digital julfa network roadmap
Digital Julfa Journey Continues in Venice, 2026
San Lazzaro, Venice, June 21-22, 2026
Join a Unique Gathering to Revive Armenian Business Heritage, connecting Armenian business and industry leaders from around the world to build trusted bonds and unlock exclusive opportunities
Networking with global business leaders. Tours with Armenian heritage unique highlights in Venice and Sal Lazzaro Island
Panel Discussions
Historians, trade, financial. Legal and cultural leaders presentation
Art Exhibition & Music Performance
World-class artists and musicians
About the Event
Digital Julfa Venice 2026 brings together Armenian business and industry leaders from across the globe. Designed to revive Armenian business heritage as a strategic asset, this event fosters trusted bonds, renews Armenian trade influence, and unlocks exclusive business and investment opportunities for the modern global economy.
Digital Julfa Network is a unique platform opened to Armenian international top leaders where business, diplomacy, culture and policy intersect to redefine economic advocacy in the world. The 2025 inauguration event in Yerevan opened the road to our next Digital Julfa destination: San Lazzaro Island in Venice, Italy.
Why Join? Because the future belongs to those who turn heritage into advantage!
Digital Julfa Venice 2026 convenes global business leaders, investors and thinkers at San Lazzaro Island, where centuries of Armenian trade intelligence meet today’s digital economy. Digital Julfa is not about nostalgia; it is about reactivating a proven global trade culture for modern influence, innovation and advocacy.
By joining, you become part of a living network that bridges ancient trade routes and modern digital markets, cultural capital and financial strategy and legacy thinking and future-oriented leadership:
- Insight into legacy wealth structures and modern expansion strategies
- Access to family offices, founders and next-generation business leaders
- Participation in a curated, invitation-driven global network.
Capital multiplies faster when it moves through trusted ecosystems. The event offers investors and business leaders access to a high-trust, historically resilient network designed for wealth creation, cross-border expansion and intergenerational continuity.
San Lazzaro Island is more than a venue—it represents one of the world’s earliest examples of Armenian decentralized global trade and knowledge network. Digital Julfa modernizes this model, aligning capital, entrepreneurship and advocacy in today’s fragmented global economy.
Tickets
Tickets – In-Person Participation (2-Day Package)
Per Person Ticket:
825$ – Early Bird Registration (by April 1, 2026)
925$ – Standard Registration (after April 2, 2026)
Package Includes:
● 3-day transportation pass per registrant
● Day 1: Venice Morning or Afternoon Tour (meet in the center of Venice)
● Day 2: San Lazzaro Island – guided tour, lunch, event sessions, and afternoon refreshments
● Special Benefit: Registrants receive a 30% discount on DAJ, symbolizing commitment to a network built on continuity, responsibility, and leadership
Note: Flight and hotel costs are not included
Travel & Transfer Tips
● Most hotels can arrange private water taxi transfers from Marco Polo Airport directly to your hotel and/or San Lazzaro.
● Public transport options (bus + vaporetto) are available but slower and less direct.
● Concierge services can coordinate full logistics for your 2-day stay.
Buy the ticket to join us for this exclusive event.
Summary Agenda
Time Zone: Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Digital Julfa Network Venice 2026
Day 1. June 21, 2026 | Venice Tours Guided tours of Venice highlighting Armenian influence and current presence.
● Morning Tour: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
● Afternoon Tour: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Day 2. June 22, 2026 | San Lazzaro
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (with Liturgy 7:00 PM-7:30 PM)
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM|Cultural & Historical Immersion
● Guided tour of San Lazzaro Island and Mekhitarist Monastery
● Armenian heritage introduction to New Julfa’s global influence in trade and education
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch Served
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM Main Event
Opening Remarks
● Emma Arakelyan, Orion Worldwide Innovations, CEO & Founder, Digital Julfa Network Initiative, Founding Partner
● Hayr Sourb Hamazasp, Mekhitarist Vardapet of San Lazzaro
● Armenia Ambassador to Italy
● Venice City Official
Keynote Addresses
Emma Arakelyan Digital Julfa Network Founding Partner
The purpose and mission of Digital Julfa
Rebuild global trade networks rooted in Armenian excellence. How Digital Julfa fosters a new economic growth, cultural diplomacy using leading tech, business trends and diaspora collaboration.
Dr. Rachele Zanone, Art Historian
Visible and Invisible: Objects, Networks, and Memory of Armenian Material Culture
Explore the resilience of New Julfa (Iran) through material culture and artistic patronage in Venice, highlighting Armenian merchants as cultural mediators and how their material legacies shaped integration, status, and cultural resilience.
Souren Israelyan, Law Office of Souren A. Israelyan
Digital Julfa Network Collaboration Partner
Reviving New Julfa Through Family Businesses
Family businesses’ impact across 40+ countries, and the vision for a new era of interconnected trade platforms.
Panel Session
Speakers from business, academia, innovation, and culture to cover today’s presence and impact of Armenian nation globally.
History in not Legacy. It Is Strategy.
Fireside Session
Business Influence Across Generations and the Story of The Scheriman (Shehrimanian) Family from Venice
Speaker: Dr. Rachele Zanone, Art Historian
Moderator: Ashley Bozian, Historian
Story of the Scheriman family, an Armenian merchant dynasty from New Julfa (Iran) to Venice; Armenian traditions of commercial expertise, trust-based relationships, and global vision. Reflection on how historical Armenian trade models continue to inspire
global business today.
4:30 PM- 5:00 PM Refreshments Served
● Musical Performances
Joel Martin performing Jazzical Komitas
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Cultural Section
● Trade Exhibition
Digital Julfa Symbol (DAJ) Presentation
Rudik Petrosyan Art exhibition
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM Evening Liturgy Participation (Optional)
Participate in traditional Mekhitarist evening liturgy
Venice 2026Event Organizers

