Wrap-Up May 2025
InnovX
WHERE CORPORATES AND STARTUPS INNOVATE TOGETHER
Published May 31, 2025
From powerful diplomatic conversations in Washington D.C. to new partnerships forged across Europe, May was a month of milestones. And we brought our community with us every step of the way.
Let’s take a closer look at the highlights shaping this month, there’s a lot to catch up on. Let us know which story caught your eye. Didn’t get a chance to read our previous editions? Find them all here and stay in the loop.
🤝 Business & Economic Diplomacy: MoonShotX represents Romania at SelectUSA
In May, MoonShotX took a bold step forward on the global stage by joining the SelectUSA Investment Summit, the United States’ premier forum for foreign direct investment.
Are you ready to take your business global? If you want to join us on the next MoonShotX journey, register here and let's explore new markets together.
In the lead-up to the main summit in Washington D.C., the SelectUSA Spin-Off Events provided international companies with a gateway into regional innovation ecosystems across the U.S. Hosted by local economic development organizations, these curated programs took place in Miami, Chicago, New York City, and Maryland - D.C., each spotlighting high-potential industries and local strengths. From life sciences and ICT to clean energy, logistics, and AI, the spin-offs offered tailored agendas, site visits, and direct connections with public and private sector leaders, creating valuable context for market entry and future expansion.
Spin-Off Chicago
Held in Washington, D.C., the SelectUSA event brought together over 5,500 global participants and created the perfect stage for Romanian innovation to meet economic diplomacy.
From a buzzing MoonShotX Charging Station, where ideas and devices recharged alike, to high-impact panels and investor matchmaking, the Romanian delegation brought contagious energy and a clear message: Romania is ready to collaborate, scale, and lead.
Anca Luca from InnovX & Sorin Suciu, from Raiffeisen Bank Romania
The diplomatic highlight of the summit came on Day 2, during a reception hosted by H.E. Dan-Andrei Muraru, Ambassador of Romania to the U.S. The evening blended diplomacy with entrepreneurial grit, offering founders a chance to connect directly with U.S. business leaders, investors, and policymakers.
H.E. Dan-Andrei Muraru, Ambassador of Romania to the U.S
Leaders from Raiffeisen Bank Romania , InnovX , and our own MoonShotX alumni shared stories of resilience, growth, and real-world expansion plans into the U.S. market, proving that Romania’s startup ecosystem is globally competitive and commercially ready.
On the final day, delegates were welcomed at DLA Piper ’s headquarters for a legal deep dive into U.S. market entry strategies, an exclusive opportunity that emphasized the Summit’s strategic weight. Topics ranged from corporate structuring and IP protection to cross-border compliance and tax readiness.
MoonShotX Delegation at DLA Piper Headquarters
Across every day and every spin-off - from New York to Miami and Maryland to Chicago, MoonShotX bridged public and private sectors, transformed insights into action, and opened doors to global partnerships.
If you want to dive deeper into the story, check out the full journey in our post-event article here.
Scaling Ambitions: MoonShotX at Raiffeisen Business Club in Prahova
MoonShotX took center stage at the recent Business Club Event by Raiffeisen Bank Romania & Raiffeisen Private Banking, held in the scenic surroundings of Phoenixy Rider, Prahova.
Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD. and Sorin Suciu presented the MoonShotX program, showcasing how we support visionary mid-corporates in scaling internationally and accelerating their growth. The panel featured expert insights from: Cosmin Raileanu - Depozit Virtual , Marius Ionita - Alumil Romania, Ovidiu Pismac - Microsoft
Financial market trends and macroeconomic perspectives were explored by: Oana Gavrila and Ionut Dumitru from Raiffeisen Bank Romania .
With opening remarks from Cristian Marius Sporis and a strong closing by Laura Ionescu , the event emphasized innovation, leadership, and cross-sector collaboration.
