Sylwester Janik | Partner, MCI Management

Sylwester Janik joined MCI Management as Venture Partner in 2008. Sylwester has more than 12 years experience in venture capital, strategic management of technology and new business development. Prior to MCI, he was Director of Strategy & Development at ATM SA, Polish IT stock listed company, where he also managed the company’s corporate venturing program (2006 – 2008) and among others - VicePresident of mPay - ATM's portfolio company that launched a mobile payment service. During period 2003-2006, as Director of Business Development of Technology Accelerator within Lockheed Martin Offset Program and coach for technology start-ups and research commercialisation projects, Sylwester was instrumental in building and development of several technology companies. In his previous career, Sylwester also worked as project manager and strategy and management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, UK and Enterplan, Poland (1995 – 2003). Sylwester holds MA in Economics from the University of Gdansk and MBA in Strategic Management of Technology and e-business from the Cass Business School.

Michał Faber | entrepreneur, CEO, Biznes.Net

Michał Faber is a serial entrepreneur in the internet industry, a PR and investor relations consultant, author of numerous articles on e-business, organizer and host of around 20 ICT conferences. Michal’s current venture is Biznes.Net, founded in January 2006, a community-empowered company dedicated to leveraging Web 2.0 potential for both consumers and enterprise. Biznes.Net raised funding from the leading CEE tech venture capital fund MCI Management.

Artur Kurasiński | entrepreneur, blogger

Entrepreneur, researcher and consultant focusing on IT / new media (IPTV, mobile, 3G, web 2.0) area with broad experience in all aspects of digital content, e-marketing, webdesign, mobile services and interactive media. Direct experience with internet & game industry. Interested in projects involving mobile services and products, online media & entertainment aspects. Revolver Interactive (new media interactive agency), founder & owner. Apteo.pl - Internet based drugstore, health & fitness center of information. Enterplay - (co-owner) founder & co-owner focusing on IPTV project & new media content distribution. Spellarena.com - fantasy online turn-based startegy game project. Valhalla.pl (co-owner) - commercial game website for hardcore gamers. Nuta.pl (biggest polish music vortal), founder.

Marek Borzestowski | Serial Entrepreneur and Investor

Marek Borzestowski is the co-founder and co-originator of the successful first horizontal portal in Poland "Wirtualna Polska" (www.wp.pl - Virtual Poland). This portal was successfully backed by Intel Capital as its first capital investment in Poland, accurately predicting the potential of search systems and the mass popularity of the Internet. He was the former president of "Wirtualna Polska" (wp.pl), currently within the France Telecom group. Among his main interests is a passion for intelligent information technologies and their application in everyday life. A graduate of Gdańsk University of Technology and European Business Management School in Great Britain, Marek participated in the projects of the Nuclear Research Institute in Karlsruhe in Germany.

Andrea Cockerton | Mudhut

Andrea is founder of Mudhut, the Cambridge-based venture market consultancy that has worked alongside almost 300 entrepreneurs on pitching for venture funding and for business critical commercial deals. Previously a director of the Great Eastern Investment Forum, one of the leading business angel networks in the UK, and prior to that one of the original management team behind Virtual Business Network, some of Andrea’s recent projects include recurring projects with Microsoft on the global Imagine Cup competition, pitch workshops for around 50 entrepreneurs as part of Running the Gauntlet, working closely with various fast growing SMEs in sectors including telecoms, games, biotech and the events industry on both commercial & investor pitches, working with a UK university on a pitch to Richard Branson for project funding, and helping three young entrepreneurs pitch directly to Bill Gates in Seattle. Andrea is a frequent public speaker on the subject of investor pitches and communicating business critical information under pressure.

