How can succession be carried out effectively? How can the next generation be prepared to take responsibility for the business? When should ownership be separated from management? How can family businesses finance their growth and international expansion, while protecting the wealth accumulated over generations? These and many other questions will be addressed during the Family Business Forum, taking place on 29 September 2026 at the Mała Wieś Palace.
The event will provide a platform for owners of family businesses, successors, experts, as well as representatives of institutions and organisations supporting family entrepreneurship to meet and exchange experiences.
Succession – More Than Just Passing on a Business
The first thematic block will focus on succession – one of the most important processes currently facing family businesses. Participants will discuss how to plan succession in a way that protects both the business and family relationships.
The discussion will address, among other topics, the most common mistakes made by business owners and successors, preparing the next generation to take responsibility, the professionalisation of management, and the point at which ownership and management should be separated. The psychological dimension of succession will also be explored, including differences in the approaches of founders and younger generations and ways of combining the experience and perspectives of both sides.
Capital for Growth and Expansion
The next thematic block will focus on financing the growth of family businesses. Dynamic growth, investment and international expansion require an appropriate capital base, which is why experts will discuss available financing instruments – from bank loans and public capital to private equity and private debt.
The role of external investors will also be an important topic. Can a private equity fund become a strategic partner for a family business rather than simply a source of capital? How can companies benefit from an investor’s know-how and experience without losing their family character? Participants will also examine the changing role of banks, which are increasingly becoming partners for businesses in expansion and transformation processes.
How to Manage Family Wealth?
The third thematic block will focus on family wealth management. One of the key topics will be the family foundation – its role in protecting wealth, planning succession and investing, as well as the circumstances in which it may be the best solution for a family business.
Experts will also discuss how to build a long-term strategy for managing family capital. Topics will include family offices, private equity, alternative investments, private banking and wealth management, as well as the use of private debt as part of a diversified family investment portfolio.
From Knowledge to Practice
The Family Business Forum programme has been designed to give participants not only the opportunity to take part in debates and discussions, but also to learn from practical business experience. The programme will include a case study, while the day will conclude with a workshop session entitled “Family and Business for Generations – Skills for the Future”, led by Dariusz Duma, President of the Management Board of Family Business Network Poland.
The Forum will open with his keynote address, while the conference programme will begin at 10:00 a.m. Following the workshop session, participants will meet during the Lidl Fair Pay Gala and evening banquet, providing an opportunity for further networking and conversations in a less formal setting.
The Family Business Forum will take place on 29 September 2026 at the Mała Wieś Palace. The event will be held alongside the European Trade and Export Forum, creating an additional opportunity for business representatives to meet, exchange experiences and establish new relationships.
This is an event for those who see a family business not simply as a company, but as a long-term project built with future generations in mind.
More information about the event: [LINK]
