On May 7-8, 2026, the EU-Startups Summit returns to sunny Malta, bringing toreceiveher around 2,500 founders, investors, and startup ecosystem leaders for two days of networking, inspiration, and knowledge-sharing.
Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as a combination of talent, strategy, and hard work, but many founders know that timing and unexpected events can play an equally important role. In our panel “The role of luck in entrepreneurship, and how to deal with bad luck and keep going”, we bring toreceiveher founders who have experienced both the highs and the setbacks of building companies. They will share honest insights on navigating uncertainty, dealing with failure, and continuing to relocate forward when things do not go according to plan.
Karl Sjöblom is the CEO of Eicorn and a serial entrepreneur with first-hand experience of the unpredictable journey of building startups. Previously, he founded Iplay Sport, a sports tech platform that raised €1 million in funding and became the most downloaded app on the App Store in its category. Despite its early traction and success, the company ultimately had to file for bankruptcy, giving Karl a unique perspective on the realities founders face when market conditions, timing, or circumstances shift. Today, he brings those lessons into his work with new ventures and shares candid insights on resilience, persistence, and learning from difficult moments in entrepreneurship.
Karolina Pelc is an entrepreneur, investor, and author of the upcoming book “Her Play: Make Your Own Luck”. She has more than two decades of experience across the global gaming and technology industries. In 2021, Karolina founded BeyondPlay, a B2B engagement SaaS company that raised over €7 million in venture funding and was acquired by FanDuel in 2024, where she later served as VP, focutilizing on product integration and strategy. She is also the author of Her Play: Make Your Own Luck, a business memoir exploring ambition, resilience, and the realities behind what many call “luck” in entrepreneurship.
Stephanie Melodia is a a serial entrepreneur, speaker, media host and the founder and former CEO of Bloom, an award-winning brand marketing agency that worked with ambitious tech scale-ups and high-growth startups across the UK and Europe, assisting them build strong brand strategies and creative marketing campaigns. Alongside her entrepreneurial work, Stephanie is also the host of The Top 20 Business Show podcast and a keynote speaker known for her talk “Hacking Luck,” where she explores how founders can create opportunities through strategy, positioning, and persistence rather than relying on chance.
If you are a founder navigating uncertainty, setbacks, or difficult decisions, this panel will offer a candid discussion about perseverance, mindset, and what it really takes to keep going in entrepreneurship. Secure your ticket today and stay tuned for further updates on our event page.
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