When conversations turn to innovation, the vocabulary is remarkably predictable. Artificial intelligence, startups, venture capital, smart cities and emerging technologies dominate the discussion, while urban innovation is often reduced to sensors, digital platforms and new infrastructure.

Yet some of the most meaningful innovations emerge without inventing anything at all.

Sometimes they begin by looking differently at what already exists.

The first edition of Night of the Churches, held in Cluj-Napoca this summer, offers a compelling example. More than 20,000 people visited eighteen places of worship belonging to six different religious denominations during a single evening.

Churches that many residents pass every day became spaces for guided tours, concerts, conversations, architectural discovery and community gatherings.

The event was widely covered as a cultural success. What received far less attention, however, was the innovation model behind it.

In a conversation following the event, Andi Daiszler, president of the Daisler Association and one of the project’s initiators, repeatedly returned to a simple idea: innovation is not necessarily about creating something new, but about recombining what already exists.

“We just took what we had here in Cluj, put it together, gave it another perspective and presented it differently.”

That sentence may be the most interesting takeaway from the entire project.

Rediscovering the invisible city

Cities accumulate assets over centuries. Historic buildings, public squares, industrial sites, inner courtyards and religious landmarks form layers of infrastructure that often become almost invisible to those who live alongside them. Familiarity breeds indifference.

Night of the Churches challenged that perception by treating religious heritage not merely as a collection of sacred buildings, but as part of the city’s cultural infrastructure.

The churches themselves were never the innovation.

The innovation was changing the relationship between citizens and places they thought they already knew.

This distinction matters because it shifts the conversation away from investment towards imagination. Rather than asking what a city should build next, the project asks a more provocative question: what existing assets are we failing to see?

Daiszler believes the same approach could extend far beyond churches.

A “Night of the Courtyards.” A “Night of the Factories.” Other overlooked places that already exist, waiting to be experienced differently.

“The potential is there,” he told me. “What is needed are the people willing to make it happen.”

Trust as civic infrastructure

If the physical infrastructure already existed, another form of infrastructure had to be built from scratch: trust.

Bringing together six religious denominations in a common initiative had never been attempted in Romania. Rather than approaching each community individually, the organisers first sought institutional legitimacy by asking the Prefect of Cluj to invite every recognised religious denomination to participate.

It was a strategic decision.

An invitation coming from a public institution carried a different weight than one coming from an NGO. The organisers recognised that credibility, in this context, was as important as creativity.

Only after that initial layer of trust was established could the real collaboration begin.

This may be one of the strongest lessons for founders, civic entrepreneurs and city makers alike. We often think of infrastructure as roads, buildings or digital networks. Yet projects involving multiple organisations frequently succeed or fail because of a less visible form of infrastructure: the ability to build confidence between partners who have never worked together before.

Innovation, in other words, is often social before it is technological.

Seeing beyond a building’s primary function

One idea from the interview stayed with me long after we finished talking.

“We look at a church only as a place for Sunday mass,” Daiszler said. “Just as we look at a car only as something that gets us from A to B.”

It is a simple observation, but it reveals a broader pattern in the way we think about cities.

Buildings become defined by a single purpose. Schools educate. Libraries lend books. Churches host religious services. Factories produce goods.

Urban innovation begins when those assumptions are challenged.

A church can also become a place for architecture, music, dialogue, exhibitions or simply curiosity. None of these new uses diminish its original purpose. Instead, they expand the ways in which citizens relate to it.

Perhaps the greatest untapped resource in many cities is not land or funding, but imagination.

Innovation without technological spectacle

One answer surprised me.

When I asked about the role of technology, Daiszler was unconvinced that the project needed more of it.

Night of the Churches, he argued, was never intended to be a showcase for digital experiences. Its value came precisely from face-to-face encounters, conversations and shared experiences inside physical spaces.

He was equally dismissive of another common assumption—that more resources automatically produce better innovation.

With unlimited funding, he suggested, the project might actually lose some of the creativity born from constraints.

It’s an uncomfortable idea in an era that often equates scale with success.

Yet many breakthrough civic initiatives begin with modest budgets and strong ideas rather than the other way around.

Communication that invited curiosity

Another understated strength of the project was the way it was communicated.

