The January 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!
✨ dotLumen Wins the Accessibility Award at CES and Launches a Complete Mobility Solution with Orange ✨
dotLumen has been awarded the Accessibility Award at CES Las Vegas, the world’s largest technology show, also marking the first time a team from Romania receives this award. The recognition highlights not only a breakthrough product but also a development process shaped alongside the blind community who continuously tested, challenged, criticised and helped improve the solution at every stage.
This milestone places dotLumen on the global stage while proudly representing Romania and Europe with technology built around real needs and real users. The award reflects a shared effort between engineers, partners and the visually impaired community who played a central role in shaping a more inclusive approach to independent mobility.
Building on this momentum, dotLumen is partnering with Orange Romania to launch a complete mobility package designed specifically for people who are blind. The solution brings together the dotLumen Glasses, a latest-generation smartphone and high-speed 5G voice and mobile internet services provided by Orange.
The result is an integrated system that combines connectivity and innovation to support greater safety, confidence and autonomy in everyday life. Technology is paired with practical infrastructure to ensure it works reliably beyond the lab and into real-world environments.
The first 1,000 dotLumen Glasses will be delivered as a complete bundle that includes an iPhone, an eSIM with unlimited 5G internet and voice for 24 months and access to a dedicated support call center. By working with Orange, dotLumen is ensuring that accessibility is supported not only by advanced hardware but also by long-term connectivity and assistance.
This initiative reinforces a simple idea. Accessibility works best when innovation is matched with real-world support. Through this partnership, dotLumen and Orange are taking a concrete step toward making independent mobility more accessible for blind people in Romania while setting a benchmark for inclusive technology at a global level.
🌍 Footprints AI Launches in Latin America to Accelerate the Future of Retail Media🌍
Footprints AI has officially launched in Latin America, expanding its next-generation retail media technology into one of the most dynamic and fast-growing regions globally.
With this launch, retailers across LATAM can now turn their physical stores, shopper data and digital touchpoints into fully measurable retail media networks, ready for advertisers from day one. The platform enables retailers to activate and scale retail media with a strong focus on performance, transparency and real business outcomes.
Footprints AI allows retailers to build addressable shopper audiences based on real in-store and ecommerce behavior while activating omnichannel retail media across in-store environments, online platforms, mobile channels and the open web. Through a single platform, retailers can monetize their media networks with clear measurement and offer brands and agencies a scalable solution for retail media execution.
The expansion also marks the formation of a dedicated Footprints AI team in Latin America, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to the region. The local team will work closely with retailers, brands and agencies to support adoption and growth across markets.
With this launch, Footprints AI takes an important step toward shaping the future of retail media in Latin America by enabling retailers to unlock new revenue streams while delivering measurable value for advertisers.
🖇️ Adapta Robotics and GSM Parts Center Advance Circular Electronics
Through Automated Refurbishment 🖇️
The start of 2026 marks a new milestone in circular electronics through a strategic partnership between Adapta Robotics and GSM Parts Center (GPC). At the core of this collaboration is the deployment of the MATTRobot, a robotic solution designed to automate functional evaluation, defect detection and performance verification for refurbished devices.
By integrating robotic testing into its operations, GPC ensures that every refurbished device meets the highest quality standards. Fully automated diagnostics cover 30 critical testing points while also guaranteeing secure data wiping, combining precision and scalability with operational reliability.
Adapta Robotics contributed to the successful robotic integration that underpins this transformation. The collaboration highlights how automation can directly support circular economy goals by extending device lifecycles while maintaining high performance and safety standards.
This partnership represents an important step toward building the future of circular electronics through technology, people and purpose. More developments are expected as the collaboration continues to scale.
📌 Looking Ahead to 2026: What Uncertainty Means for Talent Acquisition 📌
Forecasting the future of work has rarely been more complex. In a context shaped by rapid AI advancement, economic volatility and geopolitical tension, traditional assumptions about hiring and technology are increasingly being challenged.
