MoonShotX at SelectUSA 2025: A Launchpad for Romanian Innovation on the Global Stage

May 17, 2025

That’s a wrap from Washington D.C.! The MoonShotX delegation has just completed an intense, inspiring, and high-impact four-day journey at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, the premier FDI forum in the United States. This year’s event brought together more than 5,500 participants, including 2,700+ international delegates and 1,100+ economic development representatives from all 54 U.S. states and territories, making it a monumental stage for global business exchange.

MoonShotX was proud to represent Romania with one of its most dynamic and diverse delegations to date: a mix of visionary founders, strategic corporate leaders, and ecosystem champions.

MoonShotX

Meet the MoonShotX Delegation:

• Rebegea Bogdan, Business Development Manager & Mircea Crăciun, Manager - Eco Garden Construct
• Christian Leonte, CEO - WALDEVAR Holding
• Mihail Vlad, CEO & Founder - Softia
• Bogdan Urdea, Sales Director - RAP Tronic Process Engineering
• Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD., PhD, CEO & Founder, Bianca Păcurar, Project Coordinator, & Anca Luca, Chief Growth Officer - InnovX
• Laura Ionescu, Regional Corporations Coordinator, Andreea Porojan, Sustainability & CSR Manager, & Sorin Suciu, Executive Director - Raiffeisen Bank Romania
• Ayan Schwartzenberg - European Business Society at Duke (EBS)
• Cristian Hostiuc - Ziarul Financiar
• Florin IRIMESCU, CEO - Bluana Foods
• Alexandru-Ioan Voda, DPhil, DPhil, CEO - The Cat Health Company
• Minuta Adrian, CEO - Bravo Holding LLC

MoonShotX Delegation

MoonShotX Spin-Off Events: Expanding Horizons, Building Bridges, and Unlocking U.S. Market Opportunities

SelectUSA Investment Summit Spin-Off Events connect international companies with high-potential business opportunities across the U.S. Hosted by local economic development organizations, these events take place before or after the Summit and spotlight key industries and regional strengths.

They’re a fantastic way to deepen market insight, build valuable connections, and turn your U.S. expansion plans into reality.

Spin-off Miami, Florida | May 8–9, 2025

One stop before heading to Washington, D.C. was vibrant Miami - the economic gateway to the Americas and one of the fastest-growing FDI hubs in the U.S. Hosted by the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, this spin-off event gave the MoonShotX delegation exclusive access to South Florida’s thriving innovation and investment ecosystem.

Throughout the two days, we explored Miami’s strategic strengths in financial services, information and communication technology, and life sciences, with a spotlight on pharmaceutical development and advanced manufacturing. These sectors are fueling the region’s transformation into a global business powerhouse.

With over 100 languages spoken, world-class infrastructure, direct international flight connections, and a richly diverse talent pool, Miami was a dynamic gateway to global opportunity. This spin-off wasn’t just about business, but also about energy, momentum, and building real connections in a city that knows how to scale bold ideas.

Spin-off Chicago, Illinois | May 8–9, 2025

A key spin-off event took place in Chicago, hosted by the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership - a regional alliance uniting the city with seven surrounding counties. Designed for companies in CleanTech, Clean Energy, and Food & Beverage, the event highlighted the Chicago area’s unique position as a strategic destination for international investment.

Organized by World Business Chicago, the program offered insights into the region’s business development initiatives, access to a highly skilled workforce, and opportunities for in-region supply chain integration. With its combination of big-city amenities, affordability, and economic diversity, Chicagoland was presented as a prime location for establishing or expanding U.S. operations.

Participants also experienced a glimpse of one of the most architecturally stunning and culturally rich cities in the world, underscoring Chicago’s appeal not only as a business hub, but as a place to thrive.

Spin-off Maryland, Maryland Central & Washington D.C. area | May 8–9, 2025

The Innovation Maryland SelectUSA 2025 Spinoff Tour took place over two days in Central Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area, focusing on three high-impact sectors: Life Sciences, Information and Communication Technology, and Distribution & Logistics.