There were no grand promises or exaggerated claims. The organisers did not try to convince people to become more religious, nor did they present the event as an extraordinary spectacle.

Instead, they offered a simple invitation: come and rediscover your city.

That message attracted audiences well beyond traditional churchgoers. Curiosity—not ideology—became the common denominator.

It is a reminder that communication can shape participation as much as the programme itself does.

A broader lesson for cities

With a second edition already planned, Night of the Churches has the opportunity to evolve from a successful cultural event into a replicable model of civic innovation.

Its greatest achievement may not be the number of visitors it attracted, but the perspective it introduced: that cities do not always need new landmarks to become more vibrant. Sometimes they simply need new ways of experiencing the ones they already have.

If that idea encourages other communities to rethink their own overlooked assets—whether churches, inner courtyards, former industrial sites or public buildings—then the project’s most lasting legacy may not be the event itself, but the mindset it inspires.

The post What If Urban Innovation Isn’t About Building Something New? appeared first on Startups&TheCity.

For most navigation apps, the shortest or fastest route is the default choice. Romanian startup Defensive Pedal is taking a different approach: helping cyclists reach their destination using the safest route instead.

Among the startups showcased in the Techsylvania Startup Alley, Defensive Pedal has developed a navigation app that analyzes road infrastructure, traffic conditions, weather, and dozens of other variables to recommend routes that minimize cycling risk rather than travel time.

“We’re essentially building Google Maps for safe cycling,” said Victor Rotariu, founder of Defensive Pedal, during an interview with Startups&TheCity.

A risk algorithm built on European cycling data

At the core of Defensive Pedal is a proprietary risk-scoring algorithm developed using European cycling accident data and extensive rider feedback.

According to Rotariu, the first versions of the model were validated with input from over 2,400 cyclists, while the current algorithm evaluates approximately 80 different factors that influence cycling safety.

Most of these variables relate to infrastructure, including:

• road type;
• roundabouts;
• tunnels;
• parks;
• road curvature;
• traffic models;
• weather conditions.

Rather than relying solely on mapping data, the platform combines multiple public datasets with its own analytical model to generate a safety score for every road segment.

According to the team, routes generated by Defensive Pedal are currently 2.1 times safer than the default cycling routes in Romania. The claim is based on an internal validation in which the startup compared 10,149 routes generated by the Defensive Pedal algorithm with Google Maps routes between the same randomly selected origin and destination pairs across Romania. The safety assessment used the company’s proprietary risk model, which incorporates cyclist risk factors identified in official European research on the causes of cycling accidents. 

AI continuously improves route recommendations

Although the core risk model is deterministic, Defensive Pedal adds an AI layer that continuously refines its recommendations.

As cyclists use the app, they can report unsafe locations, while anonymous usage data helps the system understand whether riders follow the suggested routes or choose alternatives. This feedback loop enables the algorithm to identify potentially dangerous areas that may not be evident from public data alone.

“The AI helps us continuously improve the quality of the safety ratings,” Rotariu explained.

Already live in Romania

The Android version of Defensive Pedal has been available for about two weeks and currently covers the entire Romanian road network. The iOS version also launched last week.

The startup has intentionally kept marketing efforts limited during the initial rollout, focusing instead on validating the product and collecting user feedback.

Even so, the platform has already attracted a few hundred active users from word of mouth alone, while approximately 900 cyclists have signed up for early access and are expected to join.

Helping cities improve cycling infrastructure

The technology is designed not only for individual cyclists but also for urban planners.

Defensive Pedal is collaborating with the World Bank on cycling consultancy projects, using its risk algorithm to identify dangerous streets and intersections at a highly detailed level.

Rather than simply highlighting that one city is safer than another, the platform can pinpoint exactly where infrastructure improvements would have the greatest impact on cyclist safety.

Rotariu said the company can already calculate safety scores for individual cities and plans to publish a city ranking covering most Romanian and European cities in the near future.

Expanding across Europe

While Romania serves as the startup’s launch market, the ambition is significantly broader.

The team plans to expand across the European Union within this year. Since much of the required infrastructure and traffic data is publicly available, adapting the platform to new countries is technically straightforward, although each market requires local validation, cyclist feedback, and adjustments to national traffic regulations.

