Year 2023

Innfest 2023 came fresh and ready to start over just like before.

This edition wanted to offer unique opportunities to connect with visionary minds, gain insights into cutting-edge technologies, and foster creativ thinking for all participants through:

Startup Showacses

Career Opportunities

Social Impact

Collaborative Environment

Mentorship Opportunities

This year Festival was held at Tirana Olympic Park and was devided by 3 Key Areas:

The Innovation Arena

The main stage for thought leaders and industry pioneers, alongside booths for partnerships and networking.

The Startup Hall

Dedicated to startup and young innovators, featuring workshops and interactive booths in a chill and inspiring setup that foster collaboration.

Inn Wonderland

Entertainment, AR experiences, music, and a vibrant food court, celebrating diversity and shared experiences.

TALKS AGENDA

September 8th

“Level Up: Exploring the Gaming Industry in Albania” Crafting Worlds: The Art of Game Design – Endi Haxhi / Gaming Community?! Where are you? – Esmerina Hidri

September 9th

“EmpowerHer: Women in Creative Industries” Innovation Factory – Paola Iljazi / Destil Creative Hub – Sonila Abdalli “Open Space for Architectural Thinking and Practice” Tirana Architecture Triennale – Saimir Kristo “Sustainable Journeys: Navigating Mobility and Smart Solutions” SUTi – Erisa Nesimi

September 10th

16:00 – 17:00 | “A Startup Walks into a Bar: Storytelling for business” Independent Writer/Author – Eric Czuleger

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Conference 1: “Albanian Securities Exchange and the unexplored financing opportunities for Albanian businesses.”

  • Valer Pinderi: Opening of the event – Why we need to connect in a meaningful way.
  • Municipality of Tirana – The potential of Tirana in the Balkans.
  • The Future of Startups in Albania.
  • Ines Mucostepaj: Albanian Stock Exchange – What it offers for Albanian businesses.
  • Ardian Hoxha: What options for Angel Investors and Venture Capital exist in the region for your business?
  • Epi Ludvik: The digital world we live in and how crowdsourcing improves our capability to grow.
  • Daniel Merja: Venture capital and the future of emerging markets.
  • Workshop How to leverage AI for your business – Marija Ivanova

Conference 2: “Regional Landscape”

  • GIZ: Regional cooperation between e-commerce players. Open Regional Fund for Southeast Europe – Foreign Trade in the Balkans.
  • Lorenzo Ait: How to secure investment from the EU?
  • Panel Discussion (Moderated by Dritan Mezini): Regional cooperation through ecommerce – -Albanian E-Commerce Association, E-commerce association of Serbia, eCommerce Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecomm Asocijacija, E-Commerce Macedonian Association, Bulgarian E-Commerce Association .
  • Nikola Ilchev: Understanding the Balkan eCommerce landscape.
  • Goran Dimitrijević: How to grow your eCommerce business through cross-border expansion.
  • Zlatan Gacic: Regional success story – Expanding your business beyond borders.

Conference 3: “How E-Commerce Works”

  • Endrit Yzeiraj: Government eCommerce Action Plan – A tool for growing ecommerce in Albania.
  • Hristo Radichev: The biggest marketing opportunity for businesses in today’s digital world.
  • Rexhion Qafa: Cybersecurity for ecommerce.
  • Raluca Bujoreanu: Zalando’s experience in managing a fashion product in e-commerce.
  • Davide Barbieri: Leaving Google after 11 years to be an e-commerce entrepreneur in Albania
  • Kristina Myslimaj: Httpool, Meta representative in Albania – The advantages for small businesses.
  • Adna Kapic: How to leverage your ecommerce through fulfillment.
  • Workshop: “How to Manage a Fashion Category for Ecommerce” – Raluca.
  • Refinement Brainstorm Porsche Albania – “Makina ime”
  • Workshop: “Securing the Success in E-commerce: Navigating Cyber-Security and Data Privacy Challenges for Sustainable Growth.”

Conference 4: “Connecting each other through diaspora and technology”

  • Gerti Boshnjaku: Dive into Albania’s Innovation Landscape.
  • Panel moderated by Gerti Boshnjaku: How to Connect with Diaspora Digi Diaspora, Germin, Diaspora chamber of Commerce, STIKK Kosova.
  • Komisioneri për të drejtën e informimit dhe mbrojtjen e të dhënave personale: Data Privacy – An important factor for ecommerce.
  • Idlir Ahmeti: Alternative Banking – The option for the growth of Albania in a borderless society.
  • Arjodita Mustali: ABSL Albania 2022 Report: Sustainable Outsourcing through Ethical and Environmental Practices in BPO.
  • Valer Pinderi: How to succeed in ecommerce in Albania.

Conference 5: Connect to the Future: Smart Businesses in Smart Cities for a Sustainable Albania

  • “Digital Nation’s Path: Albania’s 2030 Blueprint.”
  • Chartering Smart Cities: “More Livable and Resilient Communities:”

Panel: Municipality of Tirana, Shkodra and Korce, Civil Protection Agency, Moderator: Erjon Curraj

  • Digital Strategy: Priority nr. 1 “Sustainable Business.” – Digital Strategy expertise, the missing link for thriving in uncertainty – Deloitte Insights
  • “Digital Currency Craze: The New Norm.” – Understanding tokenization and its role in a Digital Nation –

Panel: Eni Shiny, Henri Ndreca

  • Reshaping Albanian Education: Now or Never
  • “AI adoption while Education Ecosystem Transforms.” – Modernizing education in sync with the Digital Nation’s ethos.

Panel: Economic University, UPT, Polis, UET, Barleti, VET representatives, Aladin, HR Experts.  

  • “Voices of the Digital Nation.” – Attendees shared their digital dreams, plans, and aspirations for Albania.
  • “To 2030: The Digital Nation’s Odyssey.” – Rallying everyone for Albania’s bright, digital future.