EMMA ARAKELYAN
World-class management consulting executive with 20+ experience, angel investor, author, speaker, entrepreneur, philanthropist, coach and professor.

EMMA ARAKELYAN
World-class management consulting executive with 20+ experience, angel investor, author, speaker, entrepreneur, philanthropist, coach and professor.

VAKHTANG ABRAHAMYAN
CEO of Fastex, has extensive experience in Executive Management at the Central Bank of Armenia and in infrastructures created jointly with commercial banks.

Serge Khavessian
Senior Executive Consultant with extensive experience in corporate development and international real-estate investment

Emma Sargsyan
Founder & CEO at Saege Consultants & Co-founder at Tribune Media. Emma hosts "Insight," a renowned interview series featuring thought.

Dr. Zara Khachatryan
Medical Doctor with expertise in health-tech innovation and entrepreneurship

EMMA ARAKELYAN
World-class management consulting executive with 20+ experience, angel investor, author, speaker, entrepreneur, philanthropist, coach and professor.

Niko Nikoyan
Marketing Director at Fastex, with strong crypto / Web3 marketing experience and a track record of community building and strategic growth

VAKHTANG ABRAHAMYAN
CEO of Fastex, has extensive experience in Executive Management at the Central Bank of Armenia and in infrastructures created jointly with commercial banks.

Vakhtang Abrahamyan
CEO of Fastex, has extensive experience in Executive Management at the Central Bank of Armenia and in infrastructures created jointly with commercial banks.

Emma Sargsyan
Founder & CEO at Saege Consultants & Co-founder at Tribune Media. Emma hosts "Insight," a renowned interview series featuring thought.

Emma Sargsyan
Founder & CEO at Saege Consultants & Co-founder at Tribune Media. Emma hosts "Insight," a renowned interview series featuring thought.
Venice 2026 Event Organizers

EMMA ARAKELYAN
World-class management consulting executive with 20+ experience, angel investor, author, speaker, entrepreneur, philanthropist, coach and professor.

SERGE KHAVESSIAN
Senior Executive Consultant with extensive experience in corporate development and international real-estate investment

Dr. Zara Khachatryan
Medical Doctor with expertise in health-tech innovation and entrepreneurship

ARAX TCHERTCHIAN
Financial Analyst with global-strategy experience in innovation investment and business development.

VAKHTANG ABRAHAMYAN
CEO of Fastex, has extensive experience in Executive Management at the Central Bank of Armenia and in infrastructures created jointly with commercial banks.

Emma Sargsyan
Founder & CEO at Saege Consultants & Co-founder at Tribune Media. Emma hosts "Insight," a renowned interview series featuring thought.