Special thanks to organizers Laura Ionescu and Pantică Alexandru , and to the Private Banking team: Octavia Pipirig , Laura Busila , and Alexandru Cristescu - for their impeccable support.
Diana Dumitrescu & Sorin Suciu - MoonShotX at Raiffeisen Business Club
Zaleco Showcases at HUNGEXPO Budapest Conference
Zaleco recently joined the spotlight at an international conference in Budapest - HUNGEXPO - Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre , presenting their innovative solution to an engaged audience of researchers, tech specialists, and public sector representatives.
Focused on supporting municipalities in tracking and improving indoor air quality, Zaleco ’s technologies drew interest from public sector leaders and smart city experts alike. Their work underscores the growing demand for data-driven approaches to healthier, more resilient communities - values that continue to shape the impact of the StartupsX community.
We’re proud to see Zaleco contributing to healthier, more climate-resilient communities - an important mission echoed across the community.
Bento Supports a Greener Future at Transylvania Green Energy Forum
Bento - Intellectually Curious joined the Transylvania Green Energy Forum this week as a Principal Partner, reinforcing their commitment to innovation, digitalization, and sustainable collaboration in the utilities sector.
The event focused on energy transition, renewable investments, and the digital future of the industry - core themes where Bento continues to lead through bold, tech-enabled solutions.
Bento - Intellectually Curious at Transylvania Green Energy Forum
🔐Cyber Unity: ECYBRIDGE Strengthens European Digital Resilience
Between May 13-15, the Constanta Maritime University hosted the first official ECYBRIDGE training, a cornerstone initiative aimed at strengthening cybersecurity collaboration between civilian and defense sectors across Europe.
Developed by RiskSight , the training brought together experts from government, academia, and private industry to explore how cross-sector communication and coordinated responses can enhance resilience to cyber threats. Sessions focused on threat intelligence, best practices for secure information sharing, and the foundations of building effective intersectoral networks.
The training featured insights from Markus Ilmar Münzer - CEO of RiskSight ; Gabriel Raicu - Rector of the Constanta Maritime University; and representatives from the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre and the CYSCOE - Cyber Security Cluster of Excellence (CYSCOE), including Gabriela Matei , Valentin Ene, Daniel Leu , and Gabriel Puiu .
Held at the University’s Nautical Base in Constanța, this event marked a significant step forward in building a unified and informed cybersecurity response across European institutions.
Created Shared Situational Awareness between Civilian and Defense Sectors in Cybersecurity Training
As ECYBRIDGE strengthens resilience at the local level, its impact continues to grow internationally, as Dr. Nicu Iancu , Project Coordinator of ECYBRIDGE , was recently invited to speak at the High-Level Seminar on Cybersecurity Governance for Maritime Organisations in the Gulf of Guinea, hosted by Institut de Sécurité Maritime Interrégional - ISMI under the Safe Seas for Africa initiative. This forum, funded by the European Union and coordinated by UNITAR, gathered global experts to discuss the future of maritime cybersecurity governance.
Dr. Iancu joined two strategic panels - Cybersecurity Policy Development and Strategy, and Cyber Risk Management and Threat, sharing insights on threat evolution, policy frameworks, and the role of international cooperation in shaping resilient digital ecosystems.
His presence highlighted the growing reputation of the MARITIME CYBERSECURITY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE at Constanta Maritime University and the broader mission of ECYBRIDGE to connect European expertise with global challenges.
Special thanks to EU CyberNet and Cecilia Popa for enabling this impactful collaboration and for representing the EU at such a pivotal event.
Dr. Niculae Iancu
🧐Gatekeepers of Growth: Meet & Join the Evaluators Behind Open Horizons
More than reviewers, evaluators are the gatekeepers of potential, identifying bold, women-led tech ventures with the vision and drive to scale. With deep expertise in innovation, entrepreneurship, and venture building, they bring both rigor and intuition to the selection process.
