September turned reflections into action. With applications moving into evaluations, partnerships growing into bridges, and our community stepping onto bigger stages, this month set the tone for what’s ahead. 🚀
📩 If you haven’t read our previous editions, you can always catch up here: InnovX Newsletter Archive.
As autumn started to unfold, each of our programs moved into a decisive stage:
- MoonShotX → Diagnostic processes have been in full swing, with 8 sessions totaling over 12 hours and close to 40 ecosystem members actively involved. At the same time, preparations for the Opening Gala are already underway.
- Open Horizons Project → 256 applications from 30+ countries and 10+ industries now under evaluation.
- STARTUPsX → New cohort selected, onboarded and founders geared up for mentor sprints and investor matchmaking. From a pool of 85 applicants, 24 companies officially entered the program, with 11 advancing into the Matchmaking Phase.
- ECYBRIDGE → Two major September events brought civilian and defence leaders together to shape Europe’s cyber resilience.
Let’s dive deeper into the stories that shaped this month. 🚀
Open Horizons - From Applications to Evaluation
The call for women-led deep-tech startups closed on August 21, and the response was inspiring: 256 applications, representing 30+ countries and more than 10 industries: from AI and GreenTech to IoT and Advanced Computing. 🌍
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Now, evaluations are underway to select the companies that will enter the program, with the Inception Phase implemented by InnovX, where they will begin shaping cross-border Proofs of Concept alongside corporate partners.
👉 Stay tuned for the announcement of the selected cohort and more details on the upcoming phases!
STARTUPsX - Our Springboard for Startups
This September, we celebrated the close of a new edition of STARTUPsX, bringing together 24 ambitious startups and their visionary founders from across Europe. We want to celebrate every single participant, and we’re proud to recognize the full delegation who made this edition truly inspiring: Dr. Roxana B. Kerns (Amarastesia LTD), Susant Patro & Sambit Patra (Vortex IQ - The Agentic OS for Commerce), Octavian Dumitrescu (Dyver.AI), Omer Faruk KOC (MOVE ON), Drazen Orescanin (Legit), Miłosz Jamroży (EFM), Carlos Luzzani (Vesicly), Lucas Fraiha (X1 Wind), Alin Daniel Iftemi (HD Tech Labs), Aaron Sarginson (Trigan), Alexandru Bodnariuc (MedMentor), Florin Iovu (TruthRise), Abdelilah HAMMADA (ALGUNO), Vadym Bortnyk & Eva Hodosh (Mai Call), Oleg Calugher (Temok Technologies), Rami Kamoun & Wassim Fourati (VB SMART), Jenaro (Jero) García Martín (SUNU2), Alexandru Panait (Gov-Smart), Virginia Zetu (Fibercon UK), Alex Cojocaru (LICENSEWARE), Odai Shhab, Andrei Iancu & Charles Gedeon (Qurater), Bruno Costa (Balvia Ecosystems).
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Over two intensive phases, founders refined their business models, sharpened their pitches, and tested their growth stories in front of investors, corporates, and international market representatives:
- Acceleration Phase: workshops, trainings, and pitch preparation guided by top mentors and partners from Microsoft, Google, MultiversX Labs, ASCENDIA S.A., LAM'ON® Compostable Films, PPC Romania, DHL, LG Electronics, and more.
- Matchmaking Phase: the high-energy finale where startups pitched across three audiences: investors, corporates, and new market representatives from Austria, UK, Hong Kong, Japan, Latin America, and the U.S.
Out of 24 ambitious startups, 10 were selected to advance to the Matchmaking Phase: Amarastesia LTD, X1 Wind, Dyver.AI, MOVE ON, HD Tech Labs, Vesicly, Legit, Trigan, and EFM.
✨ Awards & Special Mentions✨
- 💡 Most Innovative Solution - Amarastesia LTD
- 🏆 Best Pitch - X1 Wind
- 🌍 Highest Scaling Potential - X1 Wind
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- 🎿 Golden Tickets to SKInnovation global pitching event - Amarastesia LTD & Dyver.AI
📖 Missed the full story? Read the complete recap with all highlights and insights here.
STARTUPsX is where ideas grow into opportunities, and where founders gain the clarity, resilience, and connections to scale internationally. For the second year in a row, InnovX has been recognized as the #1 Startup Accelerator in CEE by the Financial Times, Statista, and Sifted - a recognition that reflects the impact of programs like this.
👉 And as we celebrate this milestone, we also turn to the community, which came together this month at our InnovX Community Party, a night dedicated to partnerships, collaboration, and the people who make growth possible.
InnovX Community Party - Celebrating People, Vision & Growth
On September 18, our InnovX Community came together for a private evening dedicated to energy, vision, and powerful connections. With founders, alumni, partners, and investors all under one roof, the night was a reminder that innovation thrives when people meet, share, and build together.
