With over 50 teams, 40 mentors, and 30 real-world challenges, this year’s Cluj Hackathon, held from May 24–26 2025, pushed boundaries in agentic AI — and made space for some of the brightest young minds in Romania and beyond to shine. The three-day innovation marathon, hosted by Bosch Engineering Center Cluj, drew not only hackers and developers but also investors, accelerators, and founders curious about the next wave of AI-native startups.

Organized by Adrian Vlasiu, the hackathon aimed to harness the power of artificial intelligence to address real-world societal issues. Participants were encouraged to develop AI-driven solutions across various domains, including education, healthcare, and emergency response. The event’s mission was clear: to create impactful technologies that serve the community.

Now in its third edition, Cluj Hackathon has established itself as a consecrated name in the global hackathon scene, recently recognized by the Major League Hacking as one of the top 100 hackathons in the world.

“That kind of recognition validates the quality of our teams, our mentors, and the energy we’ve been building here in Cluj,” said Adrian Vlasiu, the event’s founder and organizer.

The winners? Three radically different teams united by one trait: they built useful, human-centered products with global potential.

First Prize: AI Interior Design Assistant That Understands Your Style

Filip Csibi, a computer science student at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, teamed up with Mark Renner, a theology high school student passionate about computer science and one of the youngest participants of the hackathon, to win first place with a product that turned heads.

Their AI-powered interior design app that helps users visualize room layouts and purchase suggested furniture in a few clicks. Using OpenAI APIs and DALL·E 3, the app generates personalized room visuals and learns user preferences over time. Ideal for people who move often or want quick, affordable design help, the app could soon evolve into a 3D and VR-based design platform.

Despite being just a duo, the team delivered a highly-polished prototype and impressed judges with both technical execution and vision. Filip said the experience reinforced the importance of teamwork — and they are already planning to expand the team for next year’s edition.

Second Prize: A Chatbot to Fix University Bureaucracy

Few things frustrate students more than getting information from university secretariats. Matei Botezat, Bogdan Buruian, Luca Balasoiu and Bogdan Biris, all four computer science students from Babeș-Bolyai University, created a smart fix: a university helper chatbot powered by Google Dialogflow and Cloud Functions.

Their idea? Free up secretaries’ time and reduce student stress by automating answers about scholarships, Erasmus programs, student IDs, and more. Mentorship from experts like Maria and Zoli (Fetch.ai) helped them refine the app’s business potential and prepare it for rollout.

The next step: test a prototype at their own university and explore expanding across campuses via European grants or university consortia. It’s a hyper-local solution with cross-border relevance — and a practical example of AI as administrative glue.

Third Prize: Angel AI — A Calm Voice in an Emergency

From travel panic to cultural misunderstandings, the Angel AI team tackled a universal pain point: what happens when travelers face danger in unfamiliar places? Their AI-powered assistant app aims to provide immediate, culturally aware support in high-stress situations — from medical emergencies to legal trouble or natural disasters.

Originally pitched as a dynamic travel planner, the idea pivoted mid-hackathon to focus on preventive alerts, real-time assistance, and actionable advice in moments of crisis. The team — Cristiana Constantin, Marius Manea and Bogdan Caraeane, all three students at  the University of Bucharest — received key mentorship on shaping their go-to-market strategy and decided to explore white-label partnerships with insurers, travel platforms, or even competitors.

With a rebrand in the works and small features being rolled out to collect traction and data, Angel AI is aiming to become a digital safety net for travelers worldwide.

Mentors: Cluj’s Secret Weapon

Mentors played a critical role in guiding teams toward clarity and viability. One of them, Mo Zidan, highlighted just how far the Cluj tech scene has come, not trying to replicate Silicon Valley, but growing with its own distinct identity.

He was also struck by the confidence and global mindset of young Romanian talent — like the 14-year-old who pitched fluently to a panel of international judges. For Moe, participating as a mentor was a way to “give back” and help build bridges between Cluj and other tech hubs in Eastern Europe and Asia.

“It’s not about copying Berlin or San Francisco. Cluj should link with other rising hubs — places like Prague, Budapest, Jakarta, Seoul. We have the mindset now. And the talent.”

One major evolution at this year’s event? Teams didn’t just use AI as a gimmick — they built AI agents that could act: book transport, send documents, or adapt in real time to changing user needs. Mo described this as “the biggest leap forward” he’s seen at any hackathon so far.

“This year’s AI agents weren’t just reactive chatbots,” said Mo Zidan, one of the lead mentors. “They were capable of taking action — booking taxis during emergencies or rerouting flights. That’s a massive shift.”

AI, Creativity, and the Future: A Bosch Perspective

As the host of the Cluj Hackathon 2025, Bosch Engineering Center Cluj provided not just the venue, but a fertile ground for forward-looking innovation. For Maria Barbatei, Group Leader of VR & AR Activities at Bosch, what stood out most was the breadth and relevance of the solutions.

“First of all, in this edition, the variety of solutions was extremely wide,” Maria noted. “The participants tackled problems from several industries, and especially the winners provided a solution which is relevant to all of us as it influences our daily lives and helps us to design our work environment at the office or at home as it fits us best.”

Beyond the creativity and boldness of the teams, Maria emphasized Bosch’s ongoing investment in AI-driven development and a data-first culture:

“I believe that the development of AI in the next five years will be fast-paced, and this is the reason why at Bosch we focus on data-driven development, and aim to foster a data-first culture while staying ahead with the AI advancements. We do this with the projects and activities in the data-development area as well as with building communities to expand these competencies in the organization with a rich mix of learning formats and collaborative activities.”

Bosch’s innovation programs don’t just support external events like the hackathon; they’re also fueling internal breakthroughs, with multiple invention reports being generated every year. It’s a model of how corporate R&D and grassroots innovation can work hand-in-hand — and how Cluj’s tech ecosystem is positioning itself for long-term, AI-powered growth.

What’s Next for Cluj Hackathon?

The 2025 edition marked a turning point — with agentic AI becoming not just a buzzword but a tool for building real products with real users. The energy was palpable. So was the ambition.

As the Cluj tech ecosystem continues to mature, the hackathon proves it’s not just a launchpad for code, but a catalyst for startups, mentorship, and international partnerships.

Organizer Adrian Vlasiu sees even bigger things on the horizon: an expansion across Romania and Europe, the launch of a Senior Hackathon for professionals aged 30+, and the formation of a European Hackathon League to foster a cross-border community of builders.

“We’re creating a platform where ideas meet capital, mentorship meets execution, and regional talent meets global relevance”, Adrian said.

One thing’s certain: the future of AI isn’t being built in Silicon Valley alone — it’s also coming from a theology high school student in Cluj, a chatbot for university offices, and a virtual guardian angel for tourists.

The post Young Minds, Bold Ideas: Inside the Winning Projects at Cluj Hackathon 2025 appeared first on Startups&TheCity.

In the winter of 1997, an 18-year-old Kai Brand Jacobsen set foot in Cluj-Napoca for the first time. What was meant to be a brief visit to meet Denisa — whom he had met at an international summer school in Norway — turned into the beginning of a lifelong connection to the city and Romania. Cluj, as Jacobsen fondly recalls, was different then: fewer parks, fewer restaurants, and a quieter charm. Yet, what captivated him was the vibrant energy of its people, their hospitality, and a palpable passion for life that made him fall in love with the city.

Over the next 25 years, Jacobsen not only made Cluj his home but also transformed it into a hub for global peacebuilding through his work with the Romanian Peace Institute (PATRIR). The organization, founded in Transylvania, has grown into a globally recognized institution addressing conflicts, promoting education, and fighting violence. Jacobsen’s contributions have not only impacted communities worldwide but have also helped Cluj emerge as a center for education, innovation, and peace.

While PATRIR is not a startup in the traditional sense, its story mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of our Startups&TheCity project. Born in Cluj-Napoca, this NGO has leveraged innovation, collaboration, and a bold vision to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from conflict resolution to education reform. 

Much like a successful startup, PATRIR has scaled its impact globally, demonstrating how cities like Cluj can serve as launchpads for initiatives that change the world. Over a coffee, I sat down with Kai Brand Jacobsen to explore the story of PATRIR and his journey as its founder, as he embarks on a new role outside Cluj and PATRIR.

