSC, Founder of Thrival Group

​Rob, a former member of the UK's elite Special Boat Service (SBS), will discuss Innovation in Extreme Environments. His experience in high-stakes innovation, resilience, and adaptability offers a powerful perspective on thriving in challenging conditions.

​19:00-19:30 The Venture Mindset & Book Signing - Ilya Strebulaev & Alex Dang, Co-Authors of The Venture Mindset

​Ilya Strebulaev, a Stanford professor and founder of the Venture Capital Initiative, is widely regarded as the leading academic on venture capital. His research has shaped industry understanding, and he collaborates with global leaders to explore innovation and trends in the venture ecosystem.

​Alex Dang, a former Amazon and McKinsey leader, combines deep operational expertise with strategic insight. With nearly two decades of experience launching and scaling businesses, he has partnered with executives worldwide to drive transformative innovation and new ventures.

​​📅 Wednesday, 30th April

​On day two, previous-day guests join founders, startups, and ecosystem enablers, sparking a powerful exchange of perspectives and expertise. Driven by a shared growth mindset, established leaders offer insights while embracing bold ideas and fresh approaches from emerging ventures. Together, they aim to tackle pressing challenges and foster a mindset of resilience and adaptability, vital for sustainable growth and innovation across the DACH and CEE regions.

​08:00 – 09:00 – Breakfast & pre-event Networking

​09:00 – 09:15 – Opening Remarks - An extended introduction to the day's sessions, setting the stage for an insightful and impactful afternoon.

​09:15 – 10:00 – Fund of Funds, Tibi Plan, and Beyond – Mobilising Institutional and Corporate Capital for Venture - Exploring Fund of Funds strategies and the Tibi Plan to attract institutional and corporate investment in venture capital.

​10:00 – 10:30 – Speaker Session: Ann Daniels – Pushing Boundaries: Leadership Lessons from a Polar Explorer - Leadership lessons and stories of resilience from Ann Daniels, a pioneering polar explorer.

​Ann’s first hand experiences in some of the world’s harshest climates provide invaluable lessons in leadership and endurance.

​10:30 – 11:15 – The Right Fit: Talent Strategies for Corporate Ventures - This panel explores the challenges of getting the right talent for corporate ventures. Panellists discuss whether to hire, promote from within, acqui-hire, or bring in interim leaders, and share strategies for building teams that drive ventures forward.

​11:15 – 11:45 – Break

​11:45 – 12:00 – Designing Influence: The Mindset of High-Impact Brands – Discover how mindset and psychology shape impactful branding. Through a real-world case study, learn strategies to build resilient brands, foster deeper connections, and drive lasting success in a competitive market.

​12:00– 12:45 – Invest, Build, or Partner? Rethinking Corporate Venture Models - Explore the merits of investing, building, or partnering in corporate ventures to diversify, to build new revenue streams and to protect from disruption. Experts discuss key strategies in driving corporate innovation and collaboration, touching on the example of AI innovations.

​12:45 – 13:00 – Keynote: Tough Negotiations – Lessons from World-Class Dealmakers - An insightful keynote focusing on strategies for navigating complex negotiations, with insights from top dealmakers.

​13:00 – 13:45 – Innovating Recovery: Resilience and Investment in Ukraine – This panel explores Ukraine’s journey toward economic renewal, focusing on the resilient mindset needed to unlock opportunities in venture capital, private equity and beyond. It will touch upon collaborative efforts that are focused on supporting sustainable investment in Ukraine and the CEE region more broadly.

​13:45 – 14:15 – Break

​14:15 – 14:45 – Speaker Session: Floyd Woodrow DCM MBE – Leadership and Resilience from the Battlefield to Business - Floyd Woodrow shares insights on applying military resilience and strategic thinking to leadership and business challenges.

​Floyd, renowned as a leading entrepreneur in the fintech sector, shares his insights into strategic thinking and resilience, skills honed during his time with the UK's elite Special Air Service (SAS) and later as Chairman of Quantum Group, offering essential guidance for navigating today’s high-pressure business landscape.

​14:45 – 15:30 – Corporate Venturing Success Stories – Insights and Best Practices - Industry leaders share their experiences in setting up and scaling corporate venturing programs, discussing successes, challenges, and best practices. Political leaders add insights on policy changes to foster corporate venturing.

​15:30 – 16:00 – Closing Panel: Future Plans for the Alpha Omega Foundation - A forward-looking discussion on the next steps and future initiatives for the Alpha Omega Foundation, highlighting goals, upcoming projects, and opportunities for involvement.

​16:00 – 21:00 – Closing Networking Party & Book Signing

​🌐 Full event & agenda details can be found on the dedicated event page at: https://www.alphaomega.foundation/ 🌐