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Time
EVENT
Speakers
lOCATION
17:00-19:30
Conference Mingle & Networking
Registrations are open! Come in and network with peers and partners. Finger food and beverages will be available.
Registrations are open! Come in and network with peers and partners. Finger food and beverages will be available.
Wintercircus
19:30-22:00
Networking Dinner (own)
Connect and arrange your own evening meal with international peers on the eve of the conference. See our helpful suggestions on the Blog.
Connect and arrange your own evening meal with international peers on the eve of the conference. See our helpful suggestions on the Blog.
On your own
Time
EVENT
Speakers
Location
8:00-9:00
Registration opens
Coffee and mingle area ready as well as the staff to provide you with the best start for your day!
Coffee and mingle area ready as well as the staff to provide you with the best start for your day!
Wintercircus
9:00-10:15
Opening Ceremony
An official welcome from Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Deputy Mayor of Ghent Sofie Bracke kicks off WIS23! Join Ali from UBI Global and Sven from imec.istart as Peter Musschoot (Mind the Solution) entertains and welcomes delegates from around the world, including an inspiring keynote address from Stijn Jans, CEO and co-founder of Intigriti.
An official welcome from Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Deputy Mayor of Ghent Sofie Bracke kicks off WIS23! Join Ali from UBI Global and Sven from imec.istart as Peter Musschoot (Mind the Solution) entertains and welcomes delegates from around the world, including an inspiring keynote address from Stijn Jans, CEO and co-founder of Intigriti.
Alexander De Croo
Prime Minister of Belgium
Prime Minister of Belgium
Sofie Bracke
Deputy Mayor of Ghent
Deputy Mayor of Ghent
Stijn Jans
CEO, Intigriti
CEO, Intigriti
Peter Musschoot
Master of Ceremonies,
Mind the Solution
Master of Ceremonies,
Mind the Solution
Sven De Cleyn
Director, imec.istart
Director, imec.istart
Ali Amin
CEO and Co-Founder, UBI Global
CEO and Co-Founder, UBI Global
Wintercircus
10:45-11:30
Best Practices: Talent
Many incubators and accelerators are measured by the number of jobs created by their startups. But with a global shortage of talent, especially in the STEM fields, what are the strategies and best practices to find tech talent for startups? What are the best practices followed by today's leading incubators and accelerators to find talent?
Many incubators and accelerators are measured by the number of jobs created by their startups. But with a global shortage of talent, especially in the STEM fields, what are the strategies and best practices to find tech talent for startups? What are the best practices followed by today's leading incubators and accelerators to find talent?
Abdullah Snobar
DMZ (Canada)(Moderator)
DMZ (Canada)(Moderator)
Swantje Jung
Head of Marketing, Spin Lab Accelerator (Germany)
Head of Marketing, Spin Lab Accelerator (Germany)
Dr. Rathan Kelkar
IAS, Government of Kerala
IAS, Government of Kerala
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İbrahim Elbaşı
General Manager,
Bilgiyi Ticarilestirme Merkezi (BTM)
General Manager,
Bilgiyi Ticarilestirme Merkezi (BTM)
Wintercircus
10:45-11:30
Best Practices: Globalization
Incubators and accelerators have opened up their enrollment to accept a global cohort of startups. What are the best practices providing the structure needed to find global startup clients and give them the quality and quantity of services they need to be successful? How important is branding and social media? How do top-performing programs attract global investment for their startups?
Incubators and accelerators have opened up their enrollment to accept a global cohort of startups. What are the best practices providing the structure needed to find global startup clients and give them the quality and quantity of services they need to be successful? How important is branding and social media? How do top-performing programs attract global investment for their startups?
Dean MacIsaac
Lead Customer Success Manager, Genesis Centre (Canada)
Lead Customer Success Manager, Genesis Centre (Canada)
Jay Krishnan
CEO,
Accelerator Centre (Canada)
CEO,
Accelerator Centre (Canada)
Paulo Santos
Executive Director of the Business Incubator and Accelerator of Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) in Coimbra
Executive Director of the Business Incubator and Accelerator of Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) in Coimbra
Wintercircus
11:45-12:30
Best Practices: Universities and Entrepreneurship
What is the future-forward arc for university-incubator/accelerator relationships with regard to funding, entrepreneurship pedagogies, talent, ESG, and more.
What is the future-forward arc for university-incubator/accelerator relationships with regard to funding, entrepreneurship pedagogies, talent, ESG, and more.