Day one featured a seminar spotlighting Maryland’s strategic advantages for international businesses, including sessions on market entry, government contracting, and financial assistance. Attendees toured the University of Maryland’s world-class innovation facilities and participated in a welcome reception that fostered direct connections with local industry and government leaders.

On day two, participants split into sector-specific groups for tailored meetings and site visits with major companies and public institutions, offering a deep dive into Maryland’s role as a global leader in science, tech, and logistics. The program was designed to be responsive, with agendas adapted to align with participants' business goals and interests.

Additional one-on-one site visits and quality-of-life experiences were also made available, underscoring Maryland’s appeal not just as a business destination but as a place to live, innovate, and grow.

Spin-off New York City, New York | May 8–9, 2025

The New York City spin-off event highlighted key opportunities for international businesses in the city’s thriving tech, green economy, and life sciences sectors.

The two-day program kicked off with an introduction to the NYC tech ecosystem, featuring a workshop focused on artificial intelligence, followed by a networking session to connect with local tech community leaders.

The second day included a welcome breakfast hosted by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and a comprehensive green economy tour by ferry, with stops at strategic sites such as the Brooklyn Navy Yard, South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, and Brooklyn Army Terminal. The day also featured a focused workshop on tech-driven life sciences at NYC’s cutting-edge life sciences incubators, such as CURE. The event concluded with a networking session to close the experience and strengthen connections.

This spin-off showcased NYC’s dynamic innovation landscape and offered valuable insights into its rapidly growing sectors, positioning the city as a compelling destination for international investment and collaboration.

The journey continued in Washington, D.C., where the MoonShotX delegation joined thousands of investors, global companies, economic development organizations (EDOs), and industry experts at the premier investment event in the United States: SelectUSA. This Summit serves as a powerful catalyst for transformative business growth. Since its inception, it has facilitated over $135 billion in new investments and supported the creation of more than 105,000 jobs across the U.S. and its territories.

Spin-Off Chicago

Spin-Off Chicago

📅 Day 1: Opening Day - Charging Forward

The summit opened with energy, enthusiasm, and a clear message: the world is watching, and Romania is ready to deliver. MoonShotX kicked things off with a symbolic and practical presence at the MoonShotX Charging Station - a physical hub for connections, conversations, and yes, device recharges. It was more than a power station. It was a signal of the energy we came to bring.

A key highlight of the day was the reunion of the 30+ Romanian companies that formed this year’s national delegation, a powerful and diverse group of founders, executives, and changemakers who are shaping the country’s global innovation narrative.

The entire delegation was beautifully featured in a curated brochure designed by the InnovX team, who took the lead in professionally presenting Romania’s presence at SelectUSA . From company bios to strategic focus areas, the brochure helped position our ecosystem as cohesive, compelling, and globally relevant.

Meet the full delegation: AmCham Romania , AN&P Company LLC, ANT Energy Solutions LLC, Arhipelago , Bluana Foods , Bocancea Law Group , Bravo Holding LLC , Campeador Group , Center for American Studies , Cerb , CyberSwarm Inc. , DEQORIA - partenerul tau in finisaje , DLA Piper , Eco Garden Construct , Grampet Defense, Grampet Logistics, Iași City Hall, IDTOTAL ACTIVE , Lasting Software , Parapet , Polytrade Global , RAP Tronic Process Engineering , Sedera , Softia , Synergy Therm , The Cat Health Company , WALDEVAR Energy , WINTELDYN .

Our ecosystem stood tall and proud - not only represented, but also unified by a shared mission: to scale Romanian innovation across borders.

MoonShotX Delegation at the Charging Station

Day 1 - Group photo with a part of the delegation

SelectUSA Group Photo

📅 Day 2: Diplomacy Meets Innovation

Day two seamlessly blended diplomacy with disruptive ambition in a truly memorable evening. The Cocktail Reception, hosted by H.E. Dan-Andrei Muraru, Ambassador of Romania to the United States, created the perfect setting to celebrate the strengthening relationship between Romania and the U.S., and to spotlight the innovation and entrepreneurial drive coming out of Eastern Europe.

H.E. Dan-Andrei Muraru

This gathering wasn’t just ceremonial; it was a strategic platform for thought leadership and shared vision.

