#Slovenia #Bled School #Bled #Future 500 #Atlantic Council

Introducing the Future 500 Forum

On September 1, 2025, a groundbreaking event will unfold at the IEDC – Bled School of Management in Slovenia. The Future 500 Forum seeks to unite some of Europe’s top minds, including policymakers, investors, unicorn founders, and innovators, with a singular focus: to nurture and elevate promising businesses into global leaders.

This initiative, jointly led by the Atlantic Council and the IEDC, along with collaborations from the Bled Strategic Forum, Podim, and ISR – Institute for Strategic Solutions, targets scale-ups from Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, as well as the EU. The goal is to bridge the gap between ambitious entrepreneurs and the essential capital, partners, and policies they require for expansion.

A Timely Response to Scale-Up Challenges

Europe is increasingly feeling the pressure to maintain its competitiveness in light of rapid technological advancements and changing global business models. The Future 500 Forum aims to spotlight emerging champions from the region, engage them in political discussions, enhance their global visibility, and facilitate access to strategic growth capital.

The inaugural event promises to feature high-profile discussions among visionary entrepreneurs, EU commissioners, prime ministers, finance ministers, and notable investors. It will showcase the first cohort of Europe’s scale-up pioneers while laying the groundwork for a long-term initiative that interconnects businesses, capital, and policy.

Building Bridges Between Innovation and Investment

Confirmed speakers at the forum include Jozef Síkela, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, and Mariya Gabriel, President of the Robert Schuman Foundation, among other influential entrepreneurs and decision-makers.

As articulated by Stjepan Orešković, Chair of the IEDC Supervisory Board and founder of Future 500, this initiative is a long-overdue awakening. It strives to unlock the potential of brilliant founders from cities like Kraków, Sofia, Vodnjan, Belgrade, Ljubljana, or Cluj—transforming them from hidden champions into global players. The forum is here to provide them with capital, visibility, and transatlantic support, reminding Europe that the future belongs to those who build it.

Ensuring Recognition and Capital for Talented Entrepreneurs

Part of the new SEEUS Initiative (Southeast Europe United for Success), driven alongside the IEDC, the Future 500 shines a light on the untapped talents that Europe already possesses to lead globally. What’s needed is scale. Jörn Fleck, Senior Director at the Atlantic Council's Europe Center, emphasizes that the entrepreneurs from the region have the capacity to build transformative companies that can revolutionize sectors like technology, AI, sustainability, and manufacturing.

However, too many are forced to seek growth capital or recognition abroad. The Future 500 Forum aspires to connect the entrepreneurial ecosystem's key players directly with policy-makers, investors, and transatlantic partners in Europe, ensuring their efforts are recognized as a strategic opportunity for Europe. This initiative aims to pave the way for meaningful, lasting impact across the region.

Conclusion

To learn more about this pivotal event and the Future 500 platform, visit www.future500forum.com. Join us as we embark on a journey to transform Europe’s entrepreneurial landscape and empower the next generation of global champions.