How to Web Conference 2026: three days of innovation, investment, and public policy shaping the future of Europe’s tech industry

Bucharest, October 9, 2026 – From October 6 to 8, How to Web Conference 2026 brought together technology leaders, investors, startup founders, business professionals, and representatives of European institutions and the public sector in Bucharest. The event facilitated dialogue between the tech industry, the investment community, and institutions involved in developing the region’s tech ecosystem.

With the theme “What will you build when you can build anything?”, this year’s edition explored the challenges of building valuable companies and products in an economy where AI is accelerating technological development and transforming how teams work. Discussions also covered product strategy, leadership, and the role of investment in building globally competitive companies.

The conference opened with remarks from Monica Zara, Head of Conference, and Nicoleta-Ramona Dinu, State Adviser for Economic and Social Policies, Presidential Administration of Romania.

“Access to technology is opening up more and more possibilities, making decisions about what we build and who we build it for increasingly important. At How to Web, we bring together the experience of those who develop products, the perspectives of leaders who adopt them, and the capital that can support growth. We want this gathering to help more companies from the region build internationally relevant products and establish the connections they need to grow,” said Monica Zara, Head of Conference at How to Web.

Teodora Mușatoiu (OpenAI) and Aleodor Tabarcea (Stripe Romania) addressed the changes AI is bringing to product development and team organization, as well as the challenges of adopting new technologies. The agenda also featured the Bitdefender Academy Season Finale, a session dedicated to training the next generation of technology product development specialists.

Building products that are relevant to customers and assessing the impact of technology investments were explored from different perspectives. Nesrine Changuel, former product leader at Google and Spotify, spoke about the importance of the emotional connection between users and products, while Sara Maldon (Inflect, formerly Make) discussed measuring the impact of AI investments. Thomas Kolarik, VP IT & Operations at BCR, and Zoltan Vardy, Founder & Sales and GTM Advisor at The Launch Code, discussed demand for technology in Eastern Europe and the role companies can play in accelerating its adoption.

Michał Kramarz (Google Cloud) presented the challenges of international expansion and the factors that contribute to scaling startups and AI-driven initiatives. Financing businesses with a social impact was addressed during the MARC Impact Programme session, “Somebody has to get paid to fix this,” where entrepreneurs and investors discussed developing sustainable business models and attracting capital.

The impact of technology on society was another topic discussed at How to Web 2026 by Bogdan Iordache, General Partner at Underline Ventures, Radu Magdin, and Dragoș Stanca. Hack for Facts, an initiative by AmpliFY ONG and Ethical Media Alliance, brought together journalists, technology professionals, and representatives of civil society organizations to explore the use of digital tools in the public interest, from supporting investigative journalism to developing sustainable models for independent journalism.

Discussions on Europe’s competitiveness also focused on public policies and measures to support the development of the tech industry. During the “Bytes & Bills” session, representatives of European institutions, Romania’s public sector, and the private sector discussed the measures needed to support startup growth.

Speakers included Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, Camelia Drăgoi (European Investment Fund), Ervin Luga (EBRD Venture Capital), and Irina Avram (Romanian Ministry of Finance). The agenda also featured discussions on technological sovereignty and defense technologies with both civilian and military applications.

How to Web 2026 also brought representatives of the international venture capital community to Bucharest. Investors Summit, organized on October 6, brought together more than 200 investors and representatives of over 80 funds and institutions.

The Spotlight competition, also part of the conference, provided 20 participating early-stage startups with mentoring, visibility, and access to investors. This year’s winner, AISafe Labs, a Romanian cybersecurity startup, secured an investment commitment from TechAngels, with the financing terms to be negotiated between the parties.

Workshops, demos, and business meetings rounded out the conference agenda, providing participants with opportunities to connect with potential customers, partners, and investors.

How to Web 2026 was organized in partnership with BCR, Google Cloud, and Underline Ventures, with the support of PPC Romania, Stripe, Bitdefender, Credo Ventures, Tukel Accounting, 3VC, Cytowski & Partners, Inovo VC, TechAngels, BEK Ventures, PortfoLion, Lead Capital, and Orbit Capital.

About How to Web Conference

How to Web is a leading startup and technology conference in Eastern Europe. Held annually in Bucharest, it connects technology professionals, founders, investors, and business leaders with international expertise, capital, and growth opportunities.