Ioan Istrate stands at the intersection of deep tech, policy, and entrepreneurship, blending strategic innovation with expertise in M&A, governance, and capacity building for emerging technologies.
His career is defined by high-impact roles—ranging from winning the XPRIZE Visioneers 2016 competition to advising leading science-driven organizations worldwide.
He played a pivotal role in establishing his home country’s national AI governance framework and continues to provide pro-bono advisory for startups tackling major social impact challenges.
With over a decade of experience across consulting, entrepreneurship, and policy, Ioan has built a global track record in shaping strategies for organizations navigating frontier technologies.
An Atlantic Council Millennium Fellow (2024) and part of the NATO DIANA network, he is deeply committed to ensuring that innovation in AI and other deep tech domains aligns with societal needs and ethical principles. Ioan holds an MBA with Merit Fellowship from UCLA Anderson and is currently pursuing advanced studies in the ethics and societal impact of AI at the University of Cambridge.
Other featured speakers
Andrei Dudoiu
CEO & Co-Founder @ SeedBlink @ SeedBlink
Andrei Dudoiu is the CEO and Co-Founder of SeedBlink, one of Europe’s most dynamic investment platforms focused on tech startups and equity management.
Alexander Agureev
Investor @ Northzone
Alex focuses on growth-stage companies across enterprise, fintech, and infrastructure & developers both in Europe and on the East Coast. He is particularly interested in verticalized solutions that cater to underserved market niches and have the potential to disrupt sleepy market incumbents.
Pavel Petrek
General Partner @ Tilia Impact Ventures
Pavel Petrek is the General Partner at Tilia Impact Ventures, the first impact venture capital fund in the Czech Republic, backing founders in Central and Eastern Europe who are solving the region’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
Stefan Walter
Co-Founder & Managing Partner @ Nap
Stefan holds degrees in finance, tax law and business administration, and supports founders in areas such as funding, fundraising strategy, financial modeling, and investor communications.