The evening opened with remarks from Sorin Suciu , Executive Director at Raiffeisen Bank Romania , who emphasized the importance of the MoonShotX program as a long-term investment in Romania’s innovation pipeline. His message was clear: supporting the international expansion of Romanian startups is not just a business opportunity, but a national imperative. Raiffeisen’s ongoing involvement reflects a commitment to not only financing innovation, but also mentoring, enabling, and connecting Romanian founders to global capital, markets, and mindsets.

Sorin Suciu

Anca Luca , Chief Growth Officer at InnovX , shared insights into how the MoonShotX program was designed and implemented to meet real founder needs providing hands-on support, market immersion, and direct access to growth infrastructure. She highlighted the unique value of programs that combine ecosystem support with international exposure, bridging the gap between local potential and global opportunity.

Anca Luca

What followed was one of the most authentic and energizing segments of the evening: a series of direct testimonials from the MoonShotX alumni. Each founder took the floor to share their story  speaking candidly about their innovation journey, product vision, and, most importantly, their concrete plans to explore and expand into the U.S. market. From cutting-edge software platforms and biotech solutions to sustainability-driven engineering and advanced manufacturing, each company showcased not only technical excellence, but commercial readiness.

Bogdan Rebegea, Business Development Manager - Eco Garden Construct

Mihai Vlad, CEO & Founder – Softia

Bogdan Urdea, Sales Director – RAP Tronic Process Engineering

Their messages resonated with a diverse audience of investors, diplomats, and U.S. business leaders  underscoring a shared belief: Romanian innovation is ready to scale.

The evening left everyone with a sense of momentum and mutual respect. It was more than a networking event  it was a demonstration of how public-private partnerships, ecosystem collaboration, and founder grit can come together to write a new chapter in international entrepreneurship.

📅 Day 3: Matchmaking, Media, and Market Momentum

Day three was a turning point: a powerful blend of strategic meetings, global insight, and standout moments for innovation.

The morning kicked off with high-level plenary sessions featuring prominent voices shaping today’s investment dialogue. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer offered insights into the evolving U.S. economic landscape, while tech heavyweights like José Muñoz (Hyundai Motor Company (현대자동차)) and Rene Haas (ARM Holdings, LP ) discussed the future of global innovation and investment. These sessions tackled some of the most pressing questions in international business from workforce dynamics to technological sovereignty and cross-border collaboration.

Meanwhile, on the Exhibition Hall stage, the energy surged with the SelectUSA Tech Pitching Finals. Startups from around the globe competed for investor attention, and the enthusiasm was contagious. A special shoutout goes to SuPine Therapeutics/UNIST from South Korea, who took home the top prize with their revolutionary approach to treating spinal cord injuries - a true example of innovation with impact. 👏

Parallel to the main sessions, MoonShotX founders were busy making moves - engaging in 1:1 investor meetings, curated matchmaking, and pitch sessions that connected vision with opportunity.

🎥 The media spotlight followed, with Cristian Hostiuc from Ziarul Financiar joining us to explore why Romanian founders are increasingly ready to play - and win - on the global stage. His article in Ziarul Financiar, captured the energy and ambition of the moment.

The message was clear: our ecosystem is not just present; it's competitive, compelling, and here to stay.

MoonShotX Charging Station - 1:1 interviews

The day concluded with informal evening networking  the kind where deals are sparked, partnerships take root, and ideas flow freely over strong conversations (and stronger cocktails).

A special shoutout to Florin IRIMESCU , CEO of Bluana Foods and one of the first speakers at the MoonShotX Bootcamp. Now part of the #MSX SelectUSA Delegation, Florin represented Romania in the AgTech Pitching Session, where he delivered a compelling pitch that earned 3rd place on the podium. His performance wasn’t just a personal win; it was a proud moment for the entire delegation, showcasing the strength and relevance of Romanian innovation on the global stage.

Florin Irimescu, CEO of Bluana Foods

📅 Day 4: Legal Clarity & Market Confidence

The final day brought our delegation from the exhibition floor to the boardroom with a strategic session hosted at the headquarters of DLA Piper , one of the world’s most respected global law firms.

