Baltic VCA Summit 2026
"No man is an island"

August 27–28, 2026 · Haapsalu, Estonia

About the Summit

The Baltic VCA Summit is the largest regional LP-GP gathering in the Baltics, bringing together Private Equity and Venture Capital industry players for over a decade. In 2026, we return to Haapsalu for two days of programming, conversations and networking.

This year's central thesis:

Capital is becoming geopolitical, regional and strategic
Small, open economies must coordinate or risk being left behind
The Baltics must evolve from separate startup ecosystems into a coordinated capital region
Public capital, pension funds, VC, PE and industrial investors must align from early stage to exit

Get tickets

Programme — Day 1 (August 27)

Arrivals & Registration
Welcome lunch, registration & badge collection

11:00-13:00
2 hours

Opening — Why This Summit Matters Now

Hosts of the day: Andra Bagdonaite (FIRSTPICK) and Tim Vaino (Practica Capital)

13:00
10 min

ACT I REALITY

A Fragmenting World: Capital, Security & the End of Globalization
How geopolitics is reshaping capital flows and what it means for Baltic investors and founders.

Speakers: Sten Tamkivi (Plural), Rainer Sternfeld (NordicNinja VC) and moderated by Taavi Veskimägi.

13:10
30 min

Europe’s Untapped Capital: Can Pension Funds Power Economic Growth?

What drives a strong economy, where do we stand today — and what role can institutional capital play in the local economy.

Speakers: Merete Clausen (EIF), Madis Müller, Ene Õunmaa (Swedbank), Vahur Vallistu (LHV) and moderated by Maarja Pärs (Livonia).

13:40
40 min

From Baltics to New Nordics: Do Small Markets Need to Merge to Survive?
The case for a coordinated Baltic-Nordic capital region. What would it actually take?

Speakers: Michael Joyce (Isomer Capital), Samuel Wendelin (TESI) and moderated by Rando Rannus (Siena Secondary Fund).

14:20
30 min

Networking roundtables

Informal networking roundtables by topic. All roundtables will be marked, and hosts will be there to welcome participants, share insights and facilitate discussion.

Table 1 – Academic Spinout Blueprint
Host: Mart Maasik, Nordic Science Investments

Table 2 – Co-investment Funding for Early-Stage Companies
Host: Jana Budkovskaja, BSV Ventures, EstBAN

Table 3 – DefenceTech
Host: Iron Wolf Capital team

Table 4 – Pension Funds
Host: Maarja Pärs, Livonia Partners

14:50
60 min

ACT II RESPONSE

Can the Baltics Win Global Capital?

A discussion on how family offices compare the Baltics with global opportunities, what local VC managers need to compete internationally and how the changing venture market will shape allocations in 2027.

Speakers: Justinas Milašauskas (Willgrow), Andreas Palm (Skaala) and moderated by Andra Bagdonaite (FIRTSPICK)

15:50
30 min

16:20
40 min

PE Meets VC: The Convergence of Private Markets
The blurring line between PE and VC and what it means for founders, LPs and deal structures in the Baltics.

Speakers: Ska Sijia Du (Karma Ventures), Šarūnas Šiugžda (LitCapital), Hendrik Reimand (2C Ventures) and moderated by Tim Vaino (Practica Capital)

Healthcare investment case study in private equity Medicum

Speakers: Tõnis Allik and Annika Uudelepp (Medicum)

17:00
30 min

ACT III EXECUTION

The Fine Print of Defence Capital
Different documents, different LPs, different clock. A GP, an LP and a deal lawyer on what changes when a venture fund goes defence — from portfolio construction to LP mandates and the terms that get papered.

Speakers: Quirin Herz, Mirko Kikkamägi (TEGOS), Kasparas Jurgelionis (Iron Wolf Capital) and moderated by Marili Merendi (SmartCap).

17:30
30 min

18:00
30 min

New Frontiers for Early-Stage Investment. Lessons learned in small ecosystems.

Speakers: Justinas Pagirys (SpringWater),Siim Teller (Norrsken Evolve), Raimonds Kuhlbergs (Bad Ideas Fund) and moderated by Linda Võeras.

18:30
10 min

Closing Remarks and industry news

18:40

Networking break before dinner. Fun activities and pre-dinner drinks.

Official Dinner Party at Kuursaal
Dinner by Haapsalu Kuursaal, belongs to the Siigur Restaurant Collection, led by Executive Chef Tõnis Siigur, whose work has helped shape the Estonian restaurant scene for more than three decades.

Enjoy beautiful seaside location with dance music delivered by DJ ULA and DJ pm2theam.

20:00
4 hrs

About the Official Dinner Party

Haapsalu Kuursaal is one of Estonia’s most romantic seaside restaurants, set in a historic wooden pavilion on the Haapsalu promenade. As the only building of its kind preserved in its original form, the Kuursaal carries the elegance and atmosphere of a bygone era while offering a warm and memorable dining experience today.

The kitchen at Haapsalu Kuursaal is inspired by the rhythm of the season and the character of the surrounding region. The menu combines fresh local ingredients, classic summer flavours and refined restaurant craftsmanship. Guests can enjoy an à la carte menu, carefully selected wines and refreshing cocktails.

The main artist PM2AM has performed DJ sets at the music festivals throughout the Baltics. He regularly plays DJ sets in nightclubs in Latvia and neighboring countries. He performs annually at Simple Session, one of the most well-known extreme sports competitions in the world. Represents Turntablism duo Skrapneshi, where he produces original songs and remixes. PM2AM scratches can be heard in several songs of popular Latvian hip-hop artists. He is now touring with Ozols, a legendary hip-hop artist from Latvia.

Programme — Day 2 (August 28)

Day 2 is deliberately informal — designed to deepen relationships built on Day 1.

Karma Run Club
Start and finish at Wiigi kohvik (Suur Lossi tn 25) Register here.

07:30
60 min

TEGOS Padel Tournament

Haapsalu Padel (Ranna tee 4, Haapsalu). Register here.

10:00
2,5 hours

Defence Tech Capital Allocation: A Morning Roundtable by Iron Wolf Capital at Fra Mare Thalasso Hotel, conference room (Ranna tee 2).

Register here.

10:30
1,5 hours

Siena Art Tour
Evald Okas Museum, Epp Maria Kokamägi Art Gallery, Haapsalu City Gallery. We will start the art tour together at Haapsalu Culture Center (Posti 3) , where you will be divided into groups. Make sure you arrive a few minutes before.Register here.