0100 Emerging Europe 2026

Thomas has more than 25 years of international experience in the investment industry. He worked with banks in Prague and New York as well as investment firms in London, Vienna and Zürich in senior leadership roles and was managing investment teams in the asset classes equities, alternatives and private markets. In 2017 he assumed the role as Head of Private Markets at Erste Asset Management GmbH, where he built up the team and established the private markets activities and product offerings. He acts as Managing Director at Erste Private Capital S.à r.l. and holds board seats at active investments. Thomas has an engineering background as a graduate of the technical college TGM (Vienna), received his degree in International Business at the University of Vienna, passed the private equity program at University of Oxford and is a CFA Institute charter holder.

Pavel Dvorak is a Principal at the EBRD where he focuses primarily on investments in venture capital and private equity funds across the EBRD region. In his previous role of a an economist at the EBRD he developed country and sector strategies, assessed the development impact of investments in a number of sectors including TMT and healthcare and developed new approaches to supporting innovation in the region. Before joining the EBRD, he was a management consultant at Deloitte in Prague. Pavel holds a Ph.D. in Economics from CERGE-EI in Prague and is a CFA and CAIA charter holder.

Petr is a Senior Investment Director at Schroders Capital covering private equity secondary investment activities in Europe, with a focus on lower mid-market GP-led transactions. Before joining Schroders Capital in 2017, Petr spent 4 years at Montana Capital Partners where he was an Associate conducting due diligence on secondary opportunities globally. Petr holds a Master degree in Quantitative Economics and Finance from University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Rozalia Urbanek, Investment Director at PFR Ventures. She is responsible for investments in PE and VC funds. She has 8 years of experience in venture capital and private equity (before worked at PineBridge Investment and ForeVest), and 2 years of experience in transaction advisory (due diligence and M&A at EY). She completed the CEMS MIM program at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and the Warsaw School of Economics.

Managing Partner of the leading €165mn PE fund in the Baltics INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund managed by the leading asset management group in the Baltics – Invalda INVL, active since 1991. Currently serves as deputy chairperson of the largest environmental management group’s AS Eco Baltia supervisory board and chairperson of supervisory board of its subsidiary AS PET Baltija. Before joining INVL was one of the leading M&A experts in Lithuania with extensive experience in transaction structuring and negotiations, who advised local and international clients on deals with the combined value of almost €2 billion. Deimante enjoys travelling, reading and doing sports (kitesurfing, snowboarding and running) in her free time.

Ieva is a board member at ALTUM – Latvia’s national promotional institution owned by Latvian State, where she is responsible for investments and cooperation with VC and Private equity funds. ALTUM in Latvia is the biggest govermental LP investing in VC and PE funds with generalist approach. Ievas previous work experience is related to the finance sector, working in senior positions in corporate banking and running her on consultantcy business in M&A deals.

Andrzej Pietrzak joined Innova in 2013. Previously he worked as an Analyst for Advent International Global Private Equity. Prior to this he did internships with Advent International and UniCredit CAIB. Andrzej graduated from Warsaw School of Economics with a master’s degree in Finance and Accounting and bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Accounting and Management. He has passed all three levels of CFA exams.

Carsten is Vice President of IPO & Growth Financing at Deutsche Börse and based in Berlin/Germany. His responsibilities include the support of VC-backed growth companies preparing for an IPO as well as the primary market subscription functionality “DirectPlace”. He also contributes to strategic projects at the intersection of private and public capital markets with focus on private secondary liquidity. Before joining Deutsche Börse in 2019, Carsten gained experience at the startup incubator and investor Rocket Internet, and in corporate banking. He holds a master’s degree in Corporate Finance and is Certified Private Equity Analyst (CPEA).