We were inspired by the voices of our alumni who took the stage: Ioana Guiman (Managing Partner, Allevo), Vlad Cazan (Co-Founder, KFactory®), Bogdan Moldovan (CEO, Axigen Messaging), Alex Malureanu (Co-Founder & CMO, ASCENDIA S.A.)
From our strategic partners, we welcomed insights from Robert Pufan (Sr. Partner Solution Architect, Microsoft), who shared a forward-looking perspective on converging technologies and the role of corporate collaboration in scaling innovation.
And we were honored to hear from leading investors shaping the future of growth: Alexandru Bogdan (CEO, ROCA X), Cristian Negrutiu (Founding Partner, Sparking Capital), Liviu Munteanu (Partner, Founders Bridge)
Each contribution sparked meaningful conversations and reinforced the value of building bridges between founders, corporates, and investors.
A heartfelt thank you to the XTeam who makes this vision possible every day: Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD., Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD., Ana Bobirca, Anca Luca, Bianca Păcurar, Gabriel Arabu, George Cristian Radu, Ramadan Omar, and Nicu Iancu.
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MoonShotX - A New Journey Begins
Registrations may have closed, but for MoonShotX the real journey is only just beginning. From media stages and community events to diagnostics and expert-led sessions, September laid the foundation for the scale-up stories that are about to unfold. 🚀
Scaling voices on stage
We kicked off September with a live discussion on Ziarul Financiar, where Sorin Suciu (Raiffeisen Bank Romania) and Bogdan Urdea (RAP Tronic Process Engineering – KOGAION COM, MoonShotX alumnus) shared insights on international scaling.
Meet the MoonShotX Connectors
Later in the month, we introduced the MoonShotX Connectors: leaders from across industries who provide insider insights and fast-track recommendations for companies joining the program: Ana Bobirca, Bogdan Buta, Mircea Moraru, Razvan Tudor, Tudor Nedelea, Delia NECULA, Alexandru Chirita, Andrei Văcuţ, PMP, Daniel Mereuta, Emanuel Cernat, Ciprian Ladunca.
Scaling stories from Brăila & Bacau
On September 20, the Business Club in Brăila brought together founders and leaders to explore strategies for growth, opening with insightful remarks from Catalin Gavrizescu & Sorin Suciu (Raiffeisen Bank Romania).
Catalin Gavrizescu, Sorin Suciu
After which, Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD. (InnovX) joined Laura Ionescu (Raiffeisen Bank Romania) on stage to highlight how MoonShotX accelerates scaling. They were joined by Mihail Vlad (CEO & Founder, Softia, MoonShotX alumnus) and Ovidiu Pismac (Microsoft), who shared inspiring stories of resilience and international perspective.
Laura Ionescu, Ovidiu Pismac, Diana Dumitrescu
Mihail Vlad, Softia
Just days after Brăila, the conversation on scaling continued in Bacău, at Dumbrava Business Resort, where Raiffeisen Bank Romania and Raiffeisen Private Banking brought together regional business leaders for a full day dedicated to strategies, markets, and growth.
The event opened with valuable perspectives from Sorin Suciu (Executive Director – Mid Corporates & Public Sector, Raiffeisen Bank Romania) and Alexandru Cristescu (Director of Private Banking, Raiffeisen Bank Romania), setting the stage for an in-depth dialogue on international opportunities.
Taking the conversation further, Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD. (CEO, InnovX) moderated a panel on Strategies for International Scaling via MoonShotX, joined by Ana Bobirca (Chief Investment Officer, InnovX), Laura Ionescu (Coordinator, Regional Corporates & Public Sector, Raiffeisen Bank Romania), and Andrei Dănilă (CEO & Founder, CODE932). Together, they explored how internationalisation, investment, and innovation can redefine the growth trajectory of Romanian companies ready to go global.
Ana Bobirca
Laura Ionescu
Andrei Danila
Diagnostics - the foundation of every scaling journey
Before companies scale, they first need clarity. That’s why the Diagnostic Sessions are the starting point of MoonShotX: a deep dive into strengths, challenges, and scaling needs, powered by a group of outstanding experts and mentors.
📖 Read the full article on Diagnostics here
We are deeply grateful to the mentors and experts who joined us this month for Diagnostics, including: Adela Tapurin, Bogdan-Ionut Lazaroiu, Mugurel Gheorghe, Andreea Porojan, Cristina Bucur, Catalin Gavrizescu, Adrian Petrov-Lungu, Simona Turiga, RALUCA MOICA, Luminița-Mirela Mușat, Emilia Mazararu, CFA, Laura Ionescu, Andreea-Cristina Kalinov, Veronica-Raluca Moise, George Mucibabici Jr., Ioana Dumitrescu, Aimen Aldahash, Alina Rus, CFA, Bogdan Buta, Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD., Ana Bobirca, Razvan Tudor, Mihai Ciuta, Cristina Dragu 🇬🇧💰🚀, Madalina Ciinaru, Elena Salinschi, Gioga Constantin, Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD., Sandra C., Issabela-Cella Raileanu, Oana Lupan, Maria Alexandra Dorofte, Radu Cornea, George-Adrian Stanciu, Roxana Barbato, MBA, Nicu Iancu, Gina Beatrice Lăzărescu, Simona-Loredana Harpa, Alina Tiugan.