Piotr Ćwik | National Capital Fund

Holds an MBA from European University in Montreux, Switzerland and BA (with Honors) from Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu-National Louis University in Nowy Sącz. Piotr started his professional career in 2000 as Investment Specialist in Górnośląska Agencja Przekształceń Przedsiębiorstw S.A. in Katowice (Uppersilesian Agency for Enterprise Restructuring). He was responsible for company's operations in the area of investments, loans and guarantees for SMEs and for the EU PHARE PL 9811 Inicjatywa dla Hutnictwa programme (Initiative for steel industry). From the end of 2000 he took part in creation of Towarzystwo Finansowe „Silesia” Sp. z o.o. in Katowice, a state owned company with paid-in capital of 500 million PLN founded for restructuring of Polish steel industry, initiallly as Financial Analyst, then as Deputy CFO. He was involved in several restructuring projects which succeeded, e.g.: Huta Katowice S.A. (steelworks “Katowice”) - debt restructuring and providing constant flow of raw materials, Huta Częstochowa S.A. (steelworks “Częstochowa”) and Huta Andrzej S.A. (steelworks “Andrzej”) as Vice President – restructuring by founding financial operators. He worked in the team which created the concept of restructuring and consolidation of the Polish steel pipes industry. Piotr was also engaged in several restructuring and development projects in the private sector, a.o. as a member of Supervisory Boards, a CFO of Unifet Sp. z o.o. in Gliwice (leading Polish producer of specialised vegetable fats for food industry), a Consultant in restructuring process of one of the IKEA Poland factories, Advisor in BISE Bank S.A. and Financial Manager in DOSPEL Sp. z o.o. in Częstochowa.

Radosław Czyrko (32) is a financier with more than 9 years of experience on the Polish capital market. His professional career started in a stockbroking company Erste Securities Polska, where he worked as a Stock Market Analyst. Between 2001 and 2008 he worked for a fund group called Venture Capital Renaissance Partners whose investors included institutions such as ABN AMRO, EBRD, and Asset Management. At Renaissance Partners, where he held the position of Investment Manager and Partner, he was responsible for all stages of investment projects – from identifying new investment opportunities and full due diligence to implementing the exit strategy. As member of Supervisory Boards (Call Center Poland, Pro Log, Solgaz), he supported the fund’s portfolio companies with his knowledge and experience. He obtained the MA degree from the Warsaw University’s Department of Economics; he has also graduated from the Banking and Finance Department, where he specialized in Corporate Finance. He has passed a state examination for members of supervisory boards of state-owned companies. He spends his leisure time discovering the pleasures of being the father oh his son Jan. He has a passion for photography and good cuisine.

Graduate of Warsaw School of Economics. He started business activities while in college in the student Conquest Consulting firm where he was Vice President. After graduation, he founded and after two years sold an HR company. In 2003. he founded doinvest partners and in 2004. he founded PolBAN Business Angels. Currently he runs a small investment boutique to help owners and investors in equity investments. He owns or co-owns four dynamically developing enterprises. Jury member of several entrepreneur contests. In his free time enjoys traveling and sports.

Piotr Gębala | CEO, National Capital Fund

Holds a Master Degree in Law from University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska in Lublin (UMCS Lublin). Piotr Gębala worked in financial sector through last 9 years dealing with capital investments on non-public market. He worked as Investment Director/Member of the Management Board in Lubelski Fundusz Kapitałowy Spółka z o.o. (Capital Fund of Lublin) – local investment fund in Lubelskie voivodeship; then he worked as Investment Director/Member of the Management Board in Fundusz HALS (HALS Fund) – twinning project of Bank Gospodarki Żywnościowej S.A. and British Know How Fund (Fundusz HALS specialized in investments of PLN 4 m investment limit in Polish SME sector ). Piotr has extensive knowledge and experience in Private Equity/Venture Capital funds, especially in the scope of fund management, investment project analysis and company due diligence and monitoring. He is familiar with the problematics of investing in SME sector, including support for SMEs in strategy creation and implementation of risk management and controlling. He was a member of CRESCENDO Thematic Network – an EU project aimed at creating an international knowledge sharing platform for PE/VC experts (concerning investments in SME sector, especially in innovative enterprises).

Maciej Hazubski | IQ Partners S.A.

Graduate School of Economics in Warsaw. Maciej has many years of experience in management and sales. Advised on a number of investment transactions, mergers and acquisitions. Co-founder and partner in several projects in the area of new technologies, internet and mobile solutions. Worked, among others, for Misters Audytor Sp. z oo., BDO Polska Sp. z oo. From 2000 to 2006 he held executive and management positions in companies from the technology and the Internet industry, like L2Mobile.com SA, Line 1 Sp. z oo, Infogis Sp. z oo and Soltan Sp. z oo. Currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Company IQ Partners SA listed on NewConnect. He is also the Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of the following companies: Screen Network SA, Zakupy.com SA, e-kiosk SA, Trevor SA and IQ Advisors Sp. z oo. In addition, he sits on the Boards of the following companies: e-muzyka S.A., Cube Group S.A., Site S.A. and Hub30.com sp z oo.