A mixed business model

Defensive Pedal plans to monetize the platform through several complementary revenue streams.

The navigation app will remain free for basic users, while premium features are planned under a subscription model. Beyond consumer subscriptions, the company also sees commercial value in aggregated cycling intelligence.

Anonymous mobility insights can help outdoor brands, bicycle retailers, and local authorities better understand where cyclists travel and how infrastructure influences riding behavior, while municipalities can use the data to prioritize investments that improve cycling safety.

As cycling continues to gain momentum across European cities, Defensive Pedal is betting that safer navigation—and better data—can become essential infrastructure for both riders and the organizations building more bike-friendly urban environments.

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Techsylvania, Eastern Europe’s flagship technology and innovation conference, is accelerating toward its June 25–26 takeover of Cluj-Napoca with a powerhouse wave of speaker announcements. Each new name signals the same thing: 2026 isn’t just bigger, it’s a step-change.

Taking the stage this year:

• Hermann Hauser – Co-Founder & Venture Partner, Amadeus Capital Partners
• Hrvoje Ćosić – CEO, Aircash
• Guido Brinkel – Policy & Partnerships Lead Germany & CEE, OpenAI
• Jeanie Fang – Director of Data & AI, Crunchbase
• Sacha Dragic – Founder & CEO, Super Technologies
• Florian Steger – General Partner, betacluster Ventures
• Praveen Ghanta – Founder & CEO, Fraction
• Vladimir Danila – Founder & CEO,  Linearity
• Lian Boerma –  Chief Product Officer, EWOR
• Oana Ruxandra – Co-Founder & CEO, PopHatch

… and more high-impact voices dropping soon.

From deep tech and AI to fintech, venture scaling, and leadership in a machine-driven world, the 2026 lineup maps the full stack of global innovation, bringing together the operators, investors, and thinkers actively engineering what’s next.

Lock in your access

Techsylvania 2026 isn’t one to watch from the sidelines. Secure your place now while regular pricing is still live.

Use code TECH26 for 25% off Builder and Premium tickets (valid until June 18).

Get your ticket: techsylvania.com/tickets/

The first draft of the Techsylvania 2026 agenda is now available for preview at techsylvania.com/agenda/. We invite our community to explore the sessions and speakers shaping this year’s programme. 

Please note that the agenda is subject to change as we continue to finalise details.

Beyond the main stage

Techsylvania extends far beyond the conference floor. In 2026, Cluj-Napoca transforms into a distributed innovation network through its Satellite Events program.

Think curated meetups, product drops, investor sessions, brand activations, and late-night gatherings, spanning cafés, rooftops, and creative hubs across the city. It’s where real connections happen, ideas get stress-tested, and collaborations kick off organically.

Explore satellite events: techsylvania.com/satellite-events/attend/

Backed by ecosystem leaders like Super Technologies, UniCredit Bank, Google, Hexagon Offices, Oracle ACE Program, 3Pillar, Aily Labs, Principal33, BMW Techworks, DataEdge, M247Global and RunPod, Techsylvania is more than a conference, it’s a high-density convergence point for builders, backers, and visionaries.

If you’re shaping products, funding innovation, writing code, or tracking where tech is headed next, this is your ground zero.

Event Date: June 24-25 2026

Location: Cluj Innovation Park, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Tickets: Get yours now at techsylvania.com/tickets/

The post OpenAI, Crunchbase and Amadeus Capital Executives Join Techsylvania 2026 appeared first on Startups&TheCity.

The historic Oradea Fortress in Romania is set to become the epicenter of European financial innovation on June 17–18, 2026, as it hosts the 5th anniversary edition of the UNCHAIN Festival. This high-level summit will bring together over 800 senior leaders and decision-makers from more than 40 countries, representing a unified front for the future of finance in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

A Distinguished Keynote and Global Participation

This year’s summit is headlined by Prof. Marek Belka, former Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Poland. A renowned economist with a career spanning the IMF and the European Parliament, Prof. Belka will provide critical insights at the intersection of economics and public policy.

He will be joined by an elite lineup of:

• Central Bank Governors from across the CEE region.
• Regulators from the European Commission and the European Banking Authority.
• Industry Giants and disruptors from Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and beyond.

