Izabela Disterheft

CEO of Interizon Foundation

CEO of Interizon Foundation – the coordinator of the biggest Polish ICT Cluster – Interizon. Interizon associates over 100 companies, universities and institutions.

Previously, she was the General Director of Gdansk Science & Technology Park (GSTP). She managed the team of industry experts, assuring the smooth operation of the GSTP (its tree buildings, over k40 square meters of laboratory, production and office space, over 100 companies representing the ICT and Biotech sectors and over 1000 people circulating each day in it). Also, she was responsible for supporting and enabling the GSTP’s residents sustainable growth and development.

Before, she was the Head of Investors Development Office at Gdansk Economic Agency Ltd. (the company that is responsible for the economic growth of the City of Gdansk). She was responsible for attracting new investors to the region, she was organizing trade missions (USA, Germany, Denmark) in order to support local entrepreneurs and startups.

She trains on alternative business models and pitching. She is the author and co-author of many initiatives and events. Also, Izabela is the mentor, eg. at Lean in STEM program. She serves as a judge, eg. at MIT TR_Innovators under 35, InnoLabs – Horizon 2020 project). Last but not least, Izabela is also one of the Members of the Program Board of the Coalition for Polish Innovation and leads the New Technology working group.

In December 2015, she was awarded by the Mayor of the City of Gdansk for supporting the local startup scene. In 2017 she joined Startup Poland Foundation as its Ambassador.