PATRIR: A Global Force for Change

For over two decades, Jacobsen dedicated himself to PATRIR, an organization deeply rooted in the belief that peace begins at the community level. Under his leadership, PATRIR has worked tirelessly to address issues such as bullying in schools, gender-based violence, and domestic abuse, all while promoting healthy communication and relationships. Through workshops and educational campaigns, the institute has reached thousands of students and educators across Romania, empowering them with the tools to create safe, inclusive environments.

The organization’s influence, however, extends far beyond Romania. PATRIR has played pivotal roles in mediating global conflicts, including facilitating peace talks in Nepal, Northern Ireland, and other war-torn regions. Its innovative approaches to addressing the root causes of violence have earned it invitations from the United Nations and governments worldwide. The institute’s expertise in ceasefires, peace agreements, and community rebuilding has saved lives and restored hope in regions devastated by war.

The Synergy Between Cluj and PATRIR

Jacobsen attributes much of PATRIR’s success to the mutual relationship between the institute and Cluj. The city, with its rich cultural and intellectual life, has provided a fertile ground for PATRIR’s educational initiatives and campaigns. Collaborating with local authorities, civic organizations, and educators, PATRIR has not only contributed to Cluj’s development but also inspired its citizens to embrace their role in building a more peaceful society.

“Cluj has grown alongside PATRIR,” Jacobsen reflects. “The people here—teachers, artists, entrepreneurs—are the heart of the city, and their energy inspires everything we do.”

A Call to Action: Supporting PATRIR’s Mission

PATRIR’s work is more urgent than ever, as the world faces increasing violence and instability. Jacobsen highlights the institute’s current campaign to expand its impact locally and globally, particularly in education and peacebuilding. “We’re working on future education in Romania to achieve deep, systemic change,” he explains. This initiative involves creating safe schools, overcoming bullying, and equipping children with practical skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, and collaboration—tools essential for thriving in today’s world and building a better future.

Equally vital is PATRIR’s continued fight against gender-based violence, ensuring that every individual, whether in Romania or beyond, has the opportunity to grow up in safety and dignity. On the global stage, PATRIR is actively supporting communities ravaged by war, including those in Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon. Through interventions to prevent conflicts, efforts to assist survivors, and programs to rebuild lives after violence, PATRIR stands as a beacon of hope. “We’re asking people to help us make a difference in this critical moment,” Jacobsen urges, emphasizing that even in the midst of the worst violence, collective action can pave the way for peace.

A Personal and Professional Farewell

This year marks a significant transition for Jacobsen as he embarks on a new role outside Cluj, one that allows him to continue his global peacebuilding efforts. Despite the move, his connection to Cluj remains steadfast. “Cluj will always be home,” he says. “If I could choose, I would stay here every day. But wherever I go, this city will be a part of me.”

Jacobsen envisions a bright future for Cluj, confident that the city’s dynamism and creativity will continue to flourish. For him, Cluj is just at the beginning of its next chapter, one that will see it rise as a leader in innovation, education, and community building.

To support PATRIR’s vital work and contribute to making a difference, visit patrir.ro/donate.

The post Building Peace from Cluj to the World: Kai Brand Jacobsen’s Legacy with PATRIR appeared first on Startups&TheCity.

Founded this fall in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Boon is a pioneering peer-to-peer marketplace that goes beyond conventional secondhand selling by integrating social impact into every transaction. 

Created by entrepreneur Stefan Szakal, Boon enables employees within companies to buy and sell secondhand goods, with all proceeds directed to a charity of the seller’s choosing. This unique approach combines commerce, charity, and sustainability, aiming to foster community trust and drive positive social change within corporate environments.

A Marketplace Built on Trust

Boon was designed to operate exclusively within companies, allowing only colleagues to engage in transactions. This trust-based model addresses common challenges in peer-to-peer marketplaces, such as issues with reliability and security, while strengthening workplace community bonds. Inspired by Szakal’s experience attempting to donate an old computer to an animal shelter, Boon evolved from a charity-focused concept to a marketplace built on workplace trust, where companies act as intermediaries to guarantee secure and transparent exchanges.

Unique Use Cases and Versatility

Boon’s applications go beyond simple product exchanges. Sellers can offer unique experiences—like cooking classes or tech tutorials—using the proceeds to support local charities. In one instance, a company’s CEO auctioned a barbecue invite, with all funds going directly to charity. This flexibility in offerings showcases Boon’s potential to cultivate both shared experiences and charitable impact, helping to strengthen workplace connections and inspire collaborative generosity.

Social Impact at Its Core

With Boon, every transaction reinforces a commitment to social responsibility. Szakal emphasizes that the platform empowers users to select from a list of verified local charities, ensuring that donations are meaningful and impactful. By allowing employees to support causes close to their hearts, Boon fosters a sense of purpose and engagement that resonates with the younger workforce. Furthermore, Boon’s built-in AI tool measures the environmental benefits of each purchase, making the environmental impact of secondhand buying visible and accessible for users.

Aligning with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Resources (HR)

Boon is a powerful ally for corporate CSR and HR initiatives, helping companies easily digitize and expand their charity efforts. The platform allows employees the freedom to support causes that matter to them, and Boon’s charity verification process assures companies that they’re contributing to reputable organizations. This alignment with CSR policies also enhances employee engagement and satisfaction, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z, who are more likely to value companies with strong social responsibility practices.

Boon’s Business Model and Future Plans

Unlike typical marketplace models, Boon’s business model aligns directly with its social impact mission. The platform operates without charging companies or users, focusing instead on the success of the charities it supports. By acting as a “fundraising department” for these organizations, Boon creates value without imposing fees or transaction costs on companies or individuals.

Currently in its early stages, Boon launched to the public in September with initial adopters like Rebel Dot, a forward-thinking company that shares Boon’s commitment to social impact. Looking ahead, Stefan Szakal has ambitious plans to expand to Bucharest by November, with the possibility of entering an international market by the end of the year. This growth plan illustrates Boon’s scalable potential, driven by a focus on impactful, community-centered commerce.

The post Boon startup: Revolutionizing Peer-to-Peer Marketplace for Social Good appeared first on Startups&TheCity.

On Thursday, 19 September 2024, Morning Health Talks #2 was organized by FreshBlood HealthTech, the local representative of EIT Health in Romania, an event that brought together healthcare innovators, entrepreneurs, and experts in a hybrid format in Cluj-Napoca and online. The event focused on real-world case studies, best practices, and lessons learned in healthcare innovation. 

The EIT Health Morning Health Talks is an event series organized by the EIT Health Hubs in the RIS countries, running for 4 years now. The aim is to strengthen relationships between the local, regional, and national stakeholders of the healthcare innovation ecosystems, through honest, professional discussions. 

The theme of this year’s event in Cluj-Napoca, Open Innovation in Healthcare, provided a platform to explore the latest trends and challenges in this dynamic field. Key international and local voices came together to discuss the role of open innovation in improving healthcare outcomes, especially in startup environments.

The event highlighted key strategies and challenges in leveraging external resources to foster innovation in the healthcare sector. 

Key Speakers and Highlights

One of the main speakers was Maria Sanchis Amat, PhD – Senior Open Innovation & Innovative Procurement Manage at EIT Health Germany. An organization renowned for its work in healthcare innovation, EIT Health has established itself as a leader in fostering open innovation across Europe, and Maria’s presentation emphasized the importance of adapting successful European programs to local contexts, particularly in Romania. The LevelUP startup accelerator, which was highlighted at the event, serves as a model for such adaptation.

To further contextualize open innovation within the healthcare sector, the event brought together both international and Romanian speakers. 

For instance, Jorge Pimenta – Innovation Director at Space Solutions Portugal presented tangible examples of local initiatives that bridge the gap between global innovation and local implementation, while Sándor Kovács – Health Economist, Division of Pharmacoeconomics at Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs & Senior Researcher at Syreon Research Institute discussed critical aspects of health economics and outcomes research (eHTA), often overlooked by startups in the tech and healthcare space.

Anca Roman – Head of the INNO – Rethinking Business Networks at North West Regional Development Agency, representing LevelUP, the first Health & Life Sciences startup accelerator in Romania, provided valuable insights into Romania’s evolving healthcare ecosystem. 

Additionally, the presence of two National Contact Points (NCPs), Adina Stanculea – NCP EIT Romania & Elena Ungureanu – NCP EIC & EIE Romania, was crucial in highlighting the complexities involved in translating EU funding opportunities into actionable local projects. These NCPs work to localize EU programs like EIT, EIC, and EIE, ensuring that Romanian entities can successfully navigate the application processes.