Marcos Vega
Director Ejecutivo, prendo (Ecuador) (Moderator)
Director Ejecutivo, prendo (Ecuador) (Moderator)
Jon French
Director, University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (Canada)
Director, University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (Canada)
Marika Paakala
Head, Aalto Startup Center (Finland)
Head, Aalto Startup Center (Finland)
Prof. Dr Ghazala Yaqub
Director of Research, Kinnaird Business Incubation Center (Pakistan)
Director of Research, Kinnaird Business Incubation Center (Pakistan)
Wintercircus
11:45-12:30
Best Practices: ESG Strategies
Take a deep dive with the ESG rising starts, as highlighted by the World Benchmark Study 2021-2022 and discover the importance of ESG in future-forward startup program strategies. Learn how our industry is addressing the increasing importance of measuring data points associated with Environmental, Social and Governance and how startups are more investment-ready because of strategies imparted by incubators and accelerators.
Take a deep dive with the ESG rising starts, as highlighted by the World Benchmark Study 2021-2022 and discover the importance of ESG in future-forward startup program strategies. Learn how our industry is addressing the increasing importance of measuring data points associated with Environmental, Social and Governance and how startups are more investment-ready because of strategies imparted by incubators and accelerators.
Karen Brooks
Program Manager at SETsquared (Moderator)
Program Manager at SETsquared (Moderator)
Ebin Ephrem
Mercon Consulting
UBI Global Ecosystem Partner (India)
Mercon Consulting
UBI Global Ecosystem Partner (India)
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Monica Hedberg
Independent Consultant (Sweden)
Independent Consultant (Sweden)
Wintercircus
12:30-14:00
Lunch + Networking
14:00-15:15
Best Practices: Fundraising, Seed Funding, and Sponsorship
It's the most mentioned 'challenge' by the World Benchmark Study 2021-2022 participants - Funding, Seed Funding, and Sponsorships are at the top of every incubator manager's mind. The world's top-performing organizations will share Best Practices in funding including strategies for finding new investors, globalizing startup funding, creating seed funds, seed funding for early-stage startups, and more.
It's the most mentioned 'challenge' by the World Benchmark Study 2021-2022 participants - Funding, Seed Funding, and Sponsorships are at the top of every incubator manager's mind. The world's top-performing organizations will share Best Practices in funding including strategies for finding new investors, globalizing startup funding, creating seed funds, seed funding for early-stage startups, and more.
Roshini Bains
Reporter, Global Corporate Venturing (UK) (Moderator)
Reporter, Global Corporate Venturing (UK) (Moderator)
Kika Armata
Associate Director, McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship (Canada)
Associate Director, McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship (Canada)
Sven De Cleyn
imec.istart Program Director (Belgium)
imec.istart Program Director (Belgium)
Magda Krakowiak
Business Creation Director, EIT Health (Europe)
Business Creation Director, EIT Health (Europe)
Wintercircus
14:00-15:15
Future Playbooks: Looking ahead for incubators and accelerators
How are incubators/accelerators adapting their program to address the needs of future-forward startups in Deep Tech, AI, and other technologies? This session explores how the incubator/accelerator playbook is changing to meet the needs of new technology.
How are incubators/accelerators adapting their program to address the needs of future-forward startups in Deep Tech, AI, and other technologies? This session explores how the incubator/accelerator playbook is changing to meet the needs of new technology.
Richard Chenier
Centech (Canada)
(Moderator)
Centech (Canada)
(Moderator)
Lina Zalat
Associate Director, AUC Venture Lab (Egypt)
Associate Director, AUC Venture Lab (Egypt)
Stefania Schino
TheHill Oxford University Hospitals (UK)
TheHill Oxford University Hospitals (UK)
Dr. Marat Ressin
President, YEDI (Canada)
President, YEDI (Canada)
Prof Dr. Rukhsana David
Rector, Kinnaird College for Women (Pakistan)
Rector, Kinnaird College for Women (Pakistan)
Dr. Yunis İsmayil
Manager, ITU Cekirdek Incubation Center
Manager, ITU Cekirdek Incubation Center
Wintercircus
15:30-16:30
Incubator Toolbox
Come see the latest tools for incubators and accelerators to take your performance and impact to the next level of excellence.
Come see the latest tools for incubators and accelerators to take your performance and impact to the next level of excellence.
Wintercircus
16:30-16:45
Lowering the barrier for startups to develop their own semiconductor chip
Imec.IC-link is the industrial services division of imec, helping innovators, entrepreneurs and universities realize their ideas in silicon by providing low-cost prototyping, volume production, and system integration of electronic assemblies.
