MoonShotX is an ambitious program organized in partnership between Raiffeisen Bank Romania and InnovX, designed to accelerate the regional and global expansion of Romanian mid-corporate companies with revenues between 5 and 50 million euros. The program launched with an intensive 5-day bootcamp, held from October 7-11 2024, at Raiffeisen Bank Romania's headquarters in Sky Tower.
During the bootcamp, 21 mid-corporate companies participated, collectively representing 233 million euros in revenue in 2023. A total of 60 representatives from these companies attended, holding C-level positions and senior roles, with women making up 33% of the leadership. Throughout the event, these companies received personalized support from 34 Raiffeisen Bank experts and 20 InnovX mentors, ensuring tailored guidance and insights.
The 5-day event featured presentations and case studies from 62 experts, including diplomatic representatives, international lawyers, global tech leaders, senior financial experts from both public and private institutions, and C-level executives from multinationals, unicorns, centaurs, startups, and scale-ups. The topics covered ranged across a wide spectrum, ensuring comprehensive exposure to key trends and opportunities.
Additionally, the event saw contributions from 6 embassies and foreign trade departments, who shared valuable insights through presentations and case studies. Seventeen companies from various sectors also presented their success stories, while 12 public and private financial institutions introduced innovative financing solutions.
A major outcome of the event was the interest in expanding into regional markets, as highlighted by the completion of the MoonShotX Canvas. Key target regions include Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Moldova, indicating a strong drive for regional growth, but also aiming for the UK and US markets and thus for a global presence.
Participating Companies:
Softia; Zaleco; ASCENDIA S.A.; htss; Lasting Software; GRAPHEIN; Safetech Innovations Global Services; Restart Energy; Ivatherm; Alumil Romania; RebelDot; SmartWrap Romania; MASTERBUILD - General Contractor; Essensys Software; WALDEVAR; RAP Group; CODE932; Euro Team Gb Spedition; Bento - Intellectually Curious; Depozit Virtual; Eco Garden Construct.
Day 1: MoonShot Thinking
Held at Raiffeisen Sky Tower, the first day of the MoonShotX Bootcamp, supported by InnovX and Raiffeisen Bank Romania, was moderated by Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD. (Chief Innovation Officer, InnovX), who introduced the concept of "MoonShot Thinking" – setting ambitious and transformative goals.
Laura Mihaila (Director of Marketing, Communication & CX, Raiffeisen Bank Romania) opened the session with a presentation on the role of innovation in marketing and communication, highlighting the importance of adapting strategies to international markets.
Regional and Global Leadership
Cristian Marius Sporis (Head of Corporate Banking Division, Member of the Board of Directors, Raiffeisen Bank Romania) and Sorin Suciu (Executive Director - Mid Corporates & Public Sector, Raiffeisen Bank Romania), alongside Ana Bobirca (Chief Investment Officer, InnovX ), discussed the maturation of medium-sized companies in Romania and opportunities for expansion into emerging markets. Raiffeisen Bank supports the expansion of Romanian businesses in Eastern Europe through financing solutions and a regional network, facilitating the scaling of local companies in international markets.
A Journey to Regional Leadership
The second discussion of the day, moderated by Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD. (Chief Innovation Officer, InnovX ), featured Oana Neamtu (General Manager South Central Europe, JDE Peet's). Oana spoke about the importance of adapting to different cultures, emphasizing that values such as responsibility and clarity of objectives are fundamental; products must be tailored to the cultural specifics of the market.
The MoonShotX Canva - Mission Section
The first workshop of the event was The MoonShotX Canva - Mission Section. Here, and every day, participants had to complete boards based on what they learned throughout the day. Alongside them, each working table had mentors to assist them in the process. Mentors for Day 1 were: Anca Luca, Daniel Ilie, Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD., Catalin Gavrizescu, Delia NECULA, MBA, Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD., Laura Ionescu, Adrian-Aurelian Raducan, RALUCA MOICA, Ruxandra Mateescu, Ioana Dumitrescu, Cosmin Toader, Madalina Ciinaru, Mihai Christian.
