On January 22, 2026, between 17:00 and 22:30, the Cross-Border eCommerce Meetup Budapest took place at Rumbachspace. The event was dedicated to eCommerce businesses aiming to grow beyond their domestic markets and explore cross-border opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe.
The meetup was hosted by the Cross-Border Commerce Association, with the support of Marketplace & Cross-Border Summit and Balkan eCommerce Summit.
The event gathered around 50 participants, with approximately 75% being owners of online stores from a wide range of product categories. The discussions focused on practical approaches to international expansion, with a strong emphasis on collaboration between businesses from Hungary and Poland.
The evening was structured around three main segments:
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Introductory presentation followed by an open Q&A with the organizers;
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Small-group discussions on specific cross-border eCommerce topics and real business challenges;
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Open networking, encouraging direct exchange of experience, insights, and potential partnerships.
The format intentionally avoided heavy presentations and theoretical models, prioritizing real cases, actionable insights, and hands-on discussions relevant to companies actively planning cross-border growth.
Key topics covered during the meetup included:
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Cross-border expansion opportunities in the CEE region;
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Entering new markets through local expertise and market-specific know-how;
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Proven and realistic strategies for scaling eCommerce businesses internationally.
In parallel with the meetup, a podcast episode was recorded as part of a new series hosted by Marcin Pondo and the Cross-Border Commerce Association, with the special participation of Nikola Ilchev, PhD, from Balkan eCommerce Summit. The conversation focused on several timely and practical themes, including:
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The adoption of the Euro in Bulgaria and its implications for businesses;
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How companies from Poland and Hungary can successfully enter the Romanian and Bulgarian markets;
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Real-life examples of profitable cross-border strategies;
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The role of influencers, niche channels, and local market knowledge in building sustainable international growth.
The Budapest meetup once again demonstrated that successful cross-border eCommerce is driven not by platforms or tools alone, but by meaningful conversations, shared experience, and practical collaboration between market players.
We expect all the special guests in April in Sofia for the next meetup, continuing the conversation on cross-border growth and international eCommerce opportunities: balkanecommerce.com