Finally, the event featured an important discussion with Serban Udrea from Medisprof Cancer Center, a business leader in healthcare, who shared his experience working within the open innovation framework. As a private entity balancing profitability with technological advancement, Serban’s insights into the challenges of integrating startups into healthcare were invaluable.

Serban highlighted the barriers startups face in terms of healthcare regulations and business acumen, and how open innovation can help overcome these obstacles to create a more collaborative and innovative ecosystem.

Lessons Learned from the LevelUP Accelerator

The key takeaway from the LevelUP project, as part of the EIT Health Drive Program, was the importance of community building in creating value within a specific domain.

Presenting the program, which last year involved more than 25 diverse partners including universities, startup associations, media, and medical institutions, Anca ROMAN highlighted that networking and exposure to new stakeholders are as crucial as funding for startups. 

The initial community-focused approach, which connected startups with various entities, proved to be more beneficial than immediate financial support, as it helped startups mature their ideas and attract funding over time.

Best Practices in Collaborating with Medical Startups

The key best practices and lessons learned from collaborating with medical startups, as discussed with Serban Udrea, include understanding the root problem by engaging directly with end-users, personalizing solutions to fit specific medical practices, and presenting clear clinical advantages to gain adoption. 

Cost-effectiveness should be quantified in terms of clinical outcomes and productivity. Conducting research or clinical studies is essential to provide credible evidence of clinical benefits, which is crucial for gaining trust and acceptance in the medical field.

Lessons Learned from Founding a Medical Startup

In the conversation, two of the co-founders of Hello Carl, Vlad Plotean and Florin Leu, shared lessons learned and best practices for founding a medical startup. They emphasized that the initial idea often changes due to market feedback, advocating for continuous market engagement through questionnaires, MVPs, pilot programs, and focus groups.

Networking and partnerships with institutions are crucial, especially in the health industry, where relationships take time to develop. 

They also stressed the importance of leveraging existing solutions to expedite development and seeking advice from specialists, particularly in sensitive health tech areas like their dementia startup. 

Lastly, they highlighted the need to consider cultural and regional differences when planning for a global market.

Best Practices in Tech Transfer and Health Sector Collaboration

Kinga Hening, Tech Transfer Officer at Babes-Bolyai University’s TechTransfer Center, emphasized the importance of collaboration in the health sector, and particularly in Romania.

Kinga highlighted the university’s efforts in integrating research with practical applications, fostering partnerships with various entities like the Romanian Academy, EIT Health, FreshBlood, and startups. The goal is to enhance safety, health and community well-being through technology transfer. 

Kinga underscored the tech transfer office’s role as a facilitator, bridging gaps between research, investors, companies, and hospitals to create beneficial outcomes for the community.

Conclusions

The event highlighted the critical role of open innovation in transforming the healthcare landscape, particularly through collaboration and the sharing of best practices across borders.

With contributions from both international and Romanian experts, the event underscored the importance of building strong communities that bring together diverse stakeholders—universities, startups, medical institutions, and more. This approach, as demonstrated by the LevelUP Accelerator, was shown to be more effective than immediate financial support, helping startups to mature their ideas and create long-term value.

Key lessons from the discussions highlighted that networking, co-creation, and collaboration with a wide range of partners are indispensable for the success of healthcare startups.

Exposure to diverse stakeholders not only enhances innovation but also helps startups navigate the complexities of the healthcare sector, including regulatory barriers and the need for credible clinical evidence.

Ultimately, the event showcased the power of open innovation in overcoming traditional barriers in the healthcare sector, creating a collaborative ecosystem that benefits both startups and the broader medical community.

By fostering connections, building partnerships, and integrating external resources, these initiatives are helping to drive healthcare innovation forward, both in Romania and across Europe.

The post EIT Health Morning Health Talks #2/2024, Romania: Open Innovation in Healthcare with industry leaders appeared first on Startups&TheCity.

On September 18th 2023, the inaugural edition of the LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator program in Cluj-Napoca culminated in an impressive Demo Day, marking the successful conclusion of a pioneering initiative for health and life sciences startups in Romania. 

Over a span of six intensive months, 50 industry experts actively engaged in mentoring, contributing over 500 hours of invaluable consulting. The program included two bootcamps and an array of enriching workshops, equipping 13 startups with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in this dynamic sector.

Launched this March by INNO, the North-West of Romania Regional Development Agency’s department responsible for regional innovation and attracting investors, LevelUP is the first accelerator in Romania exclusively dedicated to startups in the fields of health and life sciences.

On the Demo Day of the program, 12 innovative startups showcased their cutting-edge solutions before a distinguished jury panel comprising eminent figures from investment funds, private clinics, and EIT Health, underlining the exceptional progress achieved through this accelerator program.

On this occasion, we conducted interviews with 12 key stakeholders of the program, including participants and jury members, with the aim of garnering their perspectives and insights on the healthcare innovation ecosystem in Romania.

The winning startups of the LevelUP accelerator

The jury conferred four awards, which were claimed by two of the pitching startups, Neurorevive an innovative and cutting-edge technology for post-stroke rehabilitation and Hempaid, developing product ranges based on various medical innovations such as medical cannabis for the prevention or treatment of conditions like anxiety, insomnia, autism, or neurodegenerative diseases with minimal side effects. 

The accounts of the winning startup founders exemplify the profound impact of accelerator programs on startups, showcasing how dedicated mentorship, structured tasks, and collaborative environments can accelerate progress and drive success in innovative ventures.

Viviana Cornețeanu, COO and co-founder of Hempaid, shared her perspective on the transformative journey within the accelerator program. She remarked, “The experience in the accelerator was better than expected actually. We met a lot of wonderful people, starting with the experts that really helped us understand the world that we just went through, and then the ideas of the startups. It really was an amazing experience and we are glad we took part in it. Our startup already has revenue, so the funding was not the problem for us, but rather making sure that we took care of all the steps necessary towards international expansion. If I take a look at how we went into the accelerator at the beginning of the year, and six months later, I’m seeing a huge progress and the program really helped us focus on the main objectives and the things that needed to be done were very clear to us, and also the visibility helped us a lot.”.

Adrian Fechete, CTO of Neurorevive, emphasized the pivotal role of the accelerator program in their fledgling venture. He remarked, “Regarding the experience with the accelerator, I’m not overstating when I say that for us it’s the greatest thing that could have happened. And I say this because our project is extremely young. It only started one month prior to the accelerator. And the fact that we got tasks to do every two weeks seemed daunting. At first, we never fully achieved the task that we wanted, but at least we got something done, and the fact that we got little things done consistently, greatly accelerated the entire process for us. So it was truly an accelerator experience.”

Views from the jury members about the acceleration program and the innovation ecosystem in general

The jury expressed satisfaction with the program and the results showcased by the startups. Subsequently, we availed ourselves of the opportunity to glean their perspectives on the startups, as well as their assessments of the other participants, the accelerator, its achievements, and their vision for its future evolution.

Roel Kamerling senior program developer at TU Delft, coordinator of the DRIVE Innovation Ecosystem Development at EIT Health was one member of the jury of the Demo Day. Four years ago Roel told us in an interview about the need of creating such a program and later an incubator in Cluj, and shared with us some best practices for creating an innovation ecosystem in healthcare, from TU Delft, the Netherlands. We asked Roel how he sees now, as an arch over time, the performance of the ecosystem with the help of this acceleration program.

“I see the outcomes and it’s really different from last time I met some of the teams. They are so much more mature in how they present themselves, they have a professional way of defining where they are and what they still need to do, and they have pitched very well. That’s just a tremendous result to see, and I think that’s what you need to build. If you want to create a bigger innovation ecosystem, you need to have a lot of such teams working on it, being supported by the community and by the experienced people, and then become experienced people themselves. And that’s what we see happening here. So that’s very encouraging. As an observer and a witness of this, that makes me very happy”, said Roel Kamerling.

Roel contends that the Northwestern region of Romania possesses a wealth of favorable elements conducive to fostering innovation, including esteemed universities, a robust regional innovation ecosystem, and a strategically devised smart specialization framework. He further highlighted the LevelUp program as a valuable addition to this milieu and provided specific recommendations for its continued advancement.

“I would recommend to continue running the program like this and maybe extend, as now is focused on Life Sciences and Health, but could be focusing on other things as well. My personal recommendation would also be to make sure that you will get a physical space, like a multi-tenant building with some basic facilities, but also lab facilities or computer facilities. I think it is important for the teams to meet each other at a regular basis in physical spot, with mentors, with VCs, local doctors like from the rehabilitation center or other hospitals from here, a place to meet up and see each other, organized or at random, that facilitates the innovation effort”, added Roel Kamerling.