Securing the Intellectual Property Before Scaling-up
The day continued with a very dynamic panel on intellectual property, moderated by Anca Luca (Chief Growth Officer, InnovX), where Roxana Guiman (Drilea) (Partner, PrivacyON in alliance with Biris Goran) and Romeo Ţintilă - Neacşu (Managing Partner, Țintilă Rădulescu & Asociații) stressed the importance of IP protection in the early stages of business. Protecting copyrights and trademarks is essential for innovative companies, as intellectual property provides a competitive advantage and helps avoid legal issues.
A journey to Global Leadership
The final session, also moderated by Anca Luca (Chief Growth Officer, InnovX), featured Andrei Văcuţ, PMP (EMEA Sales Engineering Chief of Staff, UiPath), who shared the company's experience in global leadership, highlighting the role of teams in international success. He highlighted that success in business depends on people, not just the product, and hiring the right, capable, and culturally aligned individuals is essential for building a passionate team and protecting organizational culture.
Day 2: Financing Your MoonShotX Launch
The second day, at Raiffeisen Sky Tower, focused on financial strategies for scaling. The sessions of the day provided valuable guidance on navigating financial challenges and maximizing opportunities for long-term success.
New Financial Instruments for Growth
Ana Bobirca (Chief Investment Officer at InnovX) led a discussion on new financial instruments for growth, featuring speakers like Teodora Elena Preoteasa (State Secretary at Ministry of European Investments and Projects), Radu Hanga (President Of The Board Of Directors, Bucharest Stock Exchange / Bursa de Valori Bucuresti (BVB)), Ekke Van Vliet (Investment Coordinator, European Commission - European Innovation Council (EIC) - EIC Fund), Ramona Dragomir, CFA (Principal Banker, EBRD), and Sinziana Enache (Head of Project Finance, Leveraged Buyouts and Public Infrastructure, Raiffeisen Bank Romania) sharing their insights.
VC & PE Investments for Scaling up
The panel, moderated by Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD. (Chief Innovation Officer, InnovX), featured discussions on venture capital and private equity investments. Experts such as Suleiman A (Investment Principal, Elevator Ventures), Simona Gemeneanu (Co-Founder, Morphosis Capital), and Alin V. Stanciu (Partner, Catalyst Romania) shared their insights, enriching the experience for all participants. They discussed strategies to attract investors, with a strong emphasis on local companies scaling globally.
MoonShotX Canva - Finance Section
The second MoonShotX Canva session was the Finance Section. Here, participants completed their financial plans for their next steps. This time, the mentors were: Anca Luca, Simona-Loredana Harpa, Emilia Mazararu, CFA, Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD., Veronica Moise, Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD., Adriana Petrov-Lungu, Issabela-Cella Raileanu, Adrian-Aurelian Raducan, Ioana Dumitrescu, Catalin-Adrian Dragomir, RALUCA MOICA, Laura Carp, Cristina Kalinov, Ruxandra Mateescu, Anca Ghiuță , Iuliana Elena Pascu, Cristina Dragu 🇬🇧💰🚀, Diana Ivan, Madalina Ciinaru, Ailyn Abibula, Tudor Popp (Founding Partner, Hotspot).
Merger & Acquisition Strategies - Exploring M&A as a path to growth and innovation
The M&A workshop, led by the DLA Piper Romania team, included presentations from Tudor Nedelea, Bogdan Buta, Cristina Bucur, and Razvan Pele, covering essential aspects related to due diligence and efficient tax structures, as well as other legal and finance considerations. Karina Andreea Ogica (Director at Raiffeisen Bank Romania - Investment Banking M&A) then explained what collaboration with an M&A specialist entails.
Drafting Financial Projections - Workshop on financial planning
Bogdan Năforniţă (Co-founder & CEO, Profluo) and Alina Rus, CFA (Chief Financial Officer, Raiffeisen Bank Romania) guided participants through financial projection planning, emphasizing that successful scaling begins with clear financial forecasts. Afterward, innovators were invited to join a finance-themed working session, guided by the Raiffeisen Bank's Romania Growth Supporters, alongside our mentors.
Creating Your Path to Scale in CEE - The scaling-up Journey of AskWire
In the final session, Anca Luca (Chief Growth Officer, InnovX) invited Pavlos Loizou (Founder and CEO, Ask Wire ) and Liviu Munteanu (Partner, Founders Bridge) to share their experiences in scaling businesses. Pavlos stressed the importance of knowing your motivation for scaling and mastering local networks before going global. Liviu encouraged participants to be persistent in their networking, while Anca reminded everyone to stay focused and keep processes simple.
