The November edition of the Catalyst Romania Newsletter
We are excited to share updates on our latest activities and insights from our team and from our portfolio companies. Stay tuned for more news on our investments!
✨Catalyst Romania Shines at the BusinessDays Gala 2024✨
The BusinessDays Gala 2024 was an extraordinary night for Catalyst Romania and its portfolio, as we celebrated significant achievements across multiple categories. We are thrilled to share that Catalyst Romania was honored as the “Most Active VC Fund”, a testament to our ongoing commitment to supporting innovation and growth in the tech ecosystem.
Celebrating the Success of Our Portfolio
The evening was particularly special as several of our portfolio companies were recognized for their outstanding contributions:
- Adservio won the “Digital Transformation” award, highlighting its exceptional work in revolutionizing education through technology.
- ESX was named “Start-up of the Year”, standing out for its remarkable growth and impact. In the same category, Adapta Robotics, another Catalyst portfolio company, was also nominated, showcasing the strength of our investments.
- SeedBlink received the award for its exceptional activity as a crowdfunding platform, further cementing its position as a leading enabler of startup funding.
Individual Recognition for Marius Ghenea
We are also proud to announce that Marius Ghenea, Managing Partner of Catalyst Romania, was awarded “Most Appreciated Speaker”. This recognition reflects his invaluable insights and leadership in shaping the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A Night of Pride and Inspiration
We are incredibly proud to support these companies and individuals who are not only driving innovation but also creating meaningful impact in their industries. Their success is well-deserved, and this recognition reaffirms their dedication, hard work, and visionary approaches.
At Catalyst Romania, we remain committed to empowering startups and entrepreneurs, and we are honored to be part of their journey. The BusinessDays Gala was a celebration of excellence, and we are inspired to continue fostering growth and innovation in the tech ecosystem. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their remarkable achievements!
🥇We’ve invested €2 million in ADAPTA Robotics 🥇
We’ve recently announced the €2 million investment into Adapta Robotics, a Romanian robotics development company that has made remarkable strides in innovation, adaptability, and global reach. This marks Catalyst Romania’s first foray into the robotics sector, reinforcing our openness to backing diverse technology tools, services, and products that push boundaries and create real-world impact.
Why Adapta Robotics Stood Out
From the outset, Adapta Robotics impressed us with its visionary approach to robotics, combining cutting-edge hardware, artificial intelligence, and computer vision to deliver highly adaptable solutions. The company’s emphasis on customization and flexibility sets it apart from competitors with standardized offerings. Whether in automotive, medical devices, or retail solutions, Adapta’s technologies have consistently proven the ability to deliver value to major global clients, including Zebra Technologies, Nissan, and Ypsomed, with over 50 robots deployed across more than 30 clients.
50 robots deployed across more than 30 clients.
And by the way, Adapta is expanding its team. If you are tech savvy or have a passion for sales and interested to join the most thrilling robotics company in Romania, send your CV here.
🚀 SmartDreamers launches Johnson Controls Careers Website 🚀
SmartDreamers, the AI Recruitment Marketing operating system, now powers the new Johnson Controls Careers Website, built on the recently launched SmartDreamers CMS 3.0.
With SmartDreamers CMS 3.0, Johnson Controls can easily manage job listings, create engaging content, and automate processes that were previously time-consuming. The integration has led to a 3.8X increase in conversion rates, highlighting the platform’s ability to attract and convert top talent effectively. This boost not only improves the candidate experience but also supports Johnson Controls’ broader recruitment strategy by making the entire talent acquisition ecosystem more agile and performance-driven.
Explore the new Johnson Controls Global Careers Website!
🎉The fourth edition of Ugly Duck, the important VC event hosted by European Investment Fund (EIF) was even bigger than before, as the EIF decided to enlarge it and called it Ugly Duck and Friends, with the first time participation of PE’s from across Europe and more focus on Private Debt/Venture Debt in the event.
”I was excited to participate as I have done from the first edition, before the Covid pandemic, representing Catalyst Romania at the gathering, networking with our colleagues from EIF and peer VC investors and GP managers, as in the years before. This year we were taking part in very interesting keynote presentations about the role of VC’s in Europe, particularly after the Draghi report signaled the chronic lack of funding for business and innovation in Europe, about the green deal and the social impact of the VC investments and, last but not least, about the AI Act recently adopted by EU and how it is going to affect the way we invest in technology companies. Another great day in Luxembourg, with all the relevant stakeholders of our VC industry present!” says Marius Ghenea, Managing Partner Catalyst Romania.
🎓Alina Georgescu participated as mentor in the 7th edition of the Rubik Garage Accelerator Program 🎓
Her participation highlights Alina’s dedication to fostering innovation but also reinforces Catalyst Romania’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Eastern Europe. Supporting these startups, even in their nascent stages, aligns perfectly with our mission of fostering innovation and building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
A Thriving Program for Promising Startups
- 🌎 Global Reach: Over 100 applications from 16 countries were submitted, showcasing a wide range of innovative ideas and ambitious teams.
- 🚀 Selected Cohort: After a highly competitive selection process, 14 promising startups were chosen, with founders hailing from 4 countries.
- 🥾 Founders’ Bootcamp: the selected founders gathered at Rubik Hub for an intensive Bootcamp.
- 📈the program is designed to its alumni with the tools, guidance, and network to scale their businesses effectively. The accelerator program continues with over 60 hours of hands-on workshops, coaching sessions, and investor meetings, culminating in the much-anticipated Demo Day on November 28 in Bucharest. This event will provide startups the platform to pitch their ideas to investors, partners, and the wider entrepreneurial community.
If you want to be up to date with news from the Catalyst Romania portfolio, visit our LinkedIn page!