Their task isn’t easy. Evaluating start-ups means looking beyond the surface to spot future success in its earliest form. It means balancing objectivity with the courage to back disruptive ideas - across industries, technologies, and markets.
Want to help shape the future of innovation? Become an evaluator for one of the EU’s boldest programs backing women-led ventures and apply here before June 5th.
💡 Open Horizons Project is a European Union-funded program dedicated to women in tech, powered by Sploro, Migros Ticaret, PEDAL Consulting, and InnovX.
👥InnovX Community: People, Progress, and Purpose
What does it really take to scale a startup across borders? In our latest STARTUPsX spotlight, we sat down with one of the bold founders in the program to talk about mindset, market entry, and the power of community - Diana Andritchi , Co-Founder of Synaptiq.io .
Diana Andritchi - Co-Founder of Synaptiq.io
Stay tuned - more interviews and insights from the STARTUPsX program are coming soon.
Ambitious founders, this is your moment! Apply by the end of August to join our next acceleration cycle and scale your business with expert support and global exposure.
Ask Wire on the Move – From Stage to Sector
Congratulations to Ask Wire, one of the top 10 finalists in the National Bank of Greece Seeds startup competition! The team, led by founder Pavlos Loizou , recently pitched at the event and is now awaiting final results to be announced on June 17.
With over €500K in annual recurring revenue and €180K in one-off fees reported by April, Ask Wire is on track to hit its 2025 targets, which is a further proof of their momentum and market readiness.
Ask Wire
Ask Wire also made a very strong impression at REALTYon, engaging with a wide audience interested in their suite of real estate and data-driven tools.
With team members Pavlos Loizou , Panos Hadjichristofis AADipl, PGDip, MSc , Michael A. Skitsas , and Natalie Georgiou on-site, the company connected with professionals across the property and finance ecosystem - showcasing how tech can transform how we understand, manage, and invest in real estate.
Ask Wire at REALTYon
easySales at Balkan Ecommerce Summit & Recognized Among Top 10 at eCommerce Awards
easySales Global took the spotlight at the Balkan eCommerce Summit , one of the region’s largest gatherings of digital commerce professionals.
With over 2,330 participants from 23 countries, 100 exhibitors, and more than 11,000 business meetings, the event was a powerhouse of cross-border innovation. Ciprian Cazacu , CEO of easySales Global , delivered a dynamic talk on multi-channel sales from a merchant’s perspective, offering practical insights and scalable tactics for navigating the evolving ecommerce landscape.
Ciprian Cazacu - CEO of easySales
Following the summit, easySales Global was not only named one of the Top 10 finalists at the Wolves Summit in Warsaw, recognizing their continued leadership and innovation in the digital retail space, but also won 2nd place in the Great Pitch Competition - a major achievement that highlights their growing international impact.
🏆 The winners’ podium also featured Kolibri Labs in 1st place (and winner of the Startup World Cup in Silicon Valley) and MedFluid Co., Ltd. in 3rd, with Sonr and IS-Wireless rounding out the top 5.
Congrats, easySales Global team, and all finalists: FiduciaEdge Technologies Co., Ltd. MedFluid Co., Ltd.**Kolibri Labs**easySales Global EFM Miłosz Jamroży**IS-Wireless**Eslitec Sonr Tatiana Cotliuba**Viezo**FibriTech
Top 10 finalists at the Wolves Summit
Nevomo on the Main Stage at Wolves Summit 2025
Nevomo took a leading role at Wolves Summit , with CEO & Co-Founder Przemek Ben PACZEK opening the event with a keynote panel on funding journeys - from VC rounds to equity crowdfunding.
As a deep-tech company redefining rail mobility, Nevomo shared its perspective on scaling breakthrough innovation and connecting with forward-thinking partners across Europe’s tech ecosystem.