Navigating the “Finance Fortress”

Moving beyond the “fintech” label, the 2026 edition adopts the theme of the “Finance Fortress,” focusing on regional resilience and the “EU Inc.” vision. The agenda is designed to tackle the most pressing challenges of the decade, including:

• The Digital Euro: Modernizing payments while preserving monetary sovereignty.
• AI Governance: Moving AI from a “blunt tool” to an internal efficiency engine in banking.
• Asset Tokenization: Leveraging DLT to enhance capital market efficiency.
• Cybersecurity: Ensuring operational resilience under the DORA framework.

Spotlight on Innovation

A dedicated segment of the festival will showcase the most dynamic ecosystems in the region, providing a platform for top disruptors from the CEE and Baltic countries. “UNCHAIN Festival was created for meaningful dialogue,” says Alexandra Pollack, Founder and CEO. “The 2026 edition marks a significant step in connecting ecosystems to accelerate innovation”.

The event will conclude by honoring excellence through the UNCHAIN Awards, recognizing the most outstanding innovators shaping the regional financial landscape.

Tickets are almost gone. Secure your spot now: unchainfestival.com/tickets.

The post CEE Finance Leaders to Gather in Oradea for Milestone 5th Edition of UNCHAIN Festival appeared first on Startups&TheCity.

The eYou platform, a Romania-based social media startup currently in pre-launch, aims to become a European alternative to traditional networks, focusing on algorithm transparency, user control over feeds, and AI-powered fact-checking. The project has raised €300,000 in pre-seed funding from Fil Rouge Capital and has already attracted over 10,000 sign-ups on its first day.

Founded by Jasseem Allybokus and Grégoire Vigroux, two French entrepreneurs based in Romania, eYou positions itself as a “trust-by-design” platform in contrast to global players like Facebook and X.

At the core of the product is a real-time fact-checking feature integrated directly into the user experience. With a single click, users can access AI-generated assessments of posts, based on credible and neutral sources, enabling them to verify claims without interrupting the flow of conversation.

The platform also introduces a transparent recommendation system, allowing users to view and adjust the profile built about them. This gives users direct control over the signals shaping their feed and the option to diversify content exposure beyond algorithm-driven echo chambers.

Built in Europe and aligned with strict data protection standards, eYou enters a market increasingly concerned with misinformation, platform accountability, and the dominance of non-European tech giants.

The public launch is scheduled for May 2026. Until then, users can join the waitlist and secure early access at: eyou.social.

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Techsylvania, one of Eastern Europe’s leading tech and business conferences, announces the launch of its 2026 edition. The event will take place on June 24–25, 2026, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, bringing together thousands of innovators, entrepreneurs, executives, and technology enthusiasts from around the world.

With every edition, Techsylvania strengthens its position as a catalyst for innovation and a powerful platform where global leaders share groundbreaking ideas, emerging startups gain visibility, and meaningful business relationships begin. The 2026 edition promises an elevated experience focused on the future of technology, product building, artificial intelligence, business growth, and the global innovation landscape.

What Awaits You at Techsylvania 2026

Attendees can expect the signature Techsylvania experience:

Visionary Perspectives: Global industry leaders will take the stage to explore the trends shaping the next decade—from AI and emerging technologies to the intersection of business, innovation, and society.

Hands-on Workshops: Expert-led practical sessions designed to help professionals sharpen their skills in areas such as engineering, AI, product strategy, leadership, and data.

Startup Alley: Startup-focused events, exclusive pitching opportunities, and curated interactions with international investors and mentors.

Premium Networking: Curated spaces including the B2B Matchmaking Area, Executive Lounge, and invite-only gatherings that foster strategic connections between leaders, founders, and top-level professionals.

Interactive Experiences: Technology showcases and installations highlighting cutting-edge products, tools, and emerging technologies.

First Confirmed Speakers Announced

Techsylvania 2026 has already confirmed its first international speakers, bringing together founders, investors, and operators shaping the future of technology and business.

Among them are Andrei Șerban, Founder & CEO of Console, an AI-native platform backed by Thrive Capital and DST Global; Sam Lipoff, Partner at Liminal, the venture studio and fund founded by Temasek Holdings; and Sheel Mohnot, Co-Founder & General Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures, a leading seed-stage fintech fund.