Montse Daban, Director of Science Policy & Internationalization at BIOCAT, Barcelona, emphasized that supporting innovation in healthcare is much more than supporting the startup scene, supporting the health of the people is supporting the economy and jobs, testing technology is advancing on the wellbeing of the population. She also mentioned the need to attract talented people and to get the openness of the public health system.

“An accelerator is a necessary step to support the growth and to identify which are the gaps and provide a system of support to overcome barriers. But the main aspects that we have to tackle for an ecosystem to grow has to do with talent. So we have to work on skilled people to lead the solutions. Also from the innovators, but also from the policymakers and from the healthcare professional side. So talent, attracting talent, increasing capabilities, also accompanied to identify opportunities of corporate funding. Of course, adopting the innovation, having innovators in a country that is not ready to include these innovations in their health system is missing huge opportunities. So we need also to work on the capability of the health system or the public procurers to buy innovation for the sake of the society.”, said Montse Daban.

Ioana David, Managing Director at Cleverage, a VC fund investing in technology-based solutions for the healthcare sector, underscored the significance of accelerators in equipping startups for effective engagement and presentation to potential investors.

“Accelerators are an important part of the startup ecosystem and we were very happy to find out that in Romania we have an accelerator dedicated to the healthcare sector. The number of HealthTech startups coming to market increased significantly from last year, and the number of startups coming and pitching for us has also increased in recent months and I think this is quite a positive side. Of course, there is still work to do for the entrepreneurs to be well prepared, to know what to expect, and this is why an accelerator like we attended here today is important”, said Ioana David.

An insight into the healthtech innovation ecosystem

The healthcare innovation ecosystem in Romania is still in its infancy, but things have been growing quite a lot and quite steady in the past six years. At the moment, Activize, a Cluj -based organization supporting startups is monitoring around 200 startups which have a health related component in the product, in Romania. Some of them are growing, having 50.000 Euro per month in revenue some others are very definitely at the beginning. Mircea Vadan, Managing Partner of Activeze gave us a valuable insight into the Cluj innovation ecosystem.

“In Cluj, one of the smart specializations of the region is medical tech, and we see a lot of activity here, Cluj being also a medical center, having companies which are doing health connected products or research. We need to improve in terms of funding HealthTech, private funding. This is tricky for investors because they’re a little bit more reluctant in the HealthTech area. The reason is that they consider it a slower market, slower to change, slower to grow. But once you get a foothold in the market, you can grow steadily. And there’s a lot of regulations which can stop a startup from actually growing and as well as many other interests in the domain. So that’s why it can be challenging to have HealthTech startups, but we’re hopeful, having a lot of medical students, having a lot of doctors, having hospitals, having an open municipality, having many startup players here, support, and a little bit of funding to run programs like LevelUP. I think it’s promising, but still definitely needs a lot of things to evolve. Happily, we have the EIT Health support which is enabling programs like this to happen.”, said Mircea Vadan.

Views from different other stakeholders of the program and participants at the Demo Day

One of the partners of the accelerator was the IT company Nagarro, and Cristiana Bogateanu, Business Development Specialist in Life Sciences & Healthcare at Nagarro, and mentor of the program, expressed her views about the accelerator.

“We were very happy to support this initiative in the Life Science and Healthcare domain as Nagarro is one of the companies that has a dedicated business unit in this field, therefore for us it is very important to join technology and innovation programs and not only this but also support them and get involved. What we did is to help them in the facilitation consultancy, but also in the field of offering infrastructure for facilitation sessions. My opinion is that we need such clusters in Life Science and HealthTech, because, as we know, most of the innovation in that digitization process comes from startups. On the other hand, I believe that the path that a startup went through this program is very important for them, to be able to design their business model and business case and get a good market fit.”, said Cristiana Bogateanu.

At the event, there were present also representatives of other local innovation ecosystems from Romania, like Rebeca Avram, Community Manager of Make it in Oradea and Elena Ovreiu, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of BIOdyssey incubator, Bucharest, which shared with us their views about the LevelUp program and innovation in healthcare.

Elena Ovreiu, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of BIOdyssey incubator, highlighted the significance of the growing healthcare innovation ecosystem in Romania, emphasizing the role of accelerators like this in its expansion. She remarked: “I’m happy to see that the ecosystem is growing, and this accelerator is part of the bigger ecosystem in healthcare innovation in Romania. When I started to build programs in Romania in 2015, the ecosystem was just in the beginning, but now more and more programs like this one are being developed in Romania and this accelerator is a very good initiative that will help increase innovation in healthcare in Romania and in Eastern Europe. Romania has the potential to become an important player at the regional and global level in this field, because it has the human resources, both doctors and technical experts in technology, to develop this field. These kinds of programs have the potential to bring together the tech and medical communities, and to catalyze them and make them work together, also giving them business support”.

Rebeca Avram, Community Manager of Make it in Oradea, highlighted Oradea’s also favorable position for advancements in medical and scientific innovation. She stated, “Oradea is also very well positioned for innovation in medical and science and we have the openness of the public sector and also of the medical sector. Oradea is very eager to find innovative solutions which can develop the hospitals and the communications with the patients. Our organization, Make it Oradea, is offering mentorship, investment and all kinds of support with partnerships”.

An accelerator for the whole innovation ecosystem in Romania

The 2023 assessment of the healthcare innovation ecosystem by Innostars finds that companies involved in EIT Health programs in Romania are excelling in areas like getting external grants, valuing their businesses, and having a high percentage of startups that are entering the market. However, they are lagging a bit behind their peers in terms of raising funds from external sources. The survey responses indicate that Romania has a strong level of maturity in terms of experimenting and trying out new ideas, as supported by the numbers. It’s worth noting that Romanian participants contributed more to the survey than those from other countries, which highlights the excellent network and collaboration fostered by EIT Health and their local representative FreshBlood HealthTech.

Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at FreshBlood HealthTech, shared his perspective on the transformative impact of the LevelUP 2023 program, stating, “Based on the ecosystem mapping of 2022 the Romanian HealthTech innovation ecosystem was lagging in public authorities support. The LevelUP program organised by ADR North West with EITHealth support is showing to the other authorities and to the ecosystem that it can be done and it can be done very well, with strong feedback, involvement of all regional stakeholders (universities, companies, investors, etc.). I am looking forward to the business and to the mindset impact that this project will have starting from this year already!”.

Dr. Petrovai’s remarks underscore the catalytic role of the LevelUP program in not only addressing a critical gap in public support for the Romanian HealthTech ecosystem but also in setting a high standard for collaborative engagement among various regional stakeholders. His anticipation for the forthcoming business and mindset transformation signals the potential for long-lasting positive effects in healthcare innovation in Romania.

The story of LevelUP

LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator program in Cluj-Napoca has been developed with assistance from EIT Health as part of their DRIVE program by INNO, the North-West of Romania Regional Development Agency’s department responsible for regional innovation and attracting investors. Laviniu Chis, Head of Department INNO – Rethinking Business Networks, explained how the program took shape.

In their journey towards fostering a robust innovation ecosystem, the INNO team initially engaged with the healthcare sector through the EIT Drive program. This experience prompted them to contemplate the development of an ecosystem specifically tailored to the healthcare domain. Upon returning with invaluable insights, a thorough analysis of the existing ecosystem was undertaken. Patterns began to emerge, highlighting significant needs within both the regional and national healthcare landscapes. Recognizing the profound importance of the healthcare sector, they swiftly turned their attention towards it. This decision was further validated by the inclusion of healthcare in the RDA’s smart specialization strategy, reinforcing its status as a top-tier priority. With strategic alignment and a firm foundation, they embarked on the logical next step: the creation of a program and initiatives geared towards strengthening the regional health ecosystem.

“The main stakeholders that we see around the program and which we are trying to target are from the quadruple helix. So we mainly target public institutions like hospitals and clinics, because you want them to be more open to new ideas, innovative ideas, and work more and closely with startups. Then, we go towards the private sector. We are trying to build partnerships with bigger companies like Samsung or Philips who have health divisions that can support us with know-how and some incentives, or even help with scaling and internationalization of the startups. So this will be the second group of stakeholders. Then we have the enablers as we like to call them, NGOs who are active in this field who want nothing more than a healthy ecosystem to persevere and prosper here. They will be the third stakeholder and the fourth will be academia so we are trying to get involved in the medical universities and all the other important universities that we have in our region, because they sit on a mountain of knowledge and we want to help them transfer that knowledge into the market. Of course, not all knowledge is applicable, but I think that we can find some part of that to be applicable and we will want to make it available to startups and the private sector.”, explained Laviniu Chis.