In a recent article, Adrian Cernat from SmartDreamers explores what 2026 may realistically look like for talent acquisition leaders. Rather than predicting radical disruption, the analysis points toward recalibration. AI will remain central to recruitment technology, but adoption will become more disciplined, driven by measurable business outcomes rather than experimentation alone.
The article also questions the assumption that hiring will naturally become easier in a slowing economy. Persistent labor market unpredictability suggests that flexibility, speed and strong employer branding will remain essential regardless of macroeconomic signals.
Another key theme is software consolidation. While large enterprises continue to streamline their HR tech stacks, innovation remains active in the SME segment, where specialized solutions are still emerging and challenging incumbents.
Finally, candidate experience is expected to shift from a qualitative aspiration to a measurable business metric. Organizations will increasingly manage hiring journeys with the same rigor applied to marketing funnels, tracking engagement, drop-off and conversion across every touchpoint.
The article argues that success in 2026 will not come from perfectly predicting the future, but from building adaptable systems and strategies that can respond to constant change.
🚗 Fleet Efficiency and Control: A Practical Resolution for 2026 🚗
As organizations head into 2026, efficiency and operational control are becoming top priorities for fleet managers and operations leaders. With every hour counting, manual processes and reactive decisions are no longer sustainable.
Carfix Fleet is addressing this challenge by transforming fleet management into a digital, predictable and efficient system, helping companies reduce operational costs by up to 60 percent. Through automation and data-driven insights, teams can shift their focus from firefighting to proactive decision-making.
To explore these topics in depth, Carfix Fleet is hosting a free webinar focused on practical steps for improving fleet performance. Participants will learn how to automate manual workflows, implement predictive maintenance and gain full operational visibility and control over their fleets. The session also includes early access opportunities and exclusive resources for 2026.
The webinar takes place on February 12 at 15:30 and is designed for fleet managers and operations leaders looking to start the year with clearer processes and stronger results.
Read more and register: Carfix Fleet Webinar on Fleet Efficiency and Control for 2026.
🏅 2026 Through the Eyes of Romanian Business Leaders:
Reset, Discipline and Execution 🏅
What will 2026 look like for Romanian businesses? According to a Termene Business Hub analysis, uncertainty, cautious optimism and a reset of the entrepreneurial mindset are defining themes as leaders prepare for the year ahead.
In a series of responses from 24 entrepreneurs, managers and industry experts, expectations for 2026 range from disciplined growth and continued investment to consolidation and sharper execution. Many describe the year as a test for both consumption and brand resilience, where details and consistency will make the difference.
Among the contributors, Mihai Pătrașcu, CEO of evomag, a portfolio company of Catalyst Romania Fund II, highlights the changing dynamics of consumer behavior. With inflation pressure easing compared to previous years, purchase decisions are increasingly influenced by experience, consistency and a company’s track record rather than short-term promotions.
For evomag, 2026 is expected to bring up to 20 percent revenue growth, supported by operational investments already in place and continued international expansion through regional and Western European marketplaces. Logistics and execution capacity remain central to sustaining growth in a more selective consumer environment.
The broader conclusion from the Termene Business Hub perspective is clear. While predictability remains limited, companies that focus on specialization, operational excellence and long-term trust are better positioned to navigate 2026.
⚡ Career Opportunities within the portfolio ⚡
.lumen
.lumen is hiring a Sales professional for Medical Devices in Cluj-Napoca for an on-site, full-time role focused on direct sales, partnerships, and international market entry for cutting-edge assistive technology for the blind. This position is ideal for high-performing sales professionals with strong analytical skills, fluency in Romanian and English, and the drive to create real-world impact at a global scale.
📍 Location: Cluj-Napoca
🔗 View full job description and apply here
SmartDreamers
SmartDreamers is hiring a Recruitment Marketing Specialist for a full-time, remote role focused on creating and optimizing recruitment marketing campaigns for global clients. This position is ideal for marketing professionals with 1–2 years of experience, hands-on PPC skills (Meta, Google, or LinkedIn), strong analytical abilities, and a creative, customer-focused mindset.
📍 Location: Remote (Romania)
🔗 View full job description and apply here
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