Stanisław Knaflewski | Partner, Enterprise Investors

Partner and Board Member. Mr. Knaflewski specializes in projects in the retail and industrial sectors and coordinates the firm’s activities in Bulgaria. He led EI’s successful investments in the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company, the DIY retailer Nomi and in the Jaan/Nordglass Group. Before joining EI, he worked for the Boston Consulting Group in Paris and Warsaw, where he led projects in strategic consultancy and company restructuring.

Robert Kwiatkowski | Warsaw Stock Exchange

Director of Business Development Department at the Warsaw Stock Exchange. From 1994 with the Polish capital market. From 1994 to 2006 worked at the National Depository for Securities. Since July 2006 an employee of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, currently on the managerial level position. Responsible for attracting domestic and foreign companies to Polish capital market, as well as for cooperation with the WSE Partner Firms.

Marcin Strzałkowski | CEO, InteliWISE S.A.

Marcin Strzałkowski is the author of brand successes in TMT and FMCG sectors and co-author of business projects such as NetMania, the biggest interactive game on the Polish Internet. He graduated from Warsaw School of Economics and Institut Français de Gestion (MBA). From 2000-2004, he was Retail Sales and Customer Service Manager and Marketing Communication Manager for Wirtualna Polska S.A. Web Portal. In 2005, he became the Marketing Director at Crowley Data, Poland, responsible for the company's marketing and communication strategy. Key achievements include: a 58% to 91% increase in brand recognition and growth in the number of users by 400% as a result of creating and implementing a new promotion and advertising strategy; an increase in the level of sales to retail customers to $1 million within 2 years; reduction in costs of operating customer service tasks by 80%. He was also Brand Manager at Unilever Polska, managing Rexona and Domestos brands in Central and Eastern European countries. Among his key achievements are: an increase in the market share of Domestos product from 44% to 51% and achieving a leading position for Rexona brand, with a 10% increase in sales. He was previously an employee at Credit Mutuel Bank in France and at Company Assistance in Warsaw.

Grzegorz Sułkowski | CEO of NewMedia Labs

CEO of NewMedia Labs - an incubator of online ideas operates at ARBOinteractive Poland. A graduate of Physics at the Warsaw University. Since 2004, the beginning of his career, associated with the Group ARBOmedia. Initially dealt with the implementation and optimization of advertising campaigns, then took the position of Traffic Manager. In the years 2006-2008, as a Technical Director, supervised the work of the IT department, and developed new forms of internet advertising (first full-screen video format: videostitial) Since 2009 he is CEO of NewMedia Labs - an incubator of online ideas, operates at ARBOinteractive Poland. Interested in technology, Internet, and Apple products. Has two daughters. In his free time play in Warhammer Fantasy Battle and read.

Małgorzata Walczak | Helix Ventures

Małgorzata Walczak – a graduate of Warsaw University (Polish studies, journalism), Sorbonne (Paris VII, III) and MBA studies at University of Minnesota and Warsaw School of Economics. She has 13 years’ professional experience. She held executive positions both in international corporations (Compaq Computer/HP, Lotus/UN) and in Polish companies Optimus SA – as Managing Director and Vice President of the Management Board (2002-2005), Mennica Polska SA – Director of Electronic Payments Department and Proxy (2006). In the years 2006-2007, she managed investment projects in developing countries on behalf of the UN. She also held various positions in Supervisory Boards of companies: Xtrade S.A. (Vice President), Optibox Sp. z o.o. (President) and Optimus SA (Member). At present, she is the Vice President of Paged SA. Since October 2007, she has been involved with the company Helix Ventures Sp. z o.o., which operates in the area of strategic and investment consulting. She speaks four languages fluently. In 2005, she made the list of the top 20 managers (Home&Market report).

Alek Wasiukiewicz is an associate at the venture capital fund (EVF I) managed by Enterprise Investors. He specializes in IT investments. Before joining EI, Mr. Wasiukiewicz worked for Nokia Corp. Mr. Wasiukiewicz is a graduate of Warsaw University of Technology and INSEAD.