Przemek Ben Paczek from Nevomo at Wolves Summit 2025
Synaptiq Takes the Stage in Vienna
Synaptiq recently joined a high-profile gathering of European tech innovators at #ESTRO2025 in Vienna, presenting during the GTV Demo Day - a spotlight event for cutting-edge solutions in AI, healthcare, and medical technology.
As a rising force in medical imaging, Synaptiq.io continues to make waves across Europe, combining scientific excellence with scalable impact.
Synaptiq at ESTRO2025
Data Privacy Manager at GISEC GLOBAL
Data Privacy Manager brought big stage energy to GISEC GLOBAL , one of the world’s leading cybersecurity events.
While CEO Marijan Bračić pitched their mission at the North Star Pitch Competition, the spotlight turned to their flagship product as the go-to solution for companies aiming to build trust through scalable, proactive privacy practices.
Marijan Bračić from Data Privacy Manager at GISEC GLOBAL 2025
KFactory Takes the Stage at UK Industry Events
KFactory is heading to Smart Factory Expo , part of Smart Manufacturing Week 2025, taking place on June 4–5 in Birmingham, UK.
The team will be showcasing their latest advancements in industrial digitalization, including live product demonstrations that highlight KFactory® ’s impact on optimizing manufacturing processes through data, automation, and smart analytics.
Smart Manufacturing Week 2025
Earlier this month, the team also joined the CBM Members Day hosted by the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) , where they connected with manufacturers in the metal sector to share how KFactory® is driving innovation and performance across production environments.
Confederation of British Metal Forming
As manufacturing continues to evolve, KFactory® remains at the forefront, helping companies build more agile, efficient, and intelligent operations. If you're interested in how factories are evolving through tech, go check them out and connect with the team behind one of the most forward-thinking solutions in the space.
RF Meters Showcases at Middle East Energy 2025
RF Meters recently took part in Middle East Energy 2025 in Dubai, where they presented their latest smart metering solutions to a global audience. The event led to valuable new connections and partnership opportunities, reinforcing RF Meters’ role in advancing energy efficiency and smart infrastructure. Representing Romania with pride, the team returned more energized than ever to scale innovation further.
RF Meters at Middle East Energy 2025
FieldOS Takes Industry Insights from Chicago
Ionut Gavrilescu , Managing Director & Founder of FieldOS ,recently spent three days at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, engaging directly with restaurant owners and contractors to gather feedback on their maintenance management needs.
The message was clear: the industry is demanding predictive capabilities, real offline functionality, integrations with ERPs and IoT, and enterprise-grade tools for asset and workflow management. With its evolving platform, FieldOS is stepping up to meet those expectations, reshaping how restaurants manage operations behind the scenes.
Ionuț Gavrilescu, Managing Director & Founder of FieldOS
ZIM Connections Joins Stripe London Tour
Giulia Acchioni Mena , Co-Founder at ZIM Connections , recently attended the Stripe London Tour - an event packed with fintech insights, product demos, and future-focused conversations.
From smarter checkout systems to global growth tools, Stripe’s latest features sparked engaging dialogue on how digital businesses can scale faster. ZIM Connections also took part in a startup-focused roundtable, exploring strategies for product expansion and international success.
RealMINT at the Social Innovation Hackathon Junior
RealMINT took part in the InnovX | egg by Eurobank Program - a joint initiative supporting promising teams from the Greek ecosystem to scale in Romania and beyond through curated soft-landing opportunities and international exposure.
What’s the one word to describe the experience? Georgios Liapis, Co-Founder & CTO of RealMINT, didn’t hesitate in his answer at the Social Innovation Hackathon Junior Edition in Thessaloniki. See what he said in the full clip → Watch the interview here
🤝Partners’ Pulse: What Our Partners Are Launching, Leading & Growing
UNIDO at Yerevan Dialogue 2025
At the recent Yerevan Dialogue 2025, hosted by the The Government of the Republic of Armenia , our partner UNIDO in Armenia joined key policymakers and development leaders to advance dialogue on sustainable regional cooperation.
