The March 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!
to Those Who Need It Most 🚀
This spring marks an important milestone for .lumen, as the team embarks on an ambitious journey across Europe, bringing the Glasses for the Blind directly into communities, and closer to the people they are designed for.
Over the course of two months, the .lumen team is traveling across all county capitals in Romania, organizing individual testing sessions for visually impaired individuals.
A nationwide roadshow of this scale comes with its challenges, from logistics and coordination to ensuring meaningful, one-on-one experiences in every city. Yet, it has also become one of the most rewarding initiatives the team has undertaken so far.
Each interaction offers more than just product testing. It brings real feedback, new perspectives, and often, powerful emotional moments that reinforce the importance of accessible mobility.
At the same time, .lumen is extending its presence internationally by joining PHÄNOMENA on Tour in Switzerland.
The initiative will take the Glasses for the Blind to six cities: Dietikon, Basel, Yverdon, Lucerne, Altstätten, Zurich, and Biel, engaging new audiences and sparking conversations around accessibility and inclusion.
Each new community brings a familiar pattern: curiosity, interaction, and reflection. As people experience the Glasses, one question consistently emerges:
What would the world feel like if accessibility was built in from the very beginning?
Whether in Romania or Switzerland, the mission remains the same – creating meaningful experiences that shift how people understand accessibility.
Every person who walks away with a new perspective adds value to this journey. Because beyond technology, .lumen is helping redefine how we think about independence, inclusion, and the role innovation plays in shaping a more accessible world.
🎉 Adapta Robotics Featured in Deeptech Insider:
Among Europe’s Innovators Shaping the Future of Automation 🎉
A new wave of European companies is redefining how machines operate, moving beyond traditional automation toward intelligent, adaptive robotic systems.
In its inaugural report, “Robotics & Automation: 20 Emerging Innovators to Watch in 2026 and Beyond”, Deeptech Insider spotlights the startups and teams building the next generation of robotics across industries. Among them is Adapta Robotics, recognized for its approach to tackling some of the most difficult-to-automate operational challenges.
Bridging the Gap Between Human Work and Automation
Adapta Robotics focuses on a category often overlooked by conventional automation: repetitive, time-consuming tasks that are highly specific and difficult to scale.
Instead of building one-size-fits-all solutions, the company develops adaptable robotic systems that integrate hardware, software, and AI-driven computer vision, designed to replicate human interaction in real-world environments.
At the core of its portfolio is the MATT robot family, capable of performing precise physical actions such as pressing buttons, interacting with touchscreens, and executing device testing flows that mimic real user behavior. This enables continuous, consistent testing even as devices and interfaces evolve.
Alongside MATT, Adapta is expanding into retail and logistics automation through solutions like ERIS (for in-store shelf monitoring and compliance) and SIDD (for real-time inventory tracking in warehouses and storage environments).
As the robotics landscape continues to evolve, companies like Adapta Robotics are helping shape a more flexible and intelligent approach to automation, one that integrates seamlessly into existing operations and responds to real industry needs.
Their presence in this report not only highlights their progress so far, but also signals the growing importance of adaptable robotics in the next phase of industrial innovation.
🛒 What Most Retail Media Strategies Still Get Wrong 🛒
Retail media is often sold as simple placement: a screen, a CPM, an impression count. But that’s not what drives real impact.
In a recent series of articles, Dan Marc explains what actually makes retail media work, using three simple ideas:
- Proof, not assumptions
Retail media can directly connect ads to real purchases. Not estimates, actual results. - Timing matters
Shopping isn’t random. People buy in patterns. Reaching them before those moments makes all the difference. - Audiences over placements
It’s not about where the ad appears, but who sees it. The right audience drives real sales.
Individually, these are useful. Together, they turn retail media into a true growth engine.
🔓 SeedBlink’s Startup Spotlight: Early Access to
Europe’s Next Wave of Founders 🔓
The map keeps growing: with over 120 companies across 30+ countries and 60+ industries, SeedBlink’s Startup Spotlight is becoming a dynamic view into what’s being built across Europe – early, diverse, and full of potential.
Behind each profile is a founder solving real problems, often before the wider market catches on. From AI and logistics to sustainability and education, the platform brings together a wide range of ideas shaping the next generation of startups, including unexpected ones, like an AI-driven marketplace for boat rentals.
Startup Spotlight was created with a clear purpose: to offer early access. Before funding rounds open. Before companies become widely visible.
It’s not just about browsing. Users can engage directly: leave feedback, signal interest, share a soft commitment, or simply start a conversation. No pressure, no fixed timeline, just a flexible way to discover and connect!
For anyone interested in early-stage innovation across Europe, it offers a front-row seat.
📌 AI in Education: Why It Should Be Taught, Not Banned 📌
In a recent interview for Ziarul de Iași, Alexandru Holicov shares a clear perspective: AI in education is not about replacement, but about responsibility.
Through Adservio, Alexandru Holicov and his team are already testing this vision in practice. Their AI-powered assistant, LearnMate, is currently being piloted in schools, designed to support both teachers and students.
But unlike many AI tools, LearnMate is not built to provide ready-made answers. Instead, it acts as a learning companion, helping students better understand concepts, ask the right questions, and stay engaged in the learning process. The goal is not speed, but depth.
A key idea runs throughout the interview: AI should not replace teachers. Instead, it should function as a “copilot”, handling repetitive tasks, supporting evaluation, and freeing up time for what matters most: human interaction, guidance, and critical thinking.
In this model, teachers remain the decision-makers, while technology enhances both efficiency and personalization.
One of the most relevant points is Holicov’s stance on students using AI for homework: AI should not be forbidden, it should be understood. Students will use these tools regardless. The role of education is to teach them how to use AI responsibly: for research, clarification, and structuring ideas, not for copying answers.
As education continues to evolve, platforms like Adservio point toward a future where digital tools are fully integrated, but the core remains human.
📝 Press Review 📝
In this section, we showcase the latest articles, interviews, and press appearances featuring our team, along with the events we attend to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Whether as mentors, jurors, panelists, or interview guests, we are proud to actively contribute to shaping and inspiring the next generation of innovators and leaders.
- Alina Georgescu Participates at Startup Safari Budapest: Exploring Regional Collaboration and Growth
- Alin Stanciu Participates at AWS for Startups Bucharest
- Marius Ghenea Participates at the newest edition of Business Days
⚡ Career Opportunities within the portfolio ⚡
Leanpay
Leanpay is looking for an Area Sales Manager to join their team in Constanța (covering Constanța, Ialomița, Călărași and Tulcea). This full-time role focuses on growing Leanpay’s merchant network, driving B2B sales, and supporting partners on-site.
📍 Location: Constanța, Romania
💼 Experience: 3+ years in B2B sales or retail/financial services
🔗 View full job description and apply here
If you want to be up to date with news from the Catalyst Romania portfolio, visit our LinkedIn page!