Day 3: Sustainable Investments and Leadership
The third day at Raiffeisen Sky Tower focused on sustainable investments and leadership, highlighting the growing importance of responsible business practices in today’s economic landscape.
Sustainability as a Path to Profitability
The day began with a panel discussion moderated by Anca Luca (Chief Growth Officer, InnovX) featuring Florin IRIMESCU (CEO, Bluana Foods) and Cristian DAVID (Managing Director, Klap). Representatives from sustainability-focused companies emphasized the importance of integrating sustainability into business strategies, highlighting that sustainability is not just a responsibility but also an opportunity for innovation and profitability.
They discussed the need to educate consumers and create products that meet market demands, noting that while interest in sustainability is rising, price remains a priority for many consumers. Young people, in particular, are more open to adopting sustainable initiatives, and companies must communicate the benefits of these solutions clearly to influence public opinion.
UNIDO- Private Sector Partnership
Dr. Josef K. (Director of the Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Coordination, Special Representative for Europe and Central Asia, UNIDO) presented UNIDO's role in promoting sustainable industrial innovations. UNIDO promotes inclusive and sustainable industrial development as a driver of low-emission economies, improving living standards and protecting the environment. Partnerships with the private sector are essential to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly SDG 9, which recognizes the importance of industry and innovation.
EU Green Deal’s Financial Opportunities
Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD. (Chief Innovation Officer, InnovX) and Pawel Bochniarz (General Partner, Radix Ventures) led a session on unlocking financial opportunities through the EU Green Deal, discussing how businesses can navigate challenges and seize opportunities within the EU's framework for sustainability-focused investments.
MoonShotX Canva - Sustainability Section
The third MoonShotX Canva session for the Sustainability Section had the following mentors: Anca Luca, Nicu Iancu, Simona Turiga, Daniel Ilie, Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD., Razvan Tudor, Delia NECULA, MBA, Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD., Adrian-Aurelian Raducan, Ruxandra Mateescu, Isabela Patulea, Cristina Dragu 🇬🇧💰🚀, Madalina Ciinaru, Oana Lupan.
EIC Grants - A Case For Sustainable Growth with LAM’ON
Afterwards, insights into EU funding opportunities for sustainable innovation were provided. This included a discussion with Gergana Stancheva (Co-Founder & COO, LAM'ON OOD) and Alexandru D. (Chief Sustainability Officer, InnovX) on the challenges and potential of scaling up sustainable innovations, like LAM'ON, which produces compostable bioplastics for packaging, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.
Becoming Tomorrow’s Leader through SDGs
The day concluded with a panel on sustainable leadership, moderated by Andreea Porojan (Sustainability and CSR Manager, Raiffeisen Bank Romania), featuring Roxana Barbato, MBA (Director ESG & Sustainability, Raiffeisen Bank Romania), Alina Saiu (Sustainable Finance Department Manager, Raiffeisen Bank Romania), and Romulus Mircea, CFA, PRM (Head Of Treasury, Raiffeisen Bank Romania). They shared strategies for driving impactful change within organizations by aligning leadership goals with sustainability principles, highlighting the role of financial institutions in promoting sustainability initiatives through responsible investments.
Day 4: Converging Future Technologies
Day 4, hosted at Microsoft HQ, explored future technologies, including AI, IPA (Intelligent Process Automation), and CLOUD solutions.
Converging Future Technologies - Exploring technologies driving exponential growth (AI, IPA, CLOUD)
The day began with a keynote from Alina Irma O. (Senior Director ISV Partners & Startups Central Europe & Central Asia, Microsoft), emphasizing that every company is fundamentally an IT company and stressing the significance of solutions like SaaS for efficient scaling. She urged attendees to embrace curiosity and collaboration, showcasing how OpenAI and Microsoft are spearheading innovation through state-of-the-art consulting hubs.
Next, Andrei Văcuţ, PMP (EMEA Sales Engineering Chief of Staff, UiPath) presented a compelling analogy: "AI is the new electricity." Leveraging his firsthand experience with UiPath's substantial growth, he clarified the distinctions between AI and machine learning, underscoring how businesses can harness IPA to automate operations and access new customer markets. Additionally, we had the opportunity to observe a demonstration of Generative AI autopilots, which showcased the technology's potential.