Mr. Dr. Josef C. K. , UNIDO Director and Special Representative for Europe and Central Asia, delivered a keynote highlighting the critical role of trade and transport connectivity in empowering MSMEs and driving industrial resilience.
UNIDO’s collaboration with Armenia has led to the launch of SPACE59, a Light Industry Training & Service Centre, generating impressive growth in the garment sector: +328% exports | +153% employment | +270% local sales.
Also in attendance were Ms. Solomiya Omelyan , Chief of the Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia, and Mr. Zhirayr Edilyan , UNIDO Country Representative in Armenia.
For more updates and insights, visit their LinkedIn page.
🎓InnovX Academy: Check Out the Bold Ideas on Campus
We recently joined forces once again with the Facultatea de Management - SNSPA, bringing the InnovX Academy spirit straight into the classroom.
As part of a hands-on entrepreneurship course, students pitched their business plans in front of a jury of industry experts, turning academic theory into bold, actionable strategies.
We were inspired by their creativity, courage, and clarity, and truly impressed by how they’re already thinking like founders.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Adina Saniuta, Ph.D., Ph.D.**, for making this collaboration possible, and to our jury members who generously shared their insights and feedback: Anca Luca - CGO at InnovX , Liviu Munteanu - Partner at Founders Bridge, Bogdan Năforniţă - Co-founder & CEO at Profluo .
📣 Stay tuned for more highlights from this event – the future of innovation is already taking shape!
InnovX Academy
🏠New faces at InnovX: Because growing impact starts with growing the people behind it.
We're excited to share that Gabriel Arabu joined our team as the new 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐏𝐬𝐗 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭. Welcome aboard, Gabi!
Gabriel Arabu, STARTUPsX Acceleration Assistant
📅Mark your calendar: Summer Highlights & Can’t-Miss Moments
MoonShotX UK Ignition - London Orbit
Join us in London for the last internationalisation stop of this MoonShotX edition! UK Ignition: London Orbit brings together bold founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders to spark global connections and scale ideas beyond borders.
Don’t miss the finale of this year’s international journey - register here.
MoonShotX UK Ignition - London Orbit
Xplore the Lake with InnovX
This June, we’re kicking off the sunny season with a splash! On June 19, our community members are invited to join us at Watercooled Sports Center – Herăstrău for a morning of paddleboarding or canoeing, followed by coffee and conversation on the terrace.
The event starts at 9:30 AM sharp - we’ll bring the energy and the espresso. **Dress code? -**something sporty, comfy, and splash-ready!
Xplore the Lake with InnovX
StartupsX Dance Party
We’re turning up the music and the community vibes! On** June 26th,** join us for a dance-filled evening where founders, partners, and innovators leave the pitch decks behind and hit the dance floor.
Expect good music, even better energy, and the best company. Dress code? - Just bring your grooves.** If you don’t dance, at least clap on beat.**
Let’s celebrate summer the way we know best - together, with rhythm and no slide decks in sight.
🌍INTERNATIONAL events
International business events aren’t just milestones - they’re gateways. They connect local innovation with global opportunities, open doors to strategic partnerships, and bring valuable insights from across industries and markets.
Upcoming International Events:
- 2nd Networking Event of the EU-LAC Innovation Cooperation Innitiative | Madrid
- Tech Open Air (TOA) | Berlin
- Moldova Digital Summit
- London Tech Week 2025
- Viva Technology 2025 | Paris
- The Next Web Conference (TNW) 2025 | Amsterdam
- European Women in Technology 2025 | Amsterdam
- Techsylvania 2025 | Cluj-Napoca
Your Turn: Let’s Hear From You! 📨
Which highlight from this edition was your favorite? Drop a comment and share your thoughts - we’d love to hear your favourite highlight!
📌 And don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter for live updates, new opportunities, and behind-the-scenes moments from our journey.