Brno Tech Region

News

Velvet Innovation: Ambition as the Engine of Business and Innovation. The International Conference i

Velvet Innovation: Ambition as the Engine of Business and Innovation. The International Conference in Brno Unveils Its Program

Press release

31. October 2024

The international Velvet Innovation conference, set to take place on November 14 at the Passage Hotel in Brno, has revealed a detailed program centered around the theme "Ambition (Un)locked." Attendees can look forward to a series of inspiring lectures, panel discussions, and conversations with leading experts in innovation and sustainable business.

Velvet Innovation: Ambition as the Engine of Business and Innovation. The International Conference in Brno Unveils Its Program

The conference will kick off with a keynote lecture by John Elkington, a leading British expert in sustainable business. His presentation will launch a segment focused on alternative business approaches that transform entire industries. Following him will be another prominent figure, Erinch Sahan from the Doughnut Economics Action Lab, based on the concept by Kate Raworth from Oxford University. In his talk, he will present the model of the so-called doughnut economics, which shifts the focus from economic growth to include the planet's ecological boundaries. Sustainability in leadership and company management will be addressed by Lenka Novotná from Plastia and Vratislav Kalenda from Applifting. Sustainability will be a recurring theme at the conference, with Cyril Klepek from Cyrkl speaking specifically about economic sustainability in companies.

Another segment focuses on women in business. "This section is personally very important to me. For women, the starting line is still different, which is a huge shame. That’s why I am thrilled that nearly half of this year's speakers are women. We have managed to invite inspiring and successful women in business and science, such as angel investor Kaija Pöysti, Elisabeth van Holthe tot Echten from Female Founders, Karin Fuentesová from Digitoo, Entrant founder and scientist Julie Dobrovolná, Recombee co-founder Gabriela Takáčová, and many more," says Hana Šudáková from the JIC innovation agency, which is organizing the conference. "At the same time, it's crucial to discuss practical steps – hence we invited investors like Mairead Roche and Zuzana Zamborská. We aim not only to inspire but to show tangible ways to succeed in the tech world. I believe this part of the program will help shift the discussion from 'why are there so few women in startups and tech companies' to 'how can we support more women in business.' That’s the change we want to see," adds Šudáková.

The "Business of Feeling Good" segment will feature presentations and discussions mainly concerning the health-tech and well-being sector. It will begin with a keynote by Matthew DiFranca on the future of health technologies, followed by a panel discussion with Lukáš Loun from MAIA Labs and Tomáš Studeník from Caelestinus Health Tech Incubator about startups and investments in this sector.

There will also be a selection of the best regional innovations and startups. Moderator Soňa Baranová will showcase representatives from successful companies such as Runecast (Stan Markov) and Sewio (Milan Šimek) in fireside chats.

Another program block will discuss how the academic sphere can transform top-tier research into thriving startups. Markéta Filipenská will moderate a panel discussion with Petr Přidal, Kaija Pöysti, and Julie Dobrovolná, who will share their experiences in founding academic startups and supporting student entrepreneurship both locally and globally.

The program will also include a Startup Showcase, highlighting selected Central European startups showcasing innovative projects with the potential to shape the future of various industries.

The conference is intended for representatives of startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, corporations, investors, as well as experts in research, development, academia, and public administration. Tickets are available on the event’s website.

Get Your Ticket Now

Read more about the topic

27. October 2026

[jic.cz] Brno Region Tech Companies Present Smart City Innovations in Barcelona

The Brno Region will be represented at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, the world’s leading event for urban innovation. From 3 to 5 November, technology companies supported by the JIC innovation agency will present their solutions for mobility, energy, environmental monitoring and public services to cities, investors and partners from around the world.

31. May 2026

Brno Tech Region Climbs Global Innovation Rankings in 2026

When international rankings measure startup ecosystems, attention usually goes to capital cities. But two major benchmarks published in May 2026 – the Global Startup Ecosystem Index (GSEI) by StartupBlink and the Global Tech Ecosystem Index (GTEI) by Dealroom – tell a more nuanced story about Central Europe. The Czech Republic leads the region, and behind that result sits a second city that has spent two decades building something the rankings are only beginning to fully capture.