Ovidiu Pismac (Senior Security Cloud Solution Architect, Microsoft) discussed key trends in cybersecurity, highlighting the rising incidence of data-destroying cyberattacks that increasingly utilize AI. He noted that the projected costs of these attacks could reach $13 million by 2027-2028. To aid in security management in Romania, Microsoft is offering a complimentary list of common vulnerabilities. Ovidiu emphasized the need for a zero-trust approach, encouraging organizations to verify every system. He also engaged the audience in a mini-game to distinguish between real and AI-generated images, creating an interactive atmosphere to discuss concerns surrounding AI.
Then, Daniel Rusen (Business Applications Lead - Central Europe, Microsoft) introduced Microsoft Copilot, explaining how AI can transform user experience. Daniel shared a powerful vision: "AI doesn’t replace you; it amplifies you." The session showed how Microsoft Copilot empowers employees by assisting with content creation and data analysis, revolutionizing productivity in the workplace.
Consolidating through Startup Ecosystems - Leveraging startup partnerships for innovation
Next, we delved into startup ecosystems and the power of partnerships. Aimen Aldahash (Partner Development Manager - ISV, Microsoft), Todi Pruteanu (Managing Director, East & Commercial Ecosystem, FintechOS) showed us how Microsoft’s B2B marketplace and partnerships are helping startups scale, sharing insights on how collaboration between tech giants and innovators is shaping the future.
Integrating New Technologies - Workshop on applying cutting-edge technologies to your project
In another engaging panel, Robert Sumarocov (Development Guild Lead, Raiffeisen Bank Romania), Alin Nedelcu, ACCA (Head of Advanced Analytics, Raiffeisen Bank Romania ) and Razvan Cristea (Sr. Solutions Sales Lead for Modern Work, Microsoft) discussed how businesses can integrate cutting-edge technologies like AI, automation, and digital tools into their strategies, providing practical guidance on navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape.
MoonShotX Canva - Technology Section
The fourth MoonShotX Canva session, this time focused on the Technology Section, encouraged participants to complete their strategy for the future of their businesses from a technology perspective.
Growth through Startup Collaboration/Acquisitions - Strategies for startup engagement and growth
Finally, we wrapped up with two sessions, first one by Delia NECULA, MBA (President of MedTech Committee, InnovX), who talked about her SanoPass FIT case study, with a focus on how corporates choose (and should) work with startups for mutual benefits, as well as on the importance of having a Board of Advisors.
Afterwards, Sergiu Negut (Co-founder, cleverage.vc) closed the day with unmatched energy, delivering a crash course on how to raise money, select the right board of advisors, and master investor relations. Even though this was the last session of the day, the room was buzzing with energy, which made the Q&A session incredibly engaging and lively.
Day 5: Internationalize Your MoonShotX Project
The final day of the MoonShotX Bootcamp was filled with valuable insights on scaling projects internationally. Emanuel Cernat (Chief Internationalization Officer, InnovX) kicked off the session, leading discussions that highlighted key opportunities for international growth across various markets.
Invest Croatia
Her Excellency, Ambassador Marija Kapitanović from the Croatian Embassy reflected on Croatia’s journey since joining the EU and transitioning to the euro and Schengen zone in 2023. She accentuated the growing potential in digital services, R&D, and cleantech, supported by government initiatives.
Advantage Austria
Christoph Grabmayr, Head of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, spoke about Austria’s strategic location and highly skilled workforce, making it an ideal hub for companies aiming to expand into the broader German market. He also highlighted Austria’s vibrant startup ecosystem, advising participants to leverage resources like the Austria Business Agency.
Invest in UK
From the British Embassy in Bucharest, Cristina Dragu 🇬🇧💰🚀 (Director Foreign Direct Investment CEN) shared insights into the UK’s dynamic innovation and investment landscape, which includes over 150 unicorns and extensive support for startups in sectors such as green energy, construction, and technology. She encouraged participants to share their business ideas, offering her expertise in connecting them with the right UK networks. Additionally, Virginia Zetu (CEO, Fibercon) shared her experience of navigating the British market and finding success there.