On the Demo Day of the LevelUp 12 startups pitched in front of the jury, there were 13 graduating startups out of the 14 that were selected. Stefan Rusu, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Expert at INNO Platform and LevelUp program coordinator explained which support the graduating startups will get next.

“We’re also going to have some other programs to support them. Whether being partnerships, webinars, information regarding other projects. They’re going to receive mentoring from the EIT Health’s coaching network up until the end of the year. I know for sure that some of these startups will go on and impact the lives of others positively. So I’m really glad for that. It’s been a challenge. I know what to improve for the next editions and the project will live on and help other startups in Health and Life Sciences, changing the lives for everybody.”, said Ștefan Rusu.

As a conclusion, Romania is becoming more visible on the map of HealthTech Innovation in Europe and we are seeing both the tip of the pyramid, with startups like dotLumen and Re.Flex and the consolidation of the base through initiatives like LevelUP, HealthInnovation Zone, BIOdyssey, FutureMakers and Hubvantage, that can contribute to both stronger stakeholders involvement and to the future stars, with european and global impact.

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The inaugural Cluj Hackathon, the first hackathon in Romania focused on Artificial Intelligence, and Generative AI took place between June 16-18, 2023, at the Bosch Engineering Center Cluj. More than 115 participants, organized into 43 teams, enthusiastically joined the hackathon, making it one of the most successful events of this kind in Romania.

For three days, the participants had the opportunity to build and develop revolutionary applications and platforms, with access to high-quality mentoring, a wide range of resources, and networking opportunities, with participants from across the country. 

Remarkably, the youngest contestants in the hackathon were two boys, aged only 12, who independently acquired coding skills at home. Motivated to learn new things and connect with like-minded individuals, they opted to participate. With the guidance of mentors, they successfully developed an AI story generator. “It feels immensely gratifying when you code something and witness its functionality. That’s what drives me,” expressed Prisăcaru Thomas, one of the youngest participants in the hackathon.

The inception of the hackathon took shape when Adrian Vlasiu discovered the boundless potential of ChatGPT. His early engagement with OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology evoked a “deja-vu” moment, similar to the iPhone’s initial market launch. Fuelled by this profound insight, Vlasiu resolved to orchestrate a hackathon, thereby providing a platform for others to explore and harness the transformative power of this remarkable technological advancement.

“I wanted to organize the biggest hackathon in Cluj. And I wanted to organize the Untold Festival of hackathons to set a new standard in terms of satisfaction for the participants, satisfaction for the sponsors, and the whole overall experience of the competition. The engaging format of the Cluj Hackathon proved to be a winning recipe because the participants saw a different hackathon format. It’s not just about the competition or the prizes; it’s all about building community, engaging with each other, and succeeding by helping others succeed. We had very generous sponsors and top-class companies like Bosch that enabled us the hackathon location within Cluj-Napoca at the Bosch Engineering Center Cluj, one of the smartest buildings in the office scene in Romania. Untold Festival and Banca Transilvania supported our initiative, giving us a huge boost of confidence. And, of course, we had a scorching topic, artificial intelligence, and ChatGPT.”, said Adrian Vlasiu, founder of the Cluj Hackathon.

Out of the 43 teams which took part, team TestBusters emerged triumphant as they won the first prize in the hackathon. Their creation, an AI-powered solution for automated software testing, showcased ingenuity that pleased all the judges. There were other outstanding projects, and eventually, the score was tight. However, when measured against the hackathon’s primary objective of delivering a functional product within the allotted time, TestBusters stood firmly at the forefront, embodying the essence of the event.

“We have created a solution that uses artificial intelligence to test applications automatically, but not only does the test, it also creates tests automatically. With artificial intelligence, it’s possible to automate more and do more. Basically, those tests are needed in every software or manufacturing firm, so we can solve them by automating them. The goal of this kind of application is ease of use. The product manager or the product owner can use it because it’s very simplified; you don’t need to know how to code; you need to fill out a form, and the computer will be able to understand what you want to do.” explained their solution, Gaëtan de Smet and Stan Ciprian, two of the members of the winning team.

The second place was awarded to the Tech Titans, who worked on detecting anomalies in a dataset from a sensor system (car batteries). Their project underscores the importance of data analysis in solving real-world issues. And, not to be overshadowed, Brainiax took the third spot for their effective solution for detecting potholes on the road. As one of the lead engineers from Bosch pointed out, detecting and analyzing potholes on the road in real-time is one of the toughest engineering challenges in the auto industry today.

A team of mentors from diverse backgrounds in technology and entrepreneurship extended unwavering support to the hackathon participants. Their invaluable expertise and guidance catalyzed innovation and critical thinking, nurturing an environment where teams could thrive and unleash their true potential. Through their mentorship, these seasoned professionals empowered the participants, enabling them to transcend boundaries and realize their ideas.

“We started with 43 teams. I was amazed by how motivated they were and how fast they developed a functional prototype that fit the purpose they created it for. It was an excellent start for the participants, and I think that maybe all the startups should go through a hackathon at some point to kickstart their idea.”, said Smaranda Ignat, mentor.

“I’ve seen some great ideas, for example, one team taking care of the blind people and trying to integrate them in society by offering an easier integration in the digital world, like websites that can be translated into Braille, using speech-to-text. I’ve learned a lot from the teams. I believe this mentorship experience happened from both sides. I hope to see at least one or two of the teams hopping to the next stage and talking to some investors.” added Victor Dinică, mentor.

The host for the hackathon was none other than the Bosch Engineering Center Cluj. Renowned for its cutting-edge work in developing software and hardware solutions for automated, electric, and connected driving technologies, the center boasts an end-to-end approach. Bosch Engineering Center Cluj is a pivotal software hub in the realm of automated driving innovation, from crafting the software integrated within the vehicle to the cloud-based software that facilitates seamless connectivity.

“We’ve hosted the Cluj Hackathon to enable the community to grow because AI is a promising technology. Reflecting on our collaborative internal working environment, one of our goals as an engineering center is to develop with the local and international communities. We cannot do a one-man-show these days, it takes teams to build big things, and as a reflection of that, we want to be part of the community, the ecosystem and develop together with the universities, other companies, and startups.”, said Cătălin Golban, responsible for the Department developing Computer Vision technology for automated driving at Bosch Engineering Center Cluj.

When considering productivity enhancements, implementing AI can yield significant optimizations across various job domains, encompassing software development and testing. However, the realm of technology development is also profoundly impacted. Notably, Bosch has been harnessing the power of AI for an extensive duration, commencing a decade ago with the ambitious objective of assembling a team specializing in computer vision for automated driving. The outcomes of this endeavor have been truly remarkable, with millions of cars worldwide currently equipped with AI-based technology crafted by the Engineering Center situated in Cluj-Napoca.

“For us, AI is not new, but we see more and more new models emerging, which help us solve problems that previously were either unsolvable or maybe were solved by rather traditional algorithmic methods. The ecosystem consisting of startups and companies needs to adapt, it needs to professionally convert people in the software area to get familiar with using AI when developing features and as productivity tools. I think we should, as a community, not miss that train.

I also think such hackathons’ social and learning parts are essential. People came here to learn not only about technology but also how to pitch ideas and present what they think. I believe that big things can be done in teams, through collaboration, by sharing know-how and exchanging ideas; this is how the community will grow. Events like Cluj Hackathon are a big boost for the community.”, added Cătălin Golban.

With their sights set on the future, the organizers expressed their aspiration for the Cluj Hackathon to become an enduring tradition, extending its legacy into the upcoming year. Driven by an unwavering commitment to excellence, they seek to elevate the standards of hackathon organization, aiming to amplify the event’s quality and the unparalleled value it delivers to participants. By striving for the maximum return on investment, the organizers are relentlessly creating an even more remarkable and rewarding experience for all involved.

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On the 25th of May 2023, FreshBlood HealthTech, the local representative of EIT Health in Romania organized in Cluj-Napoca an event part of their Morning Health Talks series, having as main theme “Hospitals and startups, joint drivers of healthcare innovation”.

FreshBlood organizes two Morning Health Talks events per year, focused on how startups can help each other through sharing their achievements and problems.

