Every year, the Business Stage becomes one of the main gathering points at IT Arena. From the conference opening to packed startup finals, it’s where business leaders, investors, founders, and policymakers come together to discuss what’s next for technology and the global economy.

Here are four reasons to add it to your agenda.

1. Be part of IT Arena’s opening 

The Business Stage traditionally hosts the opening ceremony of the conference, setting the tone for three days of conversations, networking, and discoveries.

It’s the moment when the entire ecosystem comes into one space at the same time. Founders, investors, engineers, policymakers, and media all gather in one room, creating a sense of momentum that defines the rest of the event.

The opening is also one of the most anticipated sessions of IT Arena. The demand speaks for itself: at some editions, held at the Lviv Opera House, attendees were queuing outside, just to secure a seat. That level of interest has made the Business Stage opening a “must-attend” moment rather than just a program item.

Each year, it signals the beginning of a shared conversation about where technology, business, and innovation are heading next — and it often sets the themes that echo throughout the entire conference.

2. Hear from leaders shaping the future of tech

The stage brings together founders, CEOs, investors, and decision-makers from across the global tech ecosystem — people who are actively building, funding, and scaling today’s most influential companies.

Expect conversations on global markets, strategic outsourcing, product development, and how technology is reshaping modern business at scale.

In previous editions, the Business Stage has featured voices like:

• Mike Butcher, former TechCrunch Editor-at-Large, sharing perspectives on European startup ecosystems and global tech trends
• Sacha Michaud, сo-founder of Glovo, speaking about scaling product companies across international markets
• Justin Zeefe, Green Flag Ventures, focusing on investment into emerging tech ecosystems
• Mati Staniszewski, ElevenLabs, discussing AI-native product development and global expansion
• Barry Katz, Stanford/California College of the Arts, exploring innovation and product thinking across industries

Together, these voices reflect what the Business Stage is really about: building companies that scale beyond borders and categories.

3. Get perspectives you won’t hear elsewhere

The Business Stage isn’t limited to the private sector. Government officials and policymakers regularly join the conversation, offering a broader view of how technology, regulation, and economic development intersect.

Last year, the audience heard from Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former Minister of Digital Transformation and current Minister of Defense of Ukraine — one of the key figures driving the country’s digital transformation and tech policy agenda.

Alongside him, panels have included voices from both government and ecosystem leadership, such as:

• Oksana Berezhna, General Director of the Directorate for Innovation and Science Liaison with the Real Sector of the Economy at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine
• Oleksandr Bornyakov, Acting Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
• Kateryna Chernohorenko, former Deputy Minister of Defense 

Among the confirmed speakers for IT Arena 2026 is Natalia Denikeieva, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and Director of the Diia.City project office — contributing insights on Ukraine’s digital economy, regulatory environment, and the evolution of the country’s innovation ecosystem.

This mix of government, policy, and industry makes the Business Stage one of the few places where you can hear how decisions are made — not just how products are built.

4. Witness the Startup Competition Grand Final

This is where the energy of IT Arena reaches its peak.

The Startup Competition Grand Final brings together the most promising startups selected from hundreds of applications. On stage, founders pitch live in front of a jury of experienced investors, venture capitalists, and industry leaders — with everything on the line in just a few minutes.

The atmosphere is intense, fast-paced, and highly competitive. Every pitch can turn into a potential investment deal, a partnership, or a breakthrough moment for a young company. For many attendees, this is where they first discover the next big names in tech before they hit the global stage.

The hall is consistently packed, with standing-room crowds gathering to watch the final decisions unfold. The Awards Ceremony that follows is a highlight in its own right, celebrating the winners who stand out among some of the most ambitious startups in the region.

The Business Stage is where IT Arena becomes a snapshot of the global tech ecosystem in motion.

Across two days, it brings together the people building companies, funding them, regulating them, and scaling them across markets. From opening moments to high-stakes startup pitches, it’s a space where ideas don’t stay theoretical — they turn into decisions, partnerships, and direction for the industry.

If you’re building, investing, or simply tracking where technology is heading next, this is the stage you don’t want to miss.

Join us at IT Arena 2026 and experience the Business Stage live in Lviv.