Select USA
Ricardo Pelez (Regional Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce) and Capat Alina Daniela (Commercial Specialist, US Embassy Bucharest, Romania) offered key advice on entering the expansive U.S. market, highlighting the importance of networking and strategic scaling. Mr. Pelez underscored the scale and diversity of the U.S. market, while Alina outlined programs designed to help companies access U.S. conferences and trade shows. Cristian Marius Sporis (Head of Corporate Banking Division, Member of the Board of Directors, Raiffeisen Bank Romania) further contributed to the discussion, adding valuable insights on U.S. market opportunities.
Case Study with Bogdan Lițescu
Bogdan Litescu (Founder, Plant an App) shared how he accidentally ended up in the US and learned that selling a product is different from selling a service. He emphasized the need to focus on the impression you make, adapt to a capitalist mindset, and understand the importance of sales in the US market.
Round Tables with Foreign Embassies & Chambers of Commerce
The participants engaged in discussions with representatives from Croatia, Austria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Each company received tailored consulting to suit their future needs. The representatives from countries mentioned above were: Mateja Horvat, Christoph Grabmayr, Cristina Dragu 🇬🇧💰🚀 and Manuel-Iulian Cazac (U.S. Relations Manager, AmCham Romania).
Overcoming the challenges of Internationalization
The final panel, moderated by Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD. (Chief Innovation Officer, InnovX ), featured contributions from Silviu Toma (Executive Director – Project and Structure Finance Directorate, Raiffeisen Bank Romania), Konstantinos Kalogerakis (Group Business Development Manager, Printec Group), and Ciprian Ladunca (Managing Partner, LCL Advisory). The panelists discussed how to overcome the challenges of internationalization, ranging from securing financial resources to understanding cultural nuances, and building a strong advisory board to ensure sustainable cross-border growth.
Marketing Plan for International Scaling-Up - Workshop on creating a marketing strategy
A special moment marked the closing of the bootcamp: the same energy that launched Day 1 with Laura Mihaila (Director of Marketing, Communication & CX, Raiffeisen Bank Romania) resurfaced as she wrapped up Day 5 with impactful insights on branding. She emphasized that a brand is much more than a logo—it’s about the emotions it stirs in the audience. Drawing from her global experience, she shared strategies for creating a memorable brand that resonates across diverse markets, reminding participants of the importance of clarity and consistency in their messaging.
Alongside Laura, the participants completed the last two sections of the MoonShotX Canva, which were Regional Scaling Up and Branding. The mentors for this session were: Anca Luca, Bogdan Stefan, Diana DUMITRESCU, PhD., Bogdan Hristescu, Delia NECULA, MBA, Daniel Dumitrescu, PhD., Laura Ionescu, Adrian-Aurelian Raducan, Adela Tapurin, Ruxandra Mateescu, Alexandru Cristescu, Cristina Dragu 🇬🇧💰🚀, Madalina Ciinaru.
Special Thanks to the Team and Participants of MoonShotX Bootcamp
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our partner, Raiffeisen Bank Romania, for their invaluable support provided throughout this bootcamp. We appreciate the contributions of the speakers who shared their experiences and insights, providing participants with essential perspectives for their business growth.
Additionally, a sincere thank you to the participating companies for their commitment to innovation and growth within the Romanian business landscape. Your presence added diversity and creativity to the discussions.
Last but not least, we want to acknowledge and thank the mentors who stood by the participants, guiding them throughout this learning and development journey. Your impact is crucial in shaping the future generations of entrepreneurs and leaders.
THANK YOU all for your contributions and commitment to turning ambitious visions into reality. We look forward to seeing how each of you will implement the lessons learned and continue to innovate in the future!
Working Canvas
The participating companies had the opportunity to document their strategies on customized physical boards, completing the essential elements of their regional and global expansion plans. These boards served as a collaborative space where they jotted down ideas and business solutions, as if leaving their own strategic notes for the future of their companies.
Each company clearly outlined its objectives, necessary resources, target markets, and strategic partnerships, using this visual methodology to develop a concrete and personalized growth plan.
Work and fun
The atmosphere during the bootcamp struck a perfect balance between focused work and moments of relaxation, creating a dynamic environment for professional development and informal interactions. Participants engaged in productive sessions, collaborating on strategies, while also enjoying opportunities to unwind and connect with one another.
Through casual networking during coffee breaks and evening gatherings, the energy remained positive and collaborative. This blend of work and fun allowed everyone to recharge, exchange ideas, and build stronger relationships, making the bootcamp both motivating and enjoyable.
