The December 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!
🥁 Seedblink’s Secondaries Platform is here! 🥁
SeedBlink, Europe’s all-in-one investment & equity management platform for tech-driven ventures, launched the Secondaries platform aiming to bridge the gap between pre-IPO tech innovators and forward-thinking investors. SeedBlink Secondaries introduces private and institutional investors to new opportunities, empowering investors with streamlined processes, trusted tools, and exclusive opportunities, while also facilitating liquidity! A few listings have already taken place like Klarna, the Swedish fintech giant, who recently filed for US IPO, and rising star dotLumen, the AI-driven DeepTech company developing smart glasses for the visually impaired. And December comes with another good
🪙 Investors can now buy Bolt shares worth up to 1 million euros via SeedBlink 🪙
SeedBlink, recently announced a secondary investment opportunity in Bolt, one of the most influential mobility companies reshaping urban transportation and delivery worldwide. Until the 10th ohf January 2025, investors have access to 4,347 shares priced at €230 per share, with investment tickets starting from €2,500—or even €1,000 for SeedBlink Club members.
Bolt’s last public valuation in 2022 was €7.4 billion, but SeedBlink investors now can invest at a €6.63 billion valuation—a 10% discount from its 2022 valuation. As of August 2024, Bolt achieved an annual revenue milestone of €2 billion and is valued at approximately $14 billion (Source: CB Insights).
“Secondaries represent an opportunity for investors to diversify their portfolios by accessing mature, proven companies like Bolt,” said Eric Bartha, Head of Financial Services at SeedBlink. “This investment not only offers exposure to a high-growth market leader but also aligns with SeedBlink’s mission to democratize access to pre-IPO opportunities. Bolt is a standout example of innovation and scalability, and we’re excited to connect investors with such a transformative company.”
SeedBlink’s Secondaries platform aims to bridge the gap between pre-IPO tech innovators and forward-thinking investors. This opportunity to invest in Bolt offers a unique avenue to support a company that not only leads in mobility but is also poised for sustained expansion as it navigates the global market’s growing appetite for smarter urban solutions.
For more details on this investment opportunity, please visit secondaries.seedblink.com
⚡ Catalyst’s Investment Manager Alina Georgescu Speaks at Deloitte’s Regional Panel on Tech Startups and Investments ⚡
Alina Georgescu, Investment Manager at Catalyst Romania, was recently invited as a speaker at the Deloitte Fast 50 Awards 2024 event. The panel discussion, held on November 16, brought together key industry leaders to explore the success strategies of local tech startups recognized at a regional level.
Alina shared her expertise on evaluating companies for investment, emphasizing three critical pillars: the defensibility of the product, ensuring it has a unique moat or intellectual property; the adaptability of the founding team, with a focus on soft skills as companies evolve; and the ability to access the market, prioritizing market reach over market size.
Alina highlighted the critical role of the financial institutions in shaping and supporting the Romanian VC ecosystem. She noted the European Investment Funds’ contribution as a driving force behind the sector’s growth and its impact on enriching the local ecosystem. Today, thanks to the efforts of EIF and other stakeholders, Romania boasts a thriving ecosystem of more than 20 funds, spanning early-stage to private equity, offering diverse financing opportunities for tech startups.
Three Romanian companies achieved recognition in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe 2024 ranking. Questo, Steepsoft AI, and Ascendia secured their spots among the top 50 fastest-growing technology companies in the region. Additionally, three more Romanian startups, Finqware, Plant an App, and Kinderpedia, were highlighted in the prestigious “Companies to Watch” category, reflecting their strong potential for growth and innovation.
Catalyst Romania congratulates these exceptional startups and remains committed to supporting the local tech ecosystem. Events like this highlight the remarkable talent and potential within the region, and we are proud to contribute to its growth and success. For more information on the Deloitte Fast 50 and the recognized companies, visit Deloitte Fast 50 Central Europe.
✨ Celebrating Growth with TechAngels Romania and Bravva Angels ✨
On December 10th, Ginger Night brought together two of the most important business angels communities: TechAngels Romania and Bravva Angels, showing that collaboration is key in early-stage funding, especially when targeting growth towards unicorns and gazelles.
The evening began with Bravva honoring its most active Business Angels, celebrating their dedication and contributions to the ecosystem. This was followed by an engaging interview with Marius Ghenea, led by representatives of two prominent Business Angel communities. The lively exchange of questions covered key topics such as the evolution of 2024, investment trends, current and future challenges and expectations for valuations and trends.
The event concluded with high-quality networking, bringing together over 100 participants in an elegant Bucharest venue, making it a truly memorable gathering for the community.
”I had the pleasure of being a speaker at the “10X..mas Party. The Angels Way” event, hosted by Bravva Angels and TechAngels Romania. It was a joy to stand before the Business Angels community and reconnect with professionals I have collaborated with over the years—whether as co-investors, partners in supporting entrepreneurial education programs, or peers at various events dedicated to the business ecosystem. Thank you to everyone who attended!”, said Marius Ghenea, Managing Partner Catalyst Romania.
🥳 ESX celebrates 500,000 users 🥳
The Romanian start-up ESX, known for aggregating fitness and sports services, achieved significant growth in 2024, surpassing the milestone of 500,000 users.
The company expanded its network to over 650 partner fitness centers, adding 180 new locations this year, as the Romanian fitness market has also seen growth in recent years. “Over the past three years, the number of gyms and fitness centers nationwide has increased from approximately 1,100 to over 1,600 clubs, and we anticipate a similar growth trend for the next three years,” said Andrei Trofin, CEO and founder of ESX. The start-up secured a €2 million investment in 2023 from the Catalyst Romania fund.
After closing last year with a €10 million turnover, marking a 250% growth, ESX also aims to strengthen its its presence in the B2B segment, offering fitness memberships as an employee benefit. The company has attracted major corporate clients, including Huawei, Amazon, Teilor, KPMG, Bitdefender, Vodafone, and Oracle.
This fall, the company launched PTN (Personal Trainers Network), a platform that connects users with fitness and nutrition specialists. Out of the 2,500 specialists active in Romania, around 500 have already joined the PTN network, representing 20% of the market. ESX estimates this number will exceed 1,000 professionals next year.
“Supporting industry professionals is another major objective. The platform provides them with a dedicated space to promote their services, enhancing visibility and expanding their client base. It also fosters a healthy lifestyle and aims to improve users’ physical and mental well-being, especially given that Romania ranks first in Europe for obesity rates. Furthermore, we aim to increase fitness digitalization by setting a new standard of innovation in the industry,” said ESX representatives.
⚡ Career Opportunities within the portfolio ⚡
Adapta Robotics is seeking for a passionate and experienced Frontend Engineer (reach out to the team for more information LinkedIn)
ESX is looking for an experienced, serious, energetic person, to cover the role of Senior Marketing. More information here
Leanpay looking for an experienced and detail-oriented compliance professional to join the company at the position of Compliance and Anti-Fraud Officer. More information here
Now, as the holiday season is upon us, we wanted to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas full of joy and a Happy New Year!
If you want to be up to date with news from the Catalyst Romania portfolio, visit our LinkedIn page!