Imec.IC-link is the industrial services division of imec, helping innovators, entrepreneurs and universities realize their ideas in silicon by providing low-cost prototyping, volume production, and system integration of electronic assemblies.
Amani Tlili
Innovation Manager, imec
Innovation Manager, imec
Wintercircus
17:00-18:30
Solution Room
Get ready to brainstorm on solving some of the greatest challenges in our incubator and accelerator community!
Get ready to brainstorm on solving some of the greatest challenges in our incubator and accelerator community!
Wintercircus
19:00-22:00
Cultural Evening
Explore Ghent by Boat - Pre-register by May 11 for this enchanting 1-hour guided boat tour through the medieval city of Ghent. The tour leaves from the WIS23 venue for a relaxing cruise through the center of the city. Cost: €15 (Note: this event is optional and not included in your registration fee.)
Explore Ghent by Boat - Pre-register by May 11 for this enchanting 1-hour guided boat tour through the medieval city of Ghent. The tour leaves from the WIS23 venue for a relaxing cruise through the center of the city. Cost: €15 (Note: this event is optional and not included in your registration fee.)
Register by May 11
Time
EVENT
Speakers
Location
8:30-10:00
Traveling to ITF World
Consider this a mobile session 1 that will include some enrichment for delegates.
Consider this a mobile session 1 that will include some enrichment for delegates.
Ghent to Antwerp
Via WIS23
transport buses
transport buses
10:00-16:00
Exploring ITF World
Why is this so valuable we're sending our delegates? Check the ITF World page for more info!
Why is this so valuable we're sending our delegates? Check the ITF World page for more info!
Antwerp, Belgium
ITF World
Conference Center
Conference Center
16:00-17:30
Returning to Ghent
Let's discuss what we
learned at ITF World!
Let's discuss what we
learned at ITF World!
Antwerp to Ghent
Via WIS23
transport buses
transport buses
19:00-22:00
WIS23 Gala & UBI Awards
Recognizing excellence among world top business incubators and accelerators including inspiring speeches, entertainment and a 3 course dinner.
Recognizing excellence among world top business incubators and accelerators including inspiring speeches, entertainment and a 3 course dinner.
Virginie Claes
Gala & UBI Awards Host, Former Miss Belgium
Gala & UBI Awards Host, Former Miss Belgium
Olivier Van Orshoven
Head of Startup.Flanders
Head of Startup.Flanders
Ali Amin
CEO and Co-Founder, UBI Global
CEO and Co-Founder, UBI Global
Wintercircus
22:30-1:00
WIS23 Gala Afterparty
Stick around and have some fun as we end the last evening of WIS23!
Stick around and have some fun as we end the last evening of WIS23!
Wintercircus
Time
EVENT
Speakers
Location
9:00-10:00
Networking
Wintercircus
10:15-10:45
Imec.ic Round Table
Lowering the barrier for startups to develop their own semiconductor chip by Imec.IC-link.Amani Tilli imec.ic-link
Lowering the barrier for startups to develop their own semiconductor chip by Imec.IC-link.Amani Tilli imec.ic-link
Ghent Room
10:15-10:45
Cambrian Round Table
Academic and university spin-offs are the key to bringing innovation to the market, but starting a new venture can be a daunting challenge, especially when dealing with legal, IP, and financial complexities. Join Cambrian for this roundtable where we'll delve into the benefits and challenges of developing standard deal terms for academic spin-offs. We will share our expert insights and recommendations on how to support the growth and success of these ventures.
Academic and university spin-offs are the key to bringing innovation to the market, but starting a new venture can be a daunting challenge, especially when dealing with legal, IP, and financial complexities. Join Cambrian for this roundtable where we'll delve into the benefits and challenges of developing standard deal terms for academic spin-offs. We will share our expert insights and recommendations on how to support the growth and success of these ventures.
Ghent Room
11:00-11:20
UBI Global Round Table
Join CEO and Founder Ali Amin as he gives an exciting talk about the future of your community, the portal, the Benchmark Tool, and the next edition of the World Benchmark Study and World Rankings.
Join CEO and Founder Ali Amin as he gives an exciting talk about the future of your community, the portal, the Benchmark Tool, and the next edition of the World Benchmark Study and World Rankings.
Ghent Room
11:20-12:00
Final announcements and the WIS23 evaluation survey
Ghent Room
Nominate a speaker
Is there a topic you would like to see covered during WIS23? Do you know of a dynamic, inspiring, expert speaker in our industry? Nominate a topic or a speaker here.
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Building Bridges Toward Excellence among top performing incubators and accelerators worldwide.