Tbilisi, Georgia – Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) officially begins on November 16, but Georgia's angel investors are getting a head start. On November 13 and 14, Axel – Georgian Business Angel Network is hosting its annual Investment Ecosystem Conference in Tbilisi, closing with STEP – The Beginning of Impossible, a full evening of keynotes, panels and startup showcases that serves as a pre-celebration of GEW in Georgia.
The two days bring investors, founders, corporates and ecosystem leaders together around one question: who backs a founder first? Spots are free but limited, so register for STEP here.
Leadership from the Global Business Angels Network
Founded in June 2021, Axel joined the Global Business Angels Network (GBAN) in 2023 and has since grown to more than 100 angel members. Its Director, Iro Tsagareishvili, is also GBAN's Country Lead for Georgia, linking local angels to co-investors across GEN's global network. At STEP, Tsagareishvili moderates the opening panel, "First Investments – Taking the Leap," with Michael Japaridze (Angel Investor; CEO, ARDI Insurance), Milen Ivanov (Managing Partner, Sofia Angels Ventures) and Farida Ashraf (Investors of the Mediterranean).
Friday: opening the conference
Friday's program opens with remarks from the EU Delegation to Georgia, IFC and Axel, followed by the panel "From Early Steps to the Next Leap," moderated by Jeremy Bauman of the World Bank. Panelists are Bas Godska (serial angel; Acrobat Ventures), George Simongulashvili (EBAN and Axel board member; GEC Consulting), Nina Dremelj (EBAN board member; Managing Partner, Vesna Deep Tech Ventures) and Irakli Chikava (Co-Founder and CEO, TelAgri).
Saturday: STEP, The Beginning of Impossible
On Saturday, Nika Kokhodze, Digital Transformation Lead at Tegeta, opens a block on corporate innovation, followed by a panel moderated by Neil Marshall (ChangeSchool, UK) with Nikoloz Khidureli (Chief Investment Officer, Tegeta), Nikoloz Kobakhidze (Founder and CEO, THE Crossroads) and Huseyn Mahmudov (PASHA Financial Holding / INMerge Ventures). Rusudan Chachanidze (Nairos) then leads "Ahead of the Curve… or Behind It?" with Uri Ferri (Co-Founder and CEO, AI Edge Group), Rhiannon Sheridan (CEO, Lightning Reach) and Mikheil Janelidze (Founder, Rebut; Axel investor).
Three startup showcases run between the sessions, and the evening closes with a fireside chat, "From Local Roots to Global Returns," between Gega Tsurtsumia (Co-Founder and CEO, SAULT; Y Combinator alum, previously Payze) and serial founder and angel investor Lasha Antadze.
Don't miss it: register for STEP
Few evenings put this much early-stage capital in one room. STEP brings together angel investors, venture funds and corporate investors from Georgia, Europe and the wider region, alongside the founders they back. For founders, it's a chance to meet the people who write first checks and watch three startup showcases. For anyone curious about angel investing, it's a front-row seat to how deals start. And it's free.
Places are limited and registration is subject to approval, so sign up now to secure your spot and start GEW a few days early.
Register for STEP – The Beginning of Impossible: registerforstep.axelnetwork.org