The discussions of the first edition of this year were centered on real case studies, best practices and lessons learnt from different stakeholders – organizations, startups and hospitals – to boost healthcare innovation through collaboration between healthtech startups and hospitals.

The event started with an introduction of EIT Health and FreshBlood HealthTech priorities in 2023, by Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai. The Romanian NGO will focus this year on supporting an increase of health innovation capacity, while at the same time fostering engagement and generating inspiration in the healthtech community.

Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai also presented the Hubvantage program, launched at the beginning of 2022. Hubvantage is a personalized support program for HealthTech startup founders, with all year round activities specifically designed to help HealthTech startup founders get the support they need to move to the next level. The program offers founders: thorough needs assessment and identification of the immediate needs to address, personalized one-on-one mentoring with healthcare, technical mentors and relevant patients/users, the opportunity to be part of an exclusive club of health founders that inspire and support each other, specially designed events with relevant high quality content, access to opportunities and resources, national and international exposure through the consortium network.

The Hubvantage program is organized in collaboration by FreshBlood HealthTech, HIVE Center for Health Innovation of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca and Activize and is supported by EIT Health.

Next speaker, George Megas, EIT Health HUB and Horizon Europe National Contact Points’ Coordinator at the National Documentation Centre, Athens, Greece explained how they encourage the collaboration between startups and hospitals in Greece.

“We are the EIT Health Hub in Greece, supporting startups in the healthcare sector, and students, trying to do that with the knowledge triangle integration model, connecting startups, industry, academia and research organizations. 

As a hub we have a variety of acceleration programs available for our community startups, depending on their maturity level. We have given more than a million euros to Greek startups through EIT Health in the last five years.

We have a lot of students participating in a variety of EIT Health programs, education programs, summer schools, campuses, we are among the first in recruitment of students EU-wide regarding EIT Health student and education programs. 

In today’s Morning Talk we’ve discussed mostly about how to connect startups with hospitals. EIT Health gave us a mandate last year to create a specific program for this. We selected the category of startups in hospitals and we created the SymbIASIS program.

SymbIASIS comes from the Greek words ‘symbiosis’ and ‘iasis’ which means healing. The goal was to connect the startups with some interesting parties inside the hospitals that were supporting the program, of course, not all Greek hospitals are in the program. We have public hospitals, private hospitals and we had 14 startups participating in 2022. We are going to have 15 more in 2023. In total, with the addition of eight more or seven more new hospitals and clinics this year, we’re going to have 15 hospitals and around 55 startups, and we’re going to do common events to put them in discussions. 

We are not going extremely deep in the technology connection, but we know what the startups are offering. We analyze their maturity and we know what the hospital’s needs through specific surveys, and we put them in common grounds like today’s events, we bring them together to events, we let them discuss.

The most important factor is to find the right person from the hospital with the right culture and mindset that likes and enjoys technology and he is technological savvy and he can understand the solution at hand provided by the startup. So it’s all about people. If you find the right people, then the connection can happen. But of course you have to overcome some regulatory issues or you have to have some procurement methodologies if you are talking with public hospitals. And these things can be overcome if you have the willingness to collaborate or if you have the culture to collaborate.

If you have the right technology, maybe the doctors that know about it and can understand it won’t say no to it, they will look at it, they will support it. And then maybe there are some pilots happening inside the hospitals. 

One other issue is funding, for example we have a startup with a new AI technology to support the anesthesiologist, they’re going to do some testing in some hospitals in Greece, but we are not sure if we can find funding for this. They’re doing it without funding just to collect some data and test their technologies. I think that the government should also support these efforts.The Ministry of Health, the hospital departments should allocate some funding in the innovation departments. They should have specific departments focusing on this. If they don’t have their own department on scouting for technologies then they can rely on EIT Health. We can scale the technology for them through SymbIASIS projects or other projects.”, said George Megas, EIT Health HUB and Horizon Europe National Contact Points’ Coordinator at the National Documentation Centre, Athens, Greece.

Next there were two online presentations, “How to prepare your startup for hospital collaboration” from Petros Papachristou (PhD), Chief Information Officer Hellenic Healthcare Group, Athens, Greece, while Dr. Ionut Nistor – Senior Nephrologist, lecturer at the “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, coordinator at MAVIS Techcenter transfer presented “Startup-hospital collaboration in Romania in 2023 – the UMF Iasi example”.

Petros Papachristou presented the needs in digital technology of a big group of hospitals, Hygeia Group in Greece, as its CIO. He stressed that a hospital needs to have in place a digital strategy, a business model for new solutions, to modernize the IT environment for all hospital basic functionalities and to have structured, medical codified data based on standards. Petros also presented case studies of successful implementations of digital services in their group of hospitals, like the Online Electronic Health Record or the Patient Experience Telemedicine.

Dr. Ionut Nistor presented the MAVIS Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer part of the at the “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Romania, and some of the projects and activities of this technology transfer center. One of the challenges presented was the management of chronic patients and the process they went through to find solutions created by European startups to solve this problem, with the help of EIT Health.

The event continued with a startups panel with the topic “Collaborating with hospitals do’s and don’ts”, having as invited panelists Stefan Iarca – Co-founder & CEO Rayscape, Andrei Moldovan – Product & Account Manager at MediNav, Alexandru Lazar – Tech Executive and Founder Docviser.

It was very interesting to find from each of the startup founders, how they managed to create the first collaboration with a hospital.

“What has been very important for us was to find what they call an early adopter. We basically found a professor in our hometown of Timisoara, Romania, who was willing to give us a shot, to allow us to test our solution in their hospital, in their clinical environment. That was the point where, by having him and proving to him that the solution is indeed something that could work, it has been much easier from that point on to go to other hospitals and talk to them and say, look, we have this deployment here. The one crucial thing I would say is to get this early adopter to test your solution.”, said Stefan Iarca, Co-founder & CEO Rayscape.

“Once the startup was founded, and we had the MVP ready, we adopted a doctor in a private hospital. We sent him our solution to try it, and he was impressed with it. He also became part of the team. And then with his help, so a down top approach, we managed to get the interest of the hospital where he was working. There was a trial by fire, we entered the market and saw how the product would change or survive. We work now with around 15 hospitals, mainly with private clinics. But we also started working with the Ministry of Health and we have some pilot projects with state hospitals”, added Andrei Moldovan, Product & Account Manager at MediNav.

“We were kind of lucky because my co-founder is a doctor so our advantage was that we started from a real problem existing in hospitals, and we tackled it. Because he is the medical director,  we haven’t encountered any bureaucracy issues. We were able to launch the pilot program into a big county hospital. We had this opportunity to test our first version of the product one year and a half ago. With real data from real patients in the hospitals. We get some feedback. Of course, we had multiple iterations afterwards. It’s an ongoing process. We’re a software development company. So we know exactly what we’re doing. We know how to iterate on the process. So all we needed was the right feedback, from the real hospitals, to understand exactly what’s happening there and what are the challenges.”, said Alexandru Lazar, Tech Executive and Founder Docviser.

The final part of the event was dedicated to the presentation of “The patient feedback monitoring – a modern tool for health managers” by Dragos Vana – Founder Graphs.ro.

FreshBlood HealthTech, Cluj based NGO, is one of the main catalysts for healthcare innovation in Romania, supporting healthcare related startups since 2017. The NGO is also the hub of EIT Health in Romania starting from 2018.

Adriana Dunca, RIS Program Manager FreshBlood, explained the scope of the Morning Health Talks series of the events, and also informed of the other events and programs for startups they organize in Romania.

“We organize two Morning Health events per year, for this event our purpose was to have international speakers, local speakers and startups talking about how they work/collaborate with hospitals and their challenges and lessons learned. We focus a lot on startups helping each other through sharing information, sharing the process and sharing their problems. And I think we really accomplished that.

For this year, we will also have two satellite events in Techsylvania (How to tech in HealthTech – the startup way and GIPIA informal gathering) and also we will have HealthTech Next Generation #4 in December. So these are our major events. We also have the Hubvantage program in which we will have about four more events, and also the mentorship part. We’re also collaborating with LevelUP, the first Health & Life Sciences startup accelerator in Romania, where we are offering support and mentorship. We are also part of DIGIT-PRE – The European support programme for Innovative Solutions in Prevention, Prediction & Remote care. DIGIT-PRE combines 10 regional ecosystems (across 7 European countries) with diverse economic profiles. We helped identify and formulate the challenges and we still have a lot of things to do this year. 