These early confirmations set the tone for a high-impact lineup focused on applied technology, AI, and real-world business insights.

Strategic Partnership Announcement

Techsylvania 2026 is proud to welcome Super Technologies as the Strategic Partner for this year’s edition.

As a fast-growing company in the global technology and entertainment space, Super Technologies shares Techsylvania’s vision of driving progress through technology, entrepreneurship, and bold thinking. This partnership further strengthens the event’s mission to create meaningful connections between global leaders, innovative companies, and the next generation of community builders.

A New Chapter for Eastern Europe’s Innovation Landscape

Techsylvania 2026 marks an important moment in positioning Eastern Europe as a rising force in global technology and business. The event continues to attract a diverse audience of engineers, founders, executives, investors, corporate innovators, and community builders from more than 30 countries.

Additional speakers, partners, and special initiatives for the 2026 edition will be announced in the coming weeks.

More information and updates on techsylvania.com.

The post Techsylvania 2026 Officially Announced appeared first on Startups&TheCity.

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.

On February 27, 2025, the LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator Demo Day took place at Hub UTCN in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, bringing together some of the most promising health tech startups. The program’s finalists pitched their innovative solutions in nutrition, psychiatry, surgery, telemedicine, and healthcare management before a jury of investors, doctors, and business experts. The event also featured a panel discussion on the collaboration between healthcare professionals and startups, as well as a networking session.

After five intense months of work, including seven workshops, 29 experts, and over 70 hours of mentorship and consultancy, the six most promising health & life sciences startups reached the grand finale of the second edition of LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator.

At the end of the Demo Day evening, Argus AI won the Best Startup, Jury’s Choice, while Neurocare was awarded the Best Startup, Public’s Choice, recognizing their outstanding contributions to health innovation.

Argus AI: Augmented Reality to Support Neurosurgeons

One of the standout startups at Demo Day was Argus AI, a company leveraging augmented reality to assist neurosurgeons in reducing surgical errors, operation times, anesthesia exposure, and post-operative complications. Their solution integrates MRI/CT scans into VR headsets, allowing surgeons to visualize critical structures such as tumors and blood vessels, helping them better prepare for complex interventions.

Vladimir Verbulski, the founder of Argus AI, highlighted the immense value of the LevelUP Accelerator in shaping their journey. “The industry-specific mentorship and tailored sessions were exactly what we needed. The program helped us refine our approach and move towards real-world application,” he shared.

Currently, Argus AI has developed a minimum viable product (MVP) and is starting trials in collaboration with clinics and hospitals to gather feedback and refine their technology. They are also seeking €1.9 million in investment to sustain operations for the next two and a half years. “This funding will allow us to bring the product to market, validate its impact in real-world settings, and ultimately improve neurosurgical procedures,” Vladimir Verbulski explained.

Argus AI’s innovation and potential were recognized at the event, earning them the Best Startup, Jury’s Choice award.

Neurocare: Enhancing Dementia Care with Smart Wearables

Another promising startup at Demo Day, Neurocare, is revolutionizing dementia care through smart wearables and a connected platform. Their solution monitors vitals, activity, sleep patterns, and fall risks, ensuring greater safety for patients. Caregivers benefit from real-time insights and AI-powered support, while healthcare professionals gain access to data-driven patient management tools, leading to improved care coordination.

Founder Florin Leu, along with Vladimir Plotean, emphasized how the LevelUP Accelerator helped refine their strategy and accelerate growth. “The experience has been invaluable—we’re now better prepared to navigate the market and avoid past mistakes,” they shared.

The team is currently focused on finalizing their MVP by the end of Q2 and preparing for clinical trials. Their goal is to launch first in Romania, then expand across the EU. To make this happen, they are seeking a €500,000 pre-seed investment and strategic partnerships with hospitals and healthcare organizations. “We need strong endorsements to build trust and scale our solution effectively,” Florin Leu explained.

Neurocare’s efforts resonated strongly with the audience, earning them the Best Startup, Public’s Choice at Demo Day.

