Malta’s entrepreneurial spirit recently took centre stage at a dynamic event to discuss the challenges and opportunities defining the local business landscape.
Hosted by the Foundation for the Promotion of Entrepreneurial Initiatives (FPEI) on Thursday 23 January at the Valletta Design Cluster, Entrepreneurs on the Rock – Challenges and Opportunities for the Business-Minded in Malta offered attendees insights into what it truly means to run a local business, in an inspiring evening of networking and candid conversations.
The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including FPEI Chair Joe Tanti, business coach Abigail Agius Mamo and entrepreneur Jonathan Mifsud. Giselle Borg Olivier, FPEI Foundation Manager, moderated the informal panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Malta. While highlighting the realities that founders and freelancers face when starting up, the speakers offered advice on how to leverage the business landscape and the unique opportunities available on the island.
During the discussion, Tanti shared his insights on how the local business scene has changed, drawing from his own extensive experience in supporting businesses and mentoring entrepreneurs. Agius Mamo addressed the common misconceptions that entrepreneurs face when starting a business, as well as the challenges of accessing finance and the critical importance of thorough business planning. Speaking from his personal entrepreneurial experience, Mifsud likewise opened up about his journey as co-founder of a successful startup, underscoring the power of collaboration in the local business sphere.
Bringing together a broad spectrum of Malta’s business community, including freelancers, start-up founders, microentrepreneurs and seasoned professionals, Entrepreneurs on the Rock also offered an invaluable networking opportunity, introducing like-minded individuals to potential collaborators within the Maltese entrepreneurial ecosystem. Attendees connected during a networking session that closed off the evening, fuelled by refreshments kindly provided by The Happy Baker and Piccini wines.
The event marked the 2025 calendar launch for FPEI’s Future Founders Plus community, setting the tone for another inspiring year of growth, collaboration and innovation for businesspeople in Malta. FPEI Future Founders Plus serves as a hub for Malta’s entrepreneurs, offering a supportive environment for those in the business world to become a leader, develop core skills, network with peers or engage with the community.
“The entrepreneurial journey is one of perseverance, creativity and collaboration,” says Giselle Borg Olivier. “Entrepreneurs on the Rock was the perfect chance to get to know FPEI and Future Founders Plus – our growing community of freelancers, founders, small business owners and entrepreneurship enthusiasts right here in Malta. The Future Founders Plus events, running monthly (alternating between in-person and online), are all about guiding and supporting our members, creating genuine conversations and offering a space where everyone can collaborate and flourish. We’re building connections and bringing out the potential in our unique business landscape.”
The next FPEI Future Founders Plus event will be Build your Brand (on a Budget), an engaging webinar held online via Zoom on Thursday 20 February at 10am. To register for this event, visit https://fpei.mt/fpei-member-events/.
