Ioana Mihai

Head of Unit, EIB, EIC Investment Services to EIC Fund 

Ioana works at the intersection of public policy and venture investment, helping shape how Europe backs its most ambitious deep-tech start-ups. At the European Investment Bank (Luxembourg), she coordinates a team advising the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund on equity and quasi equity investments in early stage deep tech companies. She has been involved in the EIC Fund since its inception, contributing to the implementation of venture capital investment decisions in context characterised by high technological and market uncertainty.

Her work focuses on applying market based investment discipline within a public policy mandate, including effective investment execution, appropriate governance frameworks and credible scale up pathways for companies operating in sectors strategic for Europe. She brings a long standing engagement with deep tech investment and a strong professional interest in innovation with the potential to deliver long term economic and societal impact.

Ioana has over 28 years of experience across investment banking, growth financing and advisory roles, spanning mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and venture style investing across Europe. Prior to joining the EIB Group, she held senior positions at ING Group, Erste Group and Citigroup, and later advised corporates and investors on M&A and fundraising at EY.

Her work reflects the combination of private sector investment discipline with a public policy mandate, supporting innovation where market outcomes are uncertain and long term impact is central.