Speakers – Tirana Slush'D

Speakers

Meet with our speakers

Peter Vesterbacka

Serial Entrepreneur: Founder of Angry Birds, Slush and mroe

Peter Vesterbacka is an entrepreneur from the Finest Bay Area at the Heart of Eurasia, Helsinki, Finland. Peter Founded and Branded the Angry Birds, Slush, Startup Sauna , HP Bazaar, Mobile Monday to name a few. He was the Mighty Eagle at Angry Birds for many years taking that brand to unprecedented heights. Peter is also currently adjunct professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Tongji University, one of the leading universities in China. In 2011 Time Magazine named Peter one of the 100 most influential people on the planet.

Margarita Khartanovich

Startup Services & Investor Relations at Platform6

With nearly 20 years of experience in technology and media communications, Margarita Khartanovich is passionate about building ambitious and impactful projects. Her expertise spans PR, journalism, digital marketing, investor relations, and venture-building. As a co-founder, team leader, and ecosystem operator, Margarita thrives in multi-stakeholder environments, collaborating with diverse teams to bring ideas to life. Driven by a desire to positively impact industries and lives, she specializes in simplifying complex concepts and delivering tangible results through innovation.

Walid O. El Cheikh

Venture Partner at Baltic Sandbox Ventures

Walid is a Venture Partner at Baltic Sandbox Ventures, operating from our Helsinki office. He is responsible for portfolio support and business development coaching. As a pitching coach and startup mentor, he has worked in dozens of accelerators, incubators, and universities. Walid is the author of the "Pitching For Life" ebook (500k downloads), which he has used to coach over 125k participants. He is active in the startup ecosystem in Finland and Europe, attending conferences as a guest speaker, panelist and pitching judge.

Ardian Hoxha

Entrepreneur & Investor: Founder of Keiretsu Forum SEE, Albafone and more

Ardian is a passionate entrepreneur, investor, and diplomat with a diverse background spanning industries such as education, media, telecommunications, jewelry, and construction. He has founded and invested in numerous ventures, including Keiretsu Forum SEE, Albafone, American School of Kosova, Green & Protein, SushiCo Kosova & Albania, etc. He serves as Treasurer of the Board of Governors at the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo. A founding member of the Rotary Club Prishtina, Ardian is committed to driving innovation and positive change.

Samir Mane

Founder & President at BALFIN Group

Samir Mane is the founder and President of Balfin Group, one of the largest and most influential investment groups in Southeast Europe. With a diverse portfolio spanning retail, real estate, mining, and more, Mane has built a reputation as a visionary leader in business development and investment. Under his leadership, Balfin Group has grown into a multi-sector powerhouse, driving economic growth and innovation across the region.

Andrew Turner

Founder of The G&T Sessions & Investor

Andrew Turner is the General Manager at Praxi Data, leading the expansion of an automated data platform serving industries like healthcare, insurance, and banking. With over 25 years of experience in tech, Andrew specializes in strategic planning, marketing, and account management for global organizations. He is also an investor, founder, and podcast host, sharing insights on tech, data, and automation. Andrew co-organizes tech communities like London TAD and Agile Data London and is currently writing a book on growth and technology.