UK Ignition – London Orbit | The Global Launchpad for CEE Innovation
Just days ago, the London Stock Exchange became the stage for a defining moment in Central and Eastern Europe’s innovation journey. UK Ignition: London Orbit, powered by InnovX and Raiffeisen Bank Romania, launched with a bold mission: to build bridges between visionary Romanian scale-ups and the world’s most dynamic financial ecosystem.
In a high-energy, two-day experience, over 100 participants from more than 10 countries gathered to celebrate the UK launch of MoonShotX, a strategic growth and internationalization program designed to catapult mid-sized CEE companies onto the global stage.
This landmark event brought together 18 influential speakers, including diplomats, investors, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and policymakers, to explore how economic diplomacy and entrepreneurial innovation can fuel Europe’s next growth wave.
Event Highlights
🌍 Opening Ceremony: Vision Ignition – Innovation x Diplomacy
Hosted at the London Stock Exchange, the event began with powerful keynotes from:
· HMA Giles Portman, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Romania
· HE Laura Popescu, Ambassador of Romania to the United Kingdom
· HMTC Chris Barton CMG, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe
· Axel Kalinowski, Head of Central and Southern Europe, London Stock Exchange Group
· Laura Mihaila, Director of Marketing, Communications & CX, Raiffeisen Bank Romania
· Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD, Chief Innovation Officer, InnovX
Their message was clear: mid-corporates are essential to Europe’s strategic future, and partnerships like the UK–Romania alliance are catalysts for global impact.
🎙 Strategic Voices | Interviews Powered by Ziarul Financiar
Renowned moderator Cristian Hostiuc, Editorial Director at Ziarul Financiar, led in-depth interviews, offering rare, behind-the-scenes perspectives on the interplay between innovation, diplomacy, and economic expansion.
🧭 Panel Sessions: From Insight to Action
- Success Beyond Borders: Soft-Landing & Scaling in the UK
Moderated by Cristina Dragu, Director of Foreign Direct Investment, British Embassy Bucharest, this session delivered practical guidance on how Romanian scale-ups can enter and grow in the UK market.
Panelists included:
· HMA Giles Portman, UK Ambassador to Romania
· HMTC Chris Barton CMG, Trade Commissioner for Europe
· Dace Dimza-Jones, UK National Life Sciences Expert, Department for Business and Trade
· Elizabeth Varley, Dealmaker, Global Entrepreneur Programme, Department for Business and Trade
- Global to UK: Investor Perspectives on Scaling International Companies
Moderated by Ana Bobircă, Chief Investment Officer, InnovX, this panel explored the strategy, capital, and legal infrastructure needed to scale globally.
Panelists included:
· Terry Mankertz, Deputy Director, Foreign Direct Investment, Department for Business and Trade
· James Clark, ex-Molten Ventures, capital markets and growth-stage investment expert
· Petr Polach, CFA, Group Structured Finance & Investment Banking, Raiffeisen Bank International AG
· Russell Holden, Partner, DLA Piper UK
- Strategic Financial Insights: Navigating Investment & Growth
Moderated by Mădălina Ciinaru, Head of Bucharest Office, British Romanian Chamber of Commerce (BRCC), this panel addressed critical financial elements for successful international expansion.
Panelists included:
· Cristian Marius Sporiș, Head of Corporate Banking & Board Member, Raiffeisen Bank Romania
· Andrew Seidler, Partner, RSM UK
· Peter Double, Managing Director, Andel Capital
🌕 Spotlight Sessions: Vision Meets Validation
Moderated by Anca Luca, Chief Growth Officer, InnovX, the three Spotlight sessions featured 9 high-potential MoonShotX companies, categorized into themes:
Spotlight I: Tech with a Mission
· Softia – Mihail Vlad
· Bento - Intellectually Curious – Radu Scarlat, Dragos Brudiu, Dan Giusca
· Depozit Virtual | Virtual Warehouse – Flavius Cazan, Cosmin Raileanu
Spotlight II: Scaling with Precision
· Lasting Software – Razvan Bocaeți
· KOGAION COM – Catalin Visu, Bogdan Urdea
· RebelDot – Marius Mocian
Spotlight III: Scaling with Purpose
· Alumil Romania – Marius Ionita
· Euro Team GB Spedition – Florina Truta, Octavian Blajan
· Eco Garden Construct – Emilian Cartis, Daniel Ratiu, Ed Verity
These sessions were more than pitches, they were global declarations of capability, showcasing the ambition and innovation capacity of Romanian mid-corporates.
🏛 Closing Ceremony: Ringing Down the London Stock Exchange
In a historic moment, the MoonShotX delegation became the first from Romania to officially close a trading session at the London Stock Exchange, marking a powerful end to a groundbreaking event.
Keynote insights delivered by:
· Chris Barton CMG, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe
· Giles Portman, UK Ambassador to Romania
· Laura Popescu, Romanian Ambassador to the UK
· Cristian Marius Sporiș, Raiffeisen Bank Romania
· Diana Dumitrescu, PhD, CEO, InnovX
A commemorative recognition plaque was awarded by the London Stock Exchange to Laura Mihaila, on behalf of Raiffeisen Bank Romania, InnovX, the Department for Business and Trade, and the British Embassy in Bucharest.
Orbit Complete, Trajectory Rising
From strategic panels and powerful pitches to high-level diplomacy and deep financial insights, UK Ignition: London Orbit marked a bold step forward for Central and Eastern Europe’s innovation landscape.
As MoonShotX alumni move forward with global confidence, the trajectory is clear: the future of CEE mid-corporates is international and unstoppable. 🌍🚀