SeedBlink Blog

The key to scaling business operations for your startup in new emerging markets leads to finding the right people and technology to work with. Collaborating with a partner that already has the solution you are looking for is a potential key to success.

It’s one of the reasons we wanted to take a quick look at how unicorns and startups from Eastern Europe are already collaborating with global enterprises or helping each other grow. We’ll review some of the partnerships announced by regional startups with companies like Google, Microsoft, and other big players in the market.

At the same time, we’ll also explore what the upcoming promising startups are doing to support each other and contribute solidly to the ecosystem's growth.

Corporate Companies Partnering With Tech Startups

1. Google, Amazon, SiteGround, and local forces

In 2022, Bulgaria opened the doors of The Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) with the help of a close partnership and investment coming from the Bulgarian government ($100M), SiteGround ($6.5M), AWS — Amazon Web Services ($3.75M), Google ($550K) and DeepMind ($285K). The local community and these four major tech players joined forces to support the local economy in becoming highly competitive and innovative.

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2. Massive Bio x Asklepieia

Massive Bio partners with Asklepieia, BeStrong, and Open Health Alliance in Greece to enhance cancer clinical trials. The collaboration aims to advance cancer care and treatment by integrating their platforms.

The combined efforts will streamline the process of identifying suitable clinical trials for cancer patients, enhancing patient access to cutting-edge treatments and therapies. By leveraