De-risking your next equity round with Orbit Capital
When we sat down with Radovan Nesrsta last year, we unpacked the mechanics of venture debt. We placed under the microscope how non-dilutive capital gives Central & Eastern Europe scaleups an alternative when traditional bank loans or equity rounds aren’t the right fit. Fast forward twelve months, and the conversation around growth financing has evolved…. Read more »
Building an investor-ready US entity from CEE: Tukel Accounting’s breakdown
Setting up a US presence is one of the highest-leverage moves a European scale-up can make, and one of the fastest ways to trip over unexpected tax, legal and operational wiretraps. Between Delaware flips, state-by-state payroll nexus and intercompany transfer pricing, expanding across the Atlantic demands much more than just a US bank account and… Read more »
The 20 early-stage startups stepping into the Spotlight 2026
Filtering hundreds of early-stage applications down to a tight group of 20 for Spotlight 2026 is equal parts privilege and reality check. It gives us a front-row seat to what Eastern Europe’s sharpest builders are actually getting their hands dirty with behind closed doors. And if last year’s Spotlight cohort was defined by the first… Read more »
The fast-track to global capital – what Spotlight 2026 means for CEE startups
Finding yourself in the right room for seed or pre-seed funding, securing face time with operators who have scaled global tech, and expanding beyond your home market usually means months of flights, cold emails and fragmented coffee meetings across Western tech hubs. Eastern Europe has by all means the capability, potential and drive to stand… Read more »
The six meta themes building How to Web Conference’s 2026 agenda
Speed alone no longer guarantees a win in modern tech. From navigating AI-driven “product slop” to building high-leverage micro-teams, these six core pillars define the real-world dilemmas driving the How to Web Conference 2026 agenda. The initial dust has settled around the AI gold rush, leaving the tech industry at a fascinating crossroads. We are… Read more »
The Product Shift: How Eastern Europe Moved from “Building for Others” to “Building the Future”
For decades, Eastern Europe has been more of an executing force for the large scale tech companies, known for talented workers and high-performing engineering teams. Now, there’s a clear shift in the regional tech ecosystem towards product led-companies that transforms the area into an innovation hub. Far from being just a change in business model,… Read more »
From Ghent to Bucharest and Global: How Showpad Builds Revenue Enablement with AI
At How to Web, we pay close attention to companies that scale globally without losing their product core. Showpad is one of those stories. Founded in Ghent in 2011, Showpad grew from a focused product idea into a global revenue enablement platform used by some of the world’s largest enterprises. Along the way, it expanded… Read more »
The Road to Spotlight: 20 Startups That Made It into the Semifinals
Hundreds of startups applied between May and September. Twenty made it through the selection process. You’re about to meet the founders who built these early stage tech solutions and earned their spot in Eastern Europe’s premier startup competition. What is Spotlight? Spotlight is the leading How to Web Conference’s matchmaking program and competition for the… Read more »
Three Investors Share Their Vision for the Next Decade
As we stand at the threshold of unprecedented technological transformation, venture capitalists are positioning themselves to identify the next wave of breakthrough companies. We spoke with three prominent investors, Karol Lasota, Raya Yunakova, and Julius de Gruyter, to understand their perspectives on where the biggest opportunities lie, what founders they’re backing, and how valuations are… Read more »
Last Chance to Join Spotlight 2025: Accelerate Your Business with Global Mentors, Investors, and €180K Funding
Last days for startups to register for Spotlight, part of the How to Web conference: exclusive meetings with global mentors and investors, a chance to win an investment prize of €180,000, and a €15,000 experience in San Francisco at the European Startup Embassy hub in the Bay Area. The flagship program and competition, dedicated to… Read more »
Over 550 startups will access growth and funding opportunities at How to Web Conference 2025
Early-stage startups can benefit from significant opportunities for growth, investment, and visibility at the most important event dedicated to startups and technology in the region. Bucharest, August 20, 2025 – How to Web Conference, the most important startup and technology event in Eastern Europe, will host multiple programs and formats for over 550 startups at… Read more »
The Leap of Tech #6: Standing Out in the Tech Crowd and Scaling Beyond Borders
The sixth edition of Leap of Tech brought a fresh perspective on global entrepreneurship with guest speaker Daniel Ilinca, Founder and Chairman at Softbinator Technologies. Hosted by Lucian Popovici (Bridging Gaps & Cegeka Romania), Edward Crețescu (Regista & ANIS Romania), and Alexandru Agatinei (How to Web), the event focused on navigating the transition from outsourcing… Read more »