VOL 1 of Innovation Georgia marks the first of five major events scheduled over the next two years, each six months apart and complemented by smaller, invite-only private sessions that dive deeper into each Main Event’s core and side themes.
Every Main Event highlight one startup-related focus and one specialized side focus—with VOL 1 spotlighting Hospitality Tech & Service as its Side Focus.
Tbilisi, Georgia — May 29, 2025 — Wyndham Grand Tbilisi will host the landmark kickoff of Innovation Georgia VOL 1, an ambitious and future-focused event series dedicated to reinvigorating Georgia’s startup and hospitality sectors through innovation, education, and investment. Organized by Waiter Call in partnership with the Founder Institute, this first-of-its-kind initiative is designed to empower Georgia’s entrepreneurial and service communities, bringing together the best minds from startups, AI, tech, hospitality, and investment.
A National Call to Action for Innovation and Impact
In the wake of declining tourism and weakened investor confidence, Innovation Georgia VOL 1 sets out to restore trust in Georgia’s economic ecosystem. The event champions a forward-thinking vision to:
- Rebuild investor engagement by restoring Georgia’s credibility as a viable business environment.
- Elevate hospitality standards by integrating cutting-edge technology and training.
- Equip entrepreneurs and startups with hands-on resources, exposure, mentorship, and a chance to pitch their ideas in front of seasoned investors and advisors.
Power-Packed Agenda with Local and International Voices
The daylong program will feature keynote speeches, dynamic panels, and networking opportunities, including:
- Panel 1: Product Development in the AI Era & “Vibe Coding” — exploring how AI is reshaping the way startups build and scale.
- Panel 2: Hospitality, Tourism & Service Resilience — addressing the region’s challenges and how technology can uplift service standards.
- Startup Pitch Session: Select entrepreneurs will pitch live to a panel of expert investors and receive real-time feedback.
- Georgia Hospitality Awards 2025: Honoring standout innovation and leadership in the hospitality sector.
- Pitch Training: Online on 28th of May, for selected students and startups by Ivaylo Ivanov and other investors.
A Stellar Lineup of Visionaries and Leaders
The event will welcome influential panelists and jurors, each bringing their global insight and local relevance to the table.
• Maria Voskanyan – WOMEN IN TECH ® Global
• Nato Chakvetadze – Women Techmakers (Google Community)
• Deborah Sivertsen – Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
• Nana Akhobadze CXAC (Cert) – CX Hub • Customer Experience Management Agency & TBC
• Tornike Tsiramua – ex Biliki AI & Biliki App & Mentor at Google For Startups
• Natia Jibladze, PhD, CXAC (Cert) – CX Hub • Customer Experience Management Agency & TBC
- Alexander Kvaratskhelia– Marriott International
• Ivica Lovrić – Radisson RED Tbilisi
• Ivan Germanov – Founder Institute CEE
• Ivaylo Ivanov – Founder Institute CEE
• Elyar Akhi – Waiter Call
A Vision Beyond May 2025
Innovation Georgia is not a one-off event — it is the first in a multi-year series that will continue through 2027, with each volume deep-diving into critical themes such as AI & Robotics (Vol 2), Green Tech & Sustainability (Vol 3), and more. In parallel, a sequence of Private Deeper Dive Sessions (VOL 1.1 to VOL 1.4) will provide intensive training for startups on perfecting pitches, paperwork, service quality, and tech deployment.
Why Attend?
- For Entrepreneurs & Startups: Validate, pitch, and network with investors.
- For Students: Learn directly from founders and industry leaders, pitch your idea.
- For Investors: Discover and support the next generation of Georgian startups.
- For Hospitality Leaders: Access insights on tech integration and industry trends.
All attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation, exclusive 50% discount to the Global Tech Weekend Tbilisi, and unique access to follow-on training and mentorship opportunities.
Event Details
🗓 Date: May 29, 2025
🕥 Time: 10:30 AM
📍 Venue: Wyndham Grand Tbilisi
🎟 Registration: waitercall.ge/events
📩 Inquiries: [email protected]
📩 Partnerships: https://forms.office.com/e/WB8igY3jbZ
Join us as we reimagine Georgia’s innovation landscape — one pitch, one panel, and one partnership at a time.
About Waiter Call
An award-winning Georgian startup serving 50+ restaurant companies across Turkey, Georgia, Ethiopia, and Poland, Waiter Call helps hospitality businesses decrease staff workloads and improve guest experiences through AI tools.
About Founder Institute
Based in Silicon Valley, with a presence in over 100 countries and a $20BN+ estimated portfolio value, the Founder Institute is the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, connecting entrepreneurs with mentors and investors globally.
