The #ACESummit 2015 in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Congress took place in Milan on the 18th March at the MiCo - Milano Congressi. During a full day of discussions, interactions and networking, over 150 participants from 15 countries and 50 ACE selected companies met in Milan. Follow the Storify here!

Jim Ward , Board Member (WestBIC) and Giordano Dichter, Head of EU|BIC Services (EBN) at the opening session.

The event ran for a full day and included 26 company pitches to investors from Business Angels Europe, Italian Angels for Growth, EBAN, Orange, iSource, RedAngels and others. A Clinic on Living Labs and how they can help your startup was chaired by ENoLL and the LILA Project, with participations from several EBN Members as experienced living lab practicioners: CUE, Technoport, iMinds and FVH. 

A Watify Doutb session was also organised, featuring five of the ACE selected startups sharing their adventures in business ownership. The Summit was accompanied by an all day exhibition space featuring all the ACE partners and their supported companies, and a total of 35 pre-scheduled meetings between participants took place in the networking area. 

The ACE Summit was honored with the presence of Irish Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney who participated in a lunch with the Irish companies supported through ACE. Bobby McDonagh from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was also present and gave a speech on the Irish startup scene at the Summit's closing session. 

See the profiles of the participating companies here.

Picture gallery coming soon.