As part of the U.S. chapter of the MoonShotX Internationalization Phase, the MoonShotX SelectUSA delegation was honored to be welcomed at the prestigious DLA Piper offices in Washington D.C. for a dedicated reception and strategic dialogue focused on scaling Romanian innovation across borders.

DLA Piper - Washington D.C. Offices

This exclusive session, hosted by Ignacio Sanchez , Partner at DLA Piper US LLP, brought together entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and legal experts to discuss the critical frameworks and nuanced challenges of international expansion, particularly into the competitive and complex U.S. market.

Ignacio Sanchez, Partner - DLA Piper

Key Highlights & Takeaways:

Strategic Insight into U.S. Market Entry - Participants had the opportunity to explore the practical realities of doing business in the United States  from regulatory compliance and corporate structuring to tax strategy and risk management. The session emphasized the importance of building a legally sound foundation when entering a new market.

Access to Expert Legal Perspectives - DLA Piper’s leadership offered invaluable guidance on navigating the U.S. legal landscape, helping Romanian founders understand how to protect intellectual property, establish legal entities, and structure cross-border deals in a scalable and compliant way.

Connecting Romanian Innovation with Global Opportunity - The event reinforced a central mission of MoonShotX: enabling Romanian entrepreneurs to think globally, build strategically, and act boldly. This session underscored the growing recognition of Romania’s tech and innovation ecosystem as a competitive player on the international stage.

Tailored Dialogue with Legal and Business Leaders - The informal yet insightful format of the reception allowed delegation members to ask targeted questions, share their scale-up ambitions, and receive real-time feedback from U.S. legal professionals with deep experience in international corporate advisory.

This legal briefing was a strategic checkpoint that helped set the tone for the next phase of each founder’s global journey. It bridged the gap between ambition and execution, offering the legal clarity and strategic confidence needed to scale internationally.

This wasn’t just another event stop. It was a crash course in scaling smartly into the U.S. market. The event delivered critical insights into legal structures, tax implications, operational considerations, and compliance frameworks - the kind of knowledge every founder needs when expanding cross-border.

A heartfelt thank you to the teams at DLA Piper US and Romania - Cristina Bucur , Tudor Nedelea , Marian Dinu , Bogdan Buta , and Titus Percea - for their continued support and for opening the door to meaningful conversations about scale, presence, and the role of Romanian innovation in today’s global economy. Their contribution gave our founders not only legal clarity but also the confidence to navigate international growth with precision.

The day closed with the SelectUSA Closing Ceremony, where the energy remained high and the vision clear: MoonShotX is helping shape the next generation of global Romanian entrepreneurs, and this summit was just the beginning.

Delegates Group Photo

Evening activities at SelectUSA

Bogdan Urdea

None of this would’ve been possible without the ambitious, purpose-driven team behind MoonShotX: a group deeply committed to acting as a diplomatic passport for Romanian entrepreneurs. Through tireless coordination, strategic vision, and unwavering belief in the potential of Romanian innovation, they continue to open doors to global opportunities and meaningful international partnerships.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Cristian Marius Sporis, Laura Mihaila, Sorin Suciu, Laura Ionescu, Andreea Porojan, Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD., Bianca Păcurar, Anca Luca, Livia Fericean, and Liviu Mihai - as well as to the many mentors, growth supporters, and ecosystem allies who make this mission possible. Together, they are not just supporting founders but actively shaping the future of Romania’s global business footprint.

As the curtain falls on an intense week of opportunity, connection, and global ambition, the MoonShotX team remains laser-focused. With D.C. in the rearview mirror and momentum on our side, preparations are already underway for the next internationalization phase, this time in London, UK. 🚀 Stay tuned because the journey to elevate bold founders beyond borders is just getting started.

Anca Luca, CGO - InnovX

Join us, and be part of the next MoonShotX Delegation. If you’re a founder looking to scale in the U.S., we want to hear your story , register here https://www.innovx.eu/corporations/programs/moonshotx/

Stay tuned to explore the upcoming agendas, and meet the innovators who will take the global stage. We're at the core of our journey! ```