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Alternative finance 2026

Alternative Finance 2026 Conference

Challenges Facing Contemporary Enterprises in Financing, Investment and Management

We are pleased to invite you to Alternative Finance 2026, a conference dedicated to the challenges facing contemporary enterprises in financing, investment and management.

The event will provide a platform for exchanging knowledge and practical experience among academics, entrepreneurs, investors, public institutions and financial market participants. Particular attention will be paid to startup financing, crowdfunding, venture capital, capital markets and practical pathways for business growth.

Date: Friday, 4 December 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Venue: Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), Warsaw, Poland

Format: In person

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

  • 9:00–9:30 – Opening Ceremony
    Dorota Niedziółka and Mariusz Próchniak
  • 9:30–10:30 – Panel Discussion I
    The Future of Startup Financing with Crowdfunding Service Providers
    Moderator: Piotr Majewski
  • 10:30–10:45 – Innostart and NCBR Presentation
  • 10:45–11:00 – Coffee Break
  • 11:00–12:15 – Panel Discussion II
    Startup Financing in Practice: Perspectives of Investors, Entrepreneurs and Public Institutions
    Moderator: Dr Kamil Gemra
  • 12:15–13:30 – Academic Session I
  • 13:30–14:30 – Lunch
  • 14:30–15:45 – Panel Discussion III
    Entrepreneurship, Investment and Management from Women's Perspectives
    Moderator: Dr Aneta Waszkiewicz
  • 15:45–16:00 – Break
  • 16:00–17:00 – Academic Session II
    Research Presentations – Part Two

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Panel I – The Future of Startup Financing with Crowdfunding Service Providers

Moderator: Piotr Majewski

Participants:

  • Daniel – Crowdberry.eu (confirmed)
  • Marek – former CEO of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, involved in promoting the development of crowdfunding (confirmed)
  • Additional participants – to be announced

Main discussion topics:

  1. Who Finances Whom, and Why? Company Profiles and Investor Maturity (Poland vs Slovakia)
    A comparison of crowdfunding market development models in Poland and Slovakia, focusing on financing startups versus more mature small and medium-sized enterprises.
  2. From Crowdfunding to the Stock Exchange – Exits, IPOs and Missed Opportunities
    Exploring investment exit opportunities, investor liquidity and the potential role of stock exchanges as the next stage in corporate financing.
  3. Synergy or Illusion? Co-Investment with Venture Capital Funds
    Experiences of cooperation between crowdfunding platforms and venture capital funds, as well as opportunities for developing joint investment models.
Panel II – Startup Financing in Practice: Perspectives of Investors, Entrepreneurs and Public Institutions

Moderator: Dr Kamil Gemra

Participants:

  • Ryszard Czerwiński – Trigon Brokerage House (confirmed)
  • Paweł Czarnecki – Spirit Tech S.A. (confirmed)
  • Bożena Lublińska-Kasprzak – National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) (to be confirmed)
  • Additional participants – to be announced

Main discussion topics:

  1. What Growth Paths Are Available to Polish Startups?
    Financing opportunities at successive stages of business development and strategies for scaling operations.
  2. Stock Markets, Venture Capital and Alternative Sources of Financing
    Comparing access to capital, financing costs, investor expectations and the implications of choosing different financing models.
  3. The Future of Startup Financing – Competition or Cooperation?
    Development prospects for different financial market segments and opportunities for cooperation among investors, public institutions, investment funds and capital markets.
Panel III – Entrepreneurship, Investment and Management from Women's Perspectives

Moderator: Dr Aneta Waszkiewicz

Invited panellists:

  • Beata M. Jones, Ph.D. – Professor of Business Information Systems Practice
  • Agata Zioło – Vice-President of the Entrepreneurial Women's Network (Sieć Kobiet Przedsiębiorczych)
  • Marlena Gołofit – Director of Transformation & Development, Process Excellence, Change Management (PROSCI)

Proposed discussion topics:

  1. The role of women in entrepreneurship, investment and corporate management.
  2. Access to capital, professional networks and institutional support for women entrepreneurs.
  3. Change management, organisational transformation and leadership competencies in contemporary enterprises.

The detailed scope of the discussion will be announced in due course.

ACADEMIC SESSIONS

The conference will include two academic sessions devoted to the presentation of research findings on corporate financing, investment and alternative sources of capital.

Proposed research presentation:

  • Piotr Majewski – “An Overview of the Crowdfunding Market in Poland: A Study of the Activities of Crowdfunding Service Providers in 2025”
    • The number of Polish and foreign crowdfunding platforms operating in the Polish market;
    • The amount of capital raised;
    • The number and success rate of crowdfunding offerings.

The conference programme, list of panellists and details of the academic sessions will be updated as further information becomes available.

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