ArmInfo. Armenia – On September 20, 2025, the Gateway to EU Congress, a flagship international event fostering cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange, concluded its two-day program in Yerevan, gathering over 40 leading European angel investors alongside Armenian startup founders, angel investors, venture capitalists, and policymakers.
Hosted at AI9, the congress was co-organized by BANA Angels, STAN (Science and Technology Angels Network), and AICA (Angel Investor Club of Armenia) in collaboration with EBAN – the European Business Angel Network.
Gateway to Europe is organised by EBAN, BANA Angels, Science & Technology Angels Network (STAN) and Angel Investor Club of Armenia (AICA) with support from the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, funded by the Government of Armenia, and the EU4Innovation East project, funded by the European Union, co-funded by the French Government and implemented by Expertise France.
The event opened with welcome speeches from:
Vassilis Maragos, EU Ambassador
Gevorg Papoyan, Minister of Economy
Julien Schmitt, Expertise France
Jacopo Losso, Director, EBAN
Françoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator
Sona Veziryan, President, BANA
These remarks emphasized Armenia’s growing role as a bridge between European investors and regional innovation opportunities.
Jacopo Losso, EBAN Director, noted:
“Armenia is positioning itself as a dynamic hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurship. By bringing together European and Armenian investors, we strengthen the ties that lead to sustainable growth.”
Sona Vesiryan, President at President, Business Angel Investor Networks Union and Support NGO, added:
“Gateway to EU is more than an event – it is a movement that unlocks capital, mentorship, and global networks for Armenian startups.”
Event Highlights
40+ European angel investors participated from 15 countries
6 panel discussions and 3 round-table sessions on key topics:
Women Entrepreneurs Confronting Barriers and Creating Change
Connecting and Investing with the Diaspora
Fundraising from International Investors – Best Practices for Founders
Role of Angels in Supporting Portfolio Companies
Public-Private Co-Investment Fund Design
Best Practices for Startup Ecosystems
Showcase of leading Armenian startups (Kartes Analytica, Qualia Therapeutics, CoinPlus, Caselens)
Gala Dinner hosted at Megerian Carpet
Site Visits & Cultural Program
On the second day, international guests visited:
TUMO Center for Creative Technologies – a global model for creative education
ServiceTitan (NASDAQ: TTAN) – Armenia’s first Decacorn
Garni Temple – highlighting Armenia’s rich cultural heritage
These visits showcased the strength of Armenia’s talent pipeline and tech ecosystem.
About Gateway to EU
Gateway to EU Congress featured distinguished speakers and panelists from the EBAN network, bringing insights, experience, and connections from across Europe’s innovation and investment landscape.. Learn more at gatewaytoeurope-armenia.eu.