Your collective insights are shaping the foundation of this year’s MoonShotX journey and ensuring each company receives tailored, actionable guidance for global growth. 🌍✨
Looking ahead: the Opening Gala
All roads now lead to the MoonShotX Opening Gala, where this year’s cohort will be revealed and officially welcomed into the program. With ambassadors, partners, alumni, and community members joining us, the Gala will mark the beginning of a new wave of international journeys.
Alongside our ecosystem, we’ll also be joined by embassy representatives and a surprise guest, making this edition a celebration of both vision and global connection. 🌍✨
📅 Discover the agenda here → MoonShotX Opening Gala
Stay tuned for the full highlights and stories in our next edition. 🚀
ECYBRIDGE - Cyber Resilience Across Europe
September was a milestone month for ECYBRIDGE, bringing the project to life through two powerful events that united civilian and defence perspectives on cybersecurity.
🔹 Workshop | Sept 11 | Bucharest Harmonising Cybersecurity - hosted by the The National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics - ICI Bucharest under the ECYBRIDGE framework.
The workshop opened with remarks from Nicu Iancu (ECYBRIDGE Consortium Coordinator) and Victor Vevera (General Director, ICI Bucharest), setting the stage for a day of collaboration between civilian and defence stakeholders.
Nicu Iancu & Carmen Elena Cirnu
Victor Vevera
Among the voices shaping the dialogue were Polyvios Hadjiyiangou (European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC)), Carmen Elena Cirnu, PhD (Deputy Director, ICI Bucharest), and Alexandru Georgescu (Scientific Researcher, ICI Bucharest).
Carmen Elena Cirnu, Nicu Iancu, Alexandru Georgescu
With panels, project demos, and interactive sessions, the workshop created a space where civilian and military actors could exchange knowledge, practice side by side, and define shared directions for stronger cooperation. The ECYBRIDGE Project is coordinated by Constanța Maritime University, under the leadership of Rector Gabriel Raicu as Project Director.
These activities reinforce ECYBRIDGE’s mission: to create a safer, more connected Europe where innovation and security move forward hand in hand.
📘 Learn more about the project here
Partners' Pulse
This month, we’re proud to welcome new partners whose vision and values strengthen the InnovX ecosystem and open new doors for founders.
🤝 Feelsgood - An impact-driven VC fund, FeelsGood joins our mission to back founders building sustainable and scalable solutions. A heartfelt thank you to our liaison Vedran B. (Managing Partner & Investment Associate) and Ivona Javorović (Investment Associate), whose support has been instrumental in the latest STARTUPsX edition.
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⛷️ SKInnovation - We’re thrilled to partner with SKInnovation in the framework of the STARTUPsX program. Their expertise and commitment to nurturing early-stage ventures add an important layer of guidance and opportunity for founders stepping into the next stage of their journey.
Together, these partnerships reflect what makes the InnovX community unique: collaboration, trust, and the shared belief that scaling is best achieved when we move forward as one community.
Community Highlights - Alumni & Ecosystem Wins
Our alumni and partners keep proving that innovation doesn’t pause after the program, it scales, evolves, and inspires. Here’s a look at just some of September’s milestones:
🌿 Waldevar Energy
CEO Christian Leonte sat down with Doingbusiness.ro for an in-depth interview on energy, cars, passions, and the future, proof that leadership is as much about vision as it is about results. Read the full interview here.
📈 Ascendia
The edtech pioneer reported record revenues of 11.6M RON in H1 2025 - a 180% increase compared to the same period last year, with net profit swinging from -0.2M to 5.4M RON. A MoonShotX alumnus, ASCENDIA S.A. continues to show what sustainable growth looks like on the BVB stage.
🤖 eCollect AG
At DigitalX Focus Edition AI, CEO Marc Schillinger represented eCollect and Intrum on one of Europe’s flagship stages, showcasing how AI is transforming receivables management with efficiency, transparency, and purpose.
🚛 Euroteam – From Strategy to Brand Transformation
When OCTAVIAN BLAJAN & EUROTEAM joined the MoonShotX program, their ambitions were clear: refine their strategy, expand internationally, and strengthen their growth path. Along the way, they unlocked new opportunities, including a €3.5M strategic acquisition in progress, and built the confidence to scale with vision.