Other Startups That Pitched at Demo Day

Besides Argus AI and Neurocare, four other promising startups showcased their solutions at LevelUP Demo Day:

• Dr-Online – A telemedicine app that facilitates easy access to quality medical services. Through partnerships with doctors, clinics, and service providers, their platform offers virtual consultations, integrates medical devices, and enables efficient electronic medical record (EMR) management.
• Forkpie Kids – An AI-powered app that helps parents monitor their children’s nutrition. Users take a photo of their meals, and the app analyzes nutritional values while providing personalized recommendations based on Healthy Eating Plate principles. Parents receive daily and weekly reports to support healthier eating habits for their children.
• MaeveAI – An AI-powered virtual assistant designed to simplify the workload of healthcare professionals. MaeveAI automates tasks such as patient communication, appointment scheduling, and inventory management, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care.
• Smart Bites – A comprehensive nutrition solution, offering personalized meal plans, expert consultation, quick online grocery shopping, and ingredient delivery. Smart Bites simplifies the journey toward healthy eating for the entire family.

LevelUP’s Vision: Personalizing the Startup Journey

Reflecting on this edition of LevelUP, Anca Roman, Head of the Accelerator, highlighted the impressive progress made by the participating startups. “Innovation in healthcare is often a slow process, but with the right mentorship, expertise, and partnerships, we’ve seen remarkable growth,” she noted.

Looking ahead, the accelerator plans to further personalize the journey for each startup and explore a challenge-driven approach, potentially focusing on areas like oncology or green health tech. Another key priority is fostering long-term engagement through community events, bringing together alumni and experts to discuss funding opportunities and sustain momentum.

“We want to keep supporting startups even after the program ends, ensuring they have the resources and connections to scale,” Roman emphasized.

LevelUP Health & Life Sciences Accelerator

Launched in March 2023 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. The program has been developed with assistance from EIT Health as part of their DRIVE program, further strengthening its commitment to fostering cutting-edge healthcare solutions.

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Between November 2024 and February 2025, the Cluj IT Association, in partnership with Smart Innovation Norway, carried out the project “AI-Driven Green Digital Transformation in Public Administration”.

The project pursued the development of an approach model for evaluating the degree of digitization and the level of preparation of the town halls for the adoption of modern digital tools, including artificial intelligence, taking into account at the same time the need to ensure the lowest possible level of negative impact on the environment. The mayors of Romania and Norway were primarily targeted, and the project could later be expanded to include local administrations from other countries.

Within the project, a web platform was implemented that allows evaluation processes to be carried out by going through a form in multiple steps, answering multiple-choice questions.

The set of 180 questions, grouped into 11 categories, was made by the implementation team through a process of research and analysis, aiming at the full coverage of all activities carried out within a local administration organization and specific aspects related to sustainability and reducing the negative impact on the environment.

Artificial intelligence algorithms were used to train the interpreter of the evaluation responses so that he could create a comprehensive diagnosis of the current state regarding digitization, preparation for the adoption of AI tools and ensuring sustainability, and to be able to generate actionable, personalized recommendations in this regard. For the interpretation and formulation of the results, a large language model (LLM) from the Llama family was integrated. From the beginning, the system is available in three languages, Romanian, Norwegian and English, making automatic translations through Deepl integration to ensure efficient collaboration between administration representatives and consultants from both participating countries.

The system was piloted and validated through training and work sessions with municipalities from Romania and Norway, including on the Romanian side the municipality of Bistrita, the municipality of Turda, and the city of Cugir, and on the Norwegian side the municipalities of Kongsvinger, Kristiansund, and Bamble.

The participating municipalities appreciated the relevance of the project and the result of the implementation, showing interest in using it further and recommending it to other institutions.

Following the implementation of this pilot project, the partners, the Cluj IT Association and Smart Innovation Norway intend to continue developing the system and implementing it further both in their countries, Romania and Norway, as well as in other countries.

The project is supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA grants Romania 2014-2021, in the frame of the “SME Growth Programme Romania”.

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EIT Health, a network of best-in-class health innovators supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, began engaging with the Romanian healthtech ecosystem by opening a call for a local hub at the beginning of 2018. Since then, EIT Health has provided networking opportunities, expertise, and a platform for collaboration to Romanian healthtech startups and innovation projects.

