In this on‑site interview at the 2nd Malta Blockchain Summit, Eman Pulis – CEO and founder of the Malta AI & Blockchain Summit – explains how the event was conceived during a deep crypto winter, grew to over 5,500 attendees (the largest of its kind in 2019), and became a showcase for Malta’s progressive regulatory environment. He highlights two government‑driven pillars that make Malta attractive: a forthcoming legal framework granting DAOs their own legal personality and a suite of incentives for AI companies. Pulis shares practical advice for replicating such events elsewhere – find passionate, experienced organizers; create a dedicated account‑manager team; provide a robust networking app; and foster informal connections (wine, cigars, meals). He outlines the summit’s three verticals (blockchain, AI, and expansion) and reveals plans to extend the brand to the Middle East, especially Dubai, while noting the talent pipelines in Estonia and Kyiv and the potential for similar initiatives in Finland. Throughout, he stresses that successful events are built on personal relationships and delivering tangible networking value to participants.
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TranscriptAuto-generated · 7 min
So, Mr. Mampolis, the CEO and the inventor of Malta AI and Blockchain Summit, welcome. I'm so happy to have you here with me. You've been very busy all day, so basically I've been chasing after you. How are you doing?
I'm doing great, and thanks for having me. Crypto Granny, I can say that, right?
Absolutely, Crypto Granny, that's the thing. So the day is beautiful, the weather is amazing. Obviously you made the order for that as well. We've been again experiencing an amazing event that obviously has required a lot of work. This is the 2nd Malta Blockchain Summit taking place here in Malta. Tell me, how did you come up with the idea to start with an event like this?
Well, let's say, let's start with the obvious, the bull has woken up, the sun is shining, so the industry is buzzing. But we didn't start the show when the bull woke up 2 weeks ago. We started working on this show when there was one of the worst crypto winters that we have experienced so far. So it was an uphill struggle, but today we have over 5,500 people, making it the largest show in the world in its category for 2019. Please, please, please.
It is amazing, it really is. And obviously, us at ConsenSys Network, myself coming from Finland, the Nokia country, but kind of maybe missing the train here. Obviously, we are very curious on hearing from you some tips and some ideas how something similar could be done in Finland in the blockchain and crypto scene.
Oh, find those guys who have been organizing events all their life. Who really are passionate about bringing people together. Ultimately, I think if someone can create an environment where great minds can meet, they have a reason to go to that place, the magic will happen on its own. I'll tell you the secret sauce of Malta. Yes, I'm an events guy, and yes, I love bringing people together, but I think what makes this place buzzing, at least this time in May, were 2 factors. The government is planning to launch a 4th legal framework to give the DAO its own legal personality. So we brought all the brightest minds in blockchain to discuss these ideas. And point number 2 is about artificial intelligence. We threw in artificial intelligence into the pot because the government of Malta is planning a set of incentives to bring more artificial intelligence companies companies to Malta. So we brought all these AI minds to discuss ideas and suggest best way forward.
And that, that is exactly the thing. And you have just mentioned the 2 things that actually we believe as well that should be the ones in place in Finland. Obviously AI is one of them, uh, the inventive country with all these, uh, you know, tech-savvy guys, that's something we have. But obviously we are so keen in looking into having the government supporting the initiatives in a similar way as here in Malta on the blockchain island.
You guys could be killing it in terms of an event, and I would love to have the opportunity to work with one of your locals one day. Let's not forget there's also a very vibrant hub for developers in neighboring Estonia, for example, and also in Kyiv. And so if you manage to find a scheme that will bring, for example, blockchain developers to Helsinki, I'm sure that would attract a lot of companies who are desperate for quality talent.
And that's actually what I personally believe as well. So we just need to, you know, get the courage and start doing things, and hopefully the government to support that in any way. And you're also looking into the Middle East region as your next new stop in, in this adventure. Would you like something small about that?
Absolutely. So, so we work in 3 big verticals. Blockchain and AI is one of them, and it's time to spread our wings offshore, outside of Malta and outside of Europe. And we think what the governments across the Emirates and also in parts of the Middle East region are doing is nothing short of exceptional. And we want to go there, read, listen, see what the governments are doing, and complement what they're doing by bringing the greatest minds To Dubai.
Yes, and I'm sure that especially in Dubai, they do appreciate this, you know, small specialty that we all got to experience on the opening night dinner, that after the dessert— that was, by the way, very beautiful and tasty— there was people going around and offering these huge cigars. Unfortunately, I don't smoke, but I know they would appreciate that in Dubai for sure.
Oh, I look forward to giving as many cigars as I can in Dubai. This is part of our brand. We love wining and dining. We believe business is not done between companies, but it's done between people. And one way of connecting, it could be a glass of wine, it could be a nice meal, could be a cigar, whatever it takes, we will make it happen in Malta, in Dubai, or wherever we're showcasing.
And probably in Finland, we would add on a sauna. tour for everyone and have a swim in the sea.
We'll do business over a sauna one of these days.
One final thing. What is your secret when you manage year after year, event after event, to attract these big names, the celebrities within the scene, if possible, to participate and come and speak here in your events?
Listen, ultimately people are after one thing. Okay, they want to have a great time, fine. But most of all, they want to go back home with a stack of warm business cards saying, listen, I spent so much coming to Malta— flights, hotel— but I gained so much. If you manage to hit that formula, no matter what you do next, they're going to come back. And that's what we're trying to do. We don't just tell them to come. We don't just tell people to attend, but we also make sure that we take the initiative to connect them to the people they need. So we have one of the best networking apps, for example, We also have a big team of 50 people with account managers who look after you like you're one of theirs. And I think this is one of our best recipes for success.
That is true. And surely you have succeeded. Everyone is so happy, smiling, really having a good time. And obviously, I want to congratulate you for another great summit that we all have been invited to join and have a good time. And every success in the future to you and, and the summit as well.
I look forward to seeing you at my next show in November.