We are always looking for new opportunities to help startups so we might just create new services/programs according to the feedback that we have. In whatever we do, we focus on the startups and with all the experience that we have, we see where we can help them improve. That’s how the Hubvantage program appeared. What we do is we try to connect the community and help them share information among them: startups, founders and mentors.”, said Adriana Dunca, RIS Program Manager FreshBlood.

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Techsylvania, the premier technology conference, is set to return for its highly anticipated 2023 edition. From 7 to 8th of June, the event will bring together the brightest minds in the tech industry for a captivating and transformative experience. This year’s conference will feature a wide range of topics, B2B matchmaking opportunities, and an exciting Start-up Alley, making it a must-attend event for professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors alike.

Topics That Shape the Future

Techsylvania 2023 will showcase an impressive lineup of speakers, each addressing crucial topics that shape the future of technology and business. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to gain insights from industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have made a significant impact in their respective fields. Here are just a few of the highly anticipated sessions:

• Mark Porter (MongoDB) – Bits to Bytes: Forging a Successful Career in Tech
• Al Doan (Missouri Star Quilt Company) – How I Built a $100M Quilting Business and Bought a Town
• Scott Chacon (GitButler) – The Future of Programming in an AI-Powered World
• Slava Rubin (Indiegogo & Humbition) – Getting Past 93 VC Rejections
• Prince Constantijn van Oranje (Techleap.nl) – Deep Tech, Sustainability, and Diversity: Insights from the Netherlands Ecosystem
• Vinny Pujji (Left Lane Capital) – Scaling and Fundraising for Marketplace, Consumer, and SMB Software Companies in a Downturn
• Qasar Younis (Applied Intuition) – From Y Combinator to Unicorn: Lessons in Building a High-Growth Startup
• Tijana Kovacevic (Happening) – Keeping Your Startup Heart While Scaling Up
• Donald Sumbry (Upbound) – Unleashing the Power of AI: How Engineering Managers Can 10X Their Performance with ChatGPT

B2B Matchmaking Opportunities and Networking

Techsylvania 2023 offers unparalleled opportunities for B2B matchmaking and networking. Attendees will have the chance to meet and connect with like-minded professionals, startups, and potential investors. Whether you are looking to pitch your own ideas, explore collaboration possibilities, or find your next business venture, the dedicated networking area is designed to facilitate meaningful connections. Participants will also benefit from free access to the B2B matchmaking area for two days, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration. Remember, at Techsylvania, talking is just as important as listening.

Start-up Alley: Showcasing the Future of Innovation

Techsylvania’s Start-up Alley is a vibrant hub where groundbreaking ideas and disruptive startups take center stage. This dedicated space provides early-stage companies with a platform to showcase their innovative products and services to a highly engaged audience. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to connect with potential investors, partners, and mentors, fostering growth and attracting valuable resources to fuel their journey.

Join Techsylvania 2023

Techsylvania 2023 promises to be an exceptional event, uniting visionaries, innovators, and industry leaders from around the globe. Don’t miss out on the chance to immerse yourself in cutting-edge discussions, forge valuable connections, and witness the future unfold.

Take advantage of our limited-time offer and purchase conference tickets at a special price through the Techsylvania website before June 4th using the promotional code TECHCOMMUNITY25. This exclusive code unlocks a 25% discount on Premium and Builder tickets, allowing you to experience the conference in style and gain access to all the exclusive perks and benefits. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to save big and join us at the premier tech event of the year!

At this edition,  the organizing team has an incredible lineup of partners supporting their cause. Among them are two heavyweights of the tech world: UniCredit Bank and Google.

“We are delighted to be partners of Techsylvania, an event where we can find inspiration and ideas for the innovations of tomorrow. At UniCredit, our objective is to be a truly digital bank, fueled by data and new technological solutions in every endeavor we undertake. We promote the digitalization of our services and innovation, with the ambition to become a top player in the digital banking sector in Romania. We have made significant progress in this regard, offering our customers numerous innovative digital products and services, and these values will continue to be the key drivers of our growth in the future.“, said Anca Ungureanu, Director of Identity and Communication at UniCredit Bank.

“On behalf of Google, a big thank you to Techsylvania for driving innovation and creating so much inspiration by bringing together amazing speakers and professionals. Moreover, thanks to all the partners and participants for supporting this type of initiative that contributes to brining more awareness about the future of technology and how everyone can benefit from it.”, said Dan Oros , Head Of Marketing @ Google in Romania | Strategy & Ops in CEE.

Additionally, Techsylvania has an impressive list of supporters of innovation and technology that includes: Happening, MassMutual, Betfair Romania Development, METRO.digital, NTT Data, Turkish Airlines, Telenav, Blu Capital Partners, Druid AI, Salt&Pepper, Endeavor, Laurentiu, Laurentiu & Asociatii, Cluj-Napoca City Hall and Cluj County Council.

Techsylvania is the largest technology growth platform in Romania and a leading technology and business event in Eastern Europe. Specialists from around the world discuss revolutionary ideas in a space that facilitates valuable interactions between large companies in Romania, entrepreneurs, startups, and investment funds. The event was created in 2014 by Oana Petruș and Vlad Ciurcă. Over the last 10 years, Techsylvania has brought together over 20,000 technology and business enthusiasts in Cluj. 

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INNO, the North-West of Romania Regional Development Agency’s department responsible for regional innovation and attracting investors, launches the first accelerator in Romania exclusively dedicated to startups in the fields of health and life sciences, LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator.

The accelerator has been developed with assistance from EIT Health as part of their Drive program. The accelerator offers expert assistance to teams looking to hasten the commercialization, validation, promotion, and sales of their solutions, obtain authorizations or access funding sources.

Early-stage startups that are registered with the Trade Registry and working on solutions in the fields of life sciences and health can apply until April 2, 2023. Teams with just a prototype may also apply, but they must commit to forming a commercial company by the end of the acceleration program. Teams can apply by filling out this form.

LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator will take place in Cluj-Napoca over ten meetings spread over a period of six months, with the possibility of attending online. The program will start with a bootcamp designed to improve participants’ understanding of business development and introduce them to the accelerator’s specialists, with whom they will collaborate to chart their personal roadmap. Based on this plan, start-ups will conduct specific activities using the resources provided in the accelerator to validate the business hypotheses underlying their solutions and get closer to their objectives.

The bi-monthly meetings will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to share the results of their activities, as well as the lessons they have learned and other important nuances they have discovered in front of a panel of regional and international experts who will provide critical feedback. Between these meetings, participants will focus on executing their tasks and mentoring activities, with teams having direct access to any of the program’s experts and 1-on-1 meetings with them. 

At the end of each meeting, there will be advanced workshops on topics relevant to their businesses, such as obtaining accreditations for medical devices, protecting intellectual property, promoting and selling their solutions, developing strategic partnerships and networking, attracting public and private funding, validating problems or solutions, and many other topics of interest to the field in which they operate.

The program’s highlight is Demo Day, where start-ups will have the opportunity to pitch in front of investors and experts and convince them to join their cause.

The program’s intrinsic value is of 8,000 euros per team, without quantifying the direct and indirect benefits resulting from interactions with experts, promoting ideas internationally, and being integrated into the international network of NW RDA and EIT Health partners.

The program would not have existed without the support of local and regional partners: the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, the Babeș-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, the Technical University Cluj-Napoca, FreshBlood, Fortech, Nagarro, Linnify, Activize, Transilvania IT Cluster, ROTSA, ClujIT Cluster, Startup Reaktor, Make IT in Oradea, AI Minded, Telios Care, the Cluj-Napoca City Hall and Local Council, and many others.

More details about the program can be found on the INNO platform.

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In 2022 the Romanian HealthTech ecosystem grew in maturity and got more visibility on the European map of HealthTech innovation, with the support of catalyst organizations like FreshBlood and ROHealth and through the achievements of MedTech startups like re.flex. The ecosystem has seen in 2022 the launch of Hubvantage, a new mentorship program with the objective of capacity building at the level of the healthtech ecosystem and of BIOdyssey, a hub dedicated to healthcare innovation.

Together with Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at FreshBlood HealthTech, the local NGO representing EIT Health in Romania, we reviewed the main highlights of the Romanian HealthTech ecosystem in 2022.

Launch of the Hubvantage mentorship program

Launched at the begining of 2022, Hubvantage is a program organized in collaboration by FreshBlood, HIVE Center for Health Innovation of Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and Activize that has the objective of capacity building at the level of the HealthTech ecosystem. 