By connecting the local ecosystem to European healthtech innovation centers such as Barcelona, Budapest, Berlin, and London, EIT Health has elevated the level of activity and understanding in Romania. Represented by FreshBlood HealthTech, a Cluj-based NGO dedicated to supporting health innovation, EIT Health has played a critical role in mentoring innovators, offering feedback, and fostering essential connections.

The Romanian healthtech ecosystem has undergone significant transformation over the past seven years, with EIT Health playing a pivotal role in driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and supporting startups.

Romanian HealthTech Ecosystem Performance and Notable Achievements

Insights from the “InnoStars Innovation Ecosystem Maturity Assessment” highlight the strong performance of Romanian companies participating in EIT Health programs. These startups excel in external grants received, valuation, and the percentage of market-entry startups, although they underperform in external funds raised compared to their peers. The ecosystem’s maturity level is classified as “experimenter,” supported by robust numeric indicators and extensive questionnaire responses. Notably, Romanian participants contributed more than any other observed countries to the questionnaire, reflecting EIT Health’s exceptional collaboration network in Romania, facilitated by FreshBlood HealthTech Community based in Cluj-Napoca.

A standout success story is Lumen, a Romanian startup creating glasses for blind individuals unable to use advanced mobile solutions. Lumen replicates the primary functionalities of a guide dog in a scalable product. In 2020, the startup was a winner at the EIT Health Headstart Grand Final and the EIT Health Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award. The startup also gained significant industry support, collaborating with Kaufland Romania and Ascendis. Lumen’s achievements include winning the prestigious Red Dot Luminary Award in 2021 and receiving €9.3 million in funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC), marking a milestone as the first Romanian startup to secure this level of support.

Mapping and Maturing the Romanian HealthTech Ecosystem

The Romanian HealthTech ecosystem is evolving rapidly, showcasing an increasing number of competitive and innovative startups. A recent report, the Romanian HealthTech Startups Overview, categorizes these startups into four main groups:

1. Tools for self-care (with a focus on nutrition and mental health).
2. Tools for patients and their relatives.
3. Tools for healthcare professionals (not limited to doctors).
4. Tools for institutions (healthcare providers and companies).

The ecosystem now boasts over 100 Romanian healthtech startups deemed worthy of follow-up, alongside 10 Moldovan startups increasingly collaborating with Romanian counterparts to enter the EU market. This growth is a significant leap from the 70 startups highlighted in previous reports, reflecting both maturity and regional connectivity.

The Romanian ecosystem is marked by a pragmatic approach, with many startups targeting professional and institutional players rather than solely focusing on consumer-driven trends. This shift, compared to the hype of five years ago, underlines the founders’ focus on delivering impactful and scalable solutions.

Some of these startups have gained international recognition, presenting at global medical conferences and entering international markets. At the same time, Romania has become a hub for startups from countries such as Poland, Czechia, and Estonia, attracted by collaboration opportunities.

Opportunities and Challenges for Growth

The ecosystem’s maturity is evidenced by its “experimenter” status (level 3 out of 5), as confirmed by an evaluation conducted by EIT Health in April 2023. This positions Romania alongside Italy and Poland in healthtech ecosystem maturity. However, significant challenges remain, especially regarding governmental support. The upcoming National Digital Health Strategy, set to begin implementation in 2025, is expected to provide a clearer path for integrating digital tools—many developed by startups—into the national healthcare framework.

Additional funding opportunities are also on the horizon. The Draghi Report by the new European Commission revealed that innovation should be a priority for all EU member states and the currently under implementation PNRR Digitalisation for Hospitals program will strengthen the framework that can drive  hospital-startup collaborations. Notable projects such as Healthchain, where the Medisprof Oncological Center collaborates with Rayscape, exemplify the potential for such partnerships to foster trust, innovation and impact for all stakeholders involved.

Scaling Up and Building Bridges

Ion-Gheorghe Petrovai, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at FreshBlood HealthTech, the EIT Health RIS Hub for Romania, highlights the maturation of Romania’s healthtech ecosystem, which has grown, with over 100 startups, to a dynamic community of innovators. Successful examples include Synaptic, which expanded to over 20 oncology centers and secured €1.5 million in grants, demonstrating the potential for scaling impactful solutions.

“Despite limited resources, Romanian startups are becoming increasingly competitive,” Dr. Ion Petrovai observes. EIT Health’s efforts to connect these startups with the European ecosystem have been instrumental. 

However, Dr. Petrovai emphasizes the need for greater local contributions, advocating for increased allocation of resources and the creation of flagship events. Among the ambitious plans is organizing a medical hackathon in collaboration with MIT Hacking Medicine, envisioned as a reference event for Eastern Europe.

Ion-Gheorghe also acknowledges challenges brought on by the IT crisis, which exposed gaps in product development. Yet, this period also revealed opportunities for startups to focus on quality over quantity. “Customer feedback is now at the forefront of validating innovative solutions,” he says.

He further elaborates on the role of programs like LevelUP, Hubvantage and Health Innovation Zone in preparing startups for market entry. These programs provide practical feedback, connections to advisors, and a platform for refining ideas. Dr. Petrovai emphasizes that fostering collaboration between Romanian and international stakeholders remains critical for scaling efforts.

Growing Startup Support through Tailored Programs

Adriana Dunca, RIS Program Manager FreshBlood, underscores the evolution of the Hubvantage program, designed to provide Romanian startups with the mentorship and resources they need to thrive. Now in its third year, Hubvantage offers tailored mentorship based on a rigorous needs assessment conducted by specialists from partner organizations. 

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.

A notable enhancement in 2024 was the introduction of a “mix and match” event, where startups engaged in focused 15-minute sessions with stakeholders, including hospital representatives and specialists. “Startups appreciated this fast, contextual approach,” says Dunca. Looking ahead, plans for 2025 include further customization to align with startups’ evolving needs

The EIT RIS Hub in Romania has also flourished under EIT Health’s guidance, particularly in the health sector. “We’ve seen significant growth in startups’ interest in tackling mental health problems, which is aligned with European health trends, “Dunca notes. Programs like LevelUP (Health & Life Sciences Accelerator) and FIX (Cluj Innovation & eXperiment Fund) have accelerated this growth, emphasizing the importance of tailored support and community-building.

Accelerating Health Innovation with Community Support

The LevelUP Health & Life Sciences accelerator, led by Anca Roman, exemplifies how healthtech programs adapt to ecosystem needs. Initially launched with a straightforward structure, the program’s second edition introduced competitive elements, including a mid-program ‘cut-off’ to enhance focus and drive. 

 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.

“We’re considering aligning the program’s schedule with specific health challenges, possibly integrating hackathons,” Roman explains. She highlights the program’s broader impact in fostering a supportive community where networking and collaboration thrive. “Around 20% of accelerated ideas have potential market viability, which is a promising outcome,” she adds.

Validating Ideas and Tackling Global Health Challenges

The impact of the LevelUP accelerator extends to projects like Forkpie, a startup addressing childhood obesity through personalized nutrition advice for parents. Entering the program with an unclear direction, the team received valuable feedback that helped them validate their idea, pivot their project, and focus on market-specific solutions. “The accelerator emphasized the importance of testing and validating ideas,” they shared, noting significant changes in their product development.

Forkpie’s app uses AI to analyze children’s meals and provide personalized insights to parents, starting locally in Romania with plans for EU and global expansion. The team credits the program for teaching them to focus efforts and avoid non-essential tasks, ensuring a targeted market approach. “The program helped us plan for scalable growth while solving one problem at a time,” they emphasized.

Reflecting on Seven Years of Progress

EIT Health’s presence in Romania has catalyzed the healthtech ecosystem’s evolution. Programs like Hubvantage and LevelUP have nurtured startups, while initiatives such as the EIT RIS Hub and Health Innovation Zone have cultivated a culture of collaboration and innovation.

Adriana Dunca’s focus on tailored mentorship, Ion Petrovai’s advocacy for scaling impactful solutions, and Anca Roman’s dedication to community-building all underscore a shared commitment to advancing health innovation. 

As Romania’s healthtech ecosystem continues to mature, the lessons learned from EIT Health’s journey provide a roadmap for future growth—one that emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, and the unwavering pursuit of innovation.

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