This September, Euroteam unveiled a new brand identity that reflects more than a visual shift. It embodies the evolution of a company that has grown stronger through clarity, resilience, and above all, human connection - the same principle that guided their MoonShotX journey.
Their transformation is proof of what MoonShotX was designed to surface: not just funding or strategy, but the deeper alignment of business and brand, empowering alumni to stand tall on global markets with purpose and confidence. 🌍✨
🌍 QX
Founder Zoran Nasteski announced new NGI TrustChain backing to accelerate the launch of QX Chain, an energy-efficient decentralized AI infrastructure for smart cities across the EU and US.
🤝 Alumil Romania & CODE932
What started as friendly LinkedIn debates turned into real-life dialogue: Marius Ionita (Alumil Romania) and Andrei Danila (CODE932) met face-to-face, exploring synergies and proving that sometimes the best projects start with a difference of opinion.
Both companies are proud alumni of MoonShotX, where their paths first crossed in the shared journey of scaling internationally. The fact that these conversations are now sparking potential collaborations is a perfect example of what MoonShotX sets out to achieve: connecting ambitious leaders, creating trust, and opening doors for partnerships that last long after the program ends. 🌍✨
💳 Allevo
We're proud to share that Managing Partner Ioana Guiman and her team represented Romania at Sibos 2025 in Frankfurt, one of the financial industry’s most important annual gatherings, reinforcing Allevo’s role as a trusted SWIFT partner.
🏗️ Graphein
Innovation meets dialogue: through DT Vector, Graphein hosted Gunter Deuber (Raiffeisen Bank International AG) for a deep-dive on How Macroeconomics & Banking Shape CEE Real Estate.
This comes alongside a new partnership with ArenaCAD, accelerating Digital Twin development in North America and strengthening Graphein’s global footprint.
🎥 Watch the full discussion here | 📌 Read more about their ArenaCAD partnership.
🏆 Bento - Intellectually Curious
A finalist at the prestigious Gala BVB Arena 2025, Bento - Intellectually Curious stood out from 438 semifinalists, a recognition of more than 20 years of innovation and sustainable performance on Romania’s tech stage.
🐾 Helperz.ro
Alumni Laura Bulai and Ovidiu Stegari shared on ZF IT Generation how Helperz.ro became profitable and is now targeting €80,000 revenues this year, with AI-powered platform upgrades already driving customer adoption.
Upcoming Events
October is set to bring fresh energy and big stages for our community. From London to Bucharest, our founders, partners, and alumni will take part in conversations that shape the future of tech and healthcare. Here’s where you can catch the InnovX ecosystem in action next month:
📅 October 8–9 | Sifted Summit, London
Hosted by Sifted, the Summit gathers 1,500+ startup founders, investors, and tech leaders to explore the latest trends shaping European tech. With panels, keynotes, and interactive workshops, it’s a stage for fresh ideas, sharp insights, and powerful connections across the continent. Discover more here
📅 October 15 | Healthcare Forward: Shaping Tomorrow’s Solutions, Bucharest
The British Romanian Chamber of Commerce brings the 4th edition of Healthcare Forward to Crowne Plaza Bucharest. The event convenes healthcare leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss patient care, digitalization, longevity, and preventative health strategies
Representing the InnovX community on stage are Diana Mereu (RASCI (Romanian Association of the Self-Care Industry), HealthFluencer), Bogdan Urdea (RAP Tronic Process Engineering & KOGAION COM), Raul Olesch (OLSTRAL), and Diana Andritchi (Synaptiq.io), each showcasing how Romanian tech is shaping real-world impact in healthcare.
Read more about the event here.
📅 October 24 | Innovating Real Estate: Construction Trends & Inclusiveness, Bucharest
Later in the month, BRCC continues to open dialogue at the intersection of innovation and industry with Innovating Real Estate: Construction Trends & Inclusiveness. Among the speakers, Vlad Costea (Co-Founder, sigtree Technologies, InnovX alumnus) will bring insights from the PropTech space, exploring how technology, inclusiveness, and innovation are shaping the future of real estate and construction.
This event is another opportunity to showcase the InnovX community’s contribution to key sectors of the Romanian and European economy.
Read more about the event here.
From scaling stories across Brăila and Bacău, to new partnerships, alumni milestones, and the exciting October agenda ahead, this month has shown once again that innovation thrives when vision meets community. 🚀
None of this would be possible without the dedication, passion, and relentless energy of the InnovX team - Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD., Ana Bobirca, Anca Luca, Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD., Bianca Păcurar, George Cristian Radu, Gabriel Arabu, Alexandra Ionescu - and every single colleague who puts heart and hard work into building Europe’s leading innovation ecosystem. 💡
To our partners, alumni, and extended community: thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re not just creating programs, we’re shaping futures. 🌍✨
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Until next time, stay curious, stay connected, and keep scaling with vision.
- The InnovX Team 💡