The program is supported by EIT Health and helps health tech founders get reality based feedback from mentors and from more advanced startup founders from the health tech ecosystem.

“Until now we’ve organized seven events that had the purpose of exposing the founders to relevant information, both technical and activity based from the more advanced founders, as well as exposing the doctors with HealthTech, to the innovation mindset and methodology, and examples of innovation from the ecosystem. We are also organizing mentorship sessions based on an evaluation of startup needs that are answered by relevant mentors as well as more advanced founders.”, says Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at FreshBlood HealthTech, the local NGO representing EIT Health in Romania.

Re.flex, a Romanian HealthTech startup included in the apps approved to be reimbursed in Germany through the DiGA system

In 2022, Romania got more visible on the map of HealthTech innovation and one of the examples is re.flex, a Romanian startup which was included in the apps approved to be reimbursed in Germany through the DiGA system. 

DiGAs are “apps on prescription”, digital health applications that can be prescribed by doctors for patient use for a variety of diagnoses. The introduction of DiGAs is quite revolutionary, and Germany has officially introduced a legal framework to include digital health care innovation into primary care.

re.flex is the most accurate digital assistant for MSK physical therapy on the market. It helps patients treat knee, hip and lower back pain effectively and lasting, using validated exercise protocols. With proven results in reducing pain and improving the quality of life, re.flex offers instant 3D feedback to help patients exercise correctly.

In March, FreshBlood organized an event called Morning Health Talks, which talked specifically about the re.flex achievement of being accepted into DiGA. And this provided a lot of inspiration for potential founders by showcasing the example of the re.flex founder, Camil Moldoveanu, and his team.

“When we started five years ago with FresBlood, we wanted to put Romania on the map. And I do believe that re.flex is the proof of innovation made in Romania that can become a reference in much more advanced markets.”, says Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai from FreshBlood HealthTech.

FreshBlood, part of an international consortium with the purpose of identifying and consolidating a portfolio of demand led solutions for the healthcare ecosystem

Recently, FreshBlood became part of an international consortium called DIGIT-PRE, made up of 10 different partners, with the objective to build a collaboration between different partners with the purpose of identifying and consolidating a portfolio of demand led solutions to digitize prevention, prediction and remote care in the healthcare ecosystem. 

The project is focused on the development of the local ecosystem through a call named Interventional Innovation Investment. This consortium is coordinated by ISAB INNOVATION SKANE from Sweden and includes partners from France, Belgium, Finland, Portugal and as well as Hungary and Romania.

“DIGIT-PRE is one of the highlights of the Romanian HealthTech ecosystem, not just for the end of 2022, but will be one of the highlights in the future. We are very happy to be one of the representatives of the Eastern Europe, putting Romania again on the map of healthcare innovation. We are looking forward to connecting this opportunity with the smart specialization strategy of the North-West Region of Romania, but as well as with other regions of Romania.”, says Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai from FreshBlood HealthTech.

Healthcare innovation was identified as one of the three priorities of the smart specialization strategy for the Nord-West Region of Romania, so the participation of FreshBlood in the consortium is well in sync with the expectations of growth of the regional ecosystem.

“FreshBlood is a main regional actor for the ecosystem, and its actions of identifying and consolidating a portfolio of demand led solutions for the healthcare ecosystem are filling an important gap between various actors. The strengthening of FreshBlood as an organization, especially with a participation in an international consortium is very well welcomed and in direct correlation with the expectations of growth of our ecosystem. After a rigorous process, health was identified as one of the three priorities of the Smart Specialization Strategy for the Nord-West Region of Romania. So, sustaining the regional HealthTech ecosystem with specific actions correlated with the main needs for its growth is a key area of focus for RDA North-West. This focus is provided through the action plan of the RIS3, including the North-West Regional Programme for 2021-2027 programming period.”, said Cristian Otgon, Head of Smart Specialization Department at North-West Regional Development Agency of Romania.

The North-West Regional Development Agency of Romania, together with Digital Innovation Zone from Iași, was also part of the EIT Health DRIVE program in 2022, designed to upskill organizations from Central-Eastern and Southern Europe in designing validated, sustainable health & life science startup support programmes tailored to regional needs.

Global StartupCities eHealth Program 2022 announced its winner

Global Startup Cities eHealth program was organized by the Hive Center for Health Innovation together with Cluj-Napoca City Hall and Linnify, identifying and supporting startups in the early stage in order to validate their solution through a model that was proposed by Linnify.

This multi-stage EU eHealth startups competition is a chapter of the Global StartupCity Cluj-Napoca and it’s designed to help early stage health innovation entrepreneurs transform their ideas into world changing companies, faster and smarter. Within this program, Cluj-Napoca is taking care of the healthcare and AI components.

The program and the final competition took place in October 2022 and the winning startup, Synaptiq.io, was promoted through the network of global startup cities at the Unique Summit conference in Braga, Portugal, at the end of November. 

“Global StartupCities Health Initiative means for the city of Cluj-Napoca an amazing opportunity to develop and offer support to the regional ehealth ecosystem, by providing to startups customized training and mentoring through its support process. Additionally, the winner of the StartupCities competition will benefit by support for scientific validation and medium-term mentoring.”, says Razvan M. Chereches, MD PhD, Director HIVE Health Innovation Center.

A growth of maturity at the level of the national HealthTech ecosystem

We are seeing a growth of maturity at the level of the national HealthTech ecosystem with some opportunities potentially provided by the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania (PNRR) financed by the EU. The telemedicine norms have been released at the end of September and there is hope that Romanian telemedicine startups will also benefit from the implementation of this regulation. 

The end of the year also saw the launch of BIOdyssey, an innovation hub based in Bucharest, which is dedicated to healthcare and it is supported both by the university environment as well as by know-how brought from the USA, but filtered in Israel for a better connection with the environment in Eastern Europe. This hub will train innovators and later on provide the additional funding solutions to the innovators that are actually growing their project at the fundable level.

“BIOdyssey is the first hub focused on innovation in HealthTech in Romania, founded with experts in the field from Israel and the US. Through BIOdyssey we want to help those Romanians who want to develop HealthTech solutions and have an impact on healthcare with the help of technology, by offering them all tools and assistance they need to succeed: an innovation framework which has been tested and validated for many years in Israel, access to international experts in the technical, medical and business fields from Israel, the USA and Japan (among others) to mentor our teams, to help them with identifying and validating ideas that are competitive at a global level and to give them support on the technical and business implementation of those ideas. Concretely, this would include helping entrepreneurs find investors in their field, and opportunities to access our international network of hospitals and accelerators. BIOdyssey offers all of this through 2 distinct programs: the Germination program, which has already started and can be compared to a “Mini MBA for startups” focused on identifying and validating business ideas. The acceleration program follows the 1st, and is focused on accelerating the most promising ideas and teams from the Germination program. Though startups which have not gone through the Germination program are also eligible to apply. BIOdyssey is the bridge in HealthTech between Romania and the most innovative ecosystems in HealthTech in the world: Israel and the US.”, says Elena Ovreiu, co-founder and CEO BIOdyssey.

One other highlight of autumn was the annual hackathon for health organized by the Medical University in Bucharest together with support from Johnson & Johnson. This hackathon once again showed the potential of Romanian innovators to solve relevant problems. Another hackathon, EIT i-Days, was organized in Cluj-Napoca, at the Hive Center for Health Innovation, with support by EIT Health. The event focused on neurology and enjoyed the collaboration with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the jury at the final presentation.

The ecosystem saw activity also at the level of clusters, the healthcare clusters now having their regular conference, at the end of October. Not only a conference where you see people from different institutes of research or from different companies which are focused on innovation in healthcare, but an opportunity to connect to international organizations to explore the partnerships and see potential opportunities of developing your own projects. The BEhealth conference organized by ROHealth cluster, is now an important part of the ecosystem, with FreshBlood and EIT Health supporting both the educational session as well as the international startup competition that took place in the conference.

“Our focus for the next year is very much linked with sustainability. Because in the future there will be less and less money coming from the EU to support innovation. And we need to find internal resources both public and private. And this is going to be done only through partnerships. We are beginning to explore partnerships with potential other players in the ecosystem. We will prepare a fundraising campaign for the beginning of the next year, as well as building on the projects that have been visible and that can make a difference in healthcare in Romania, Europe and in the world.”, says Dr. Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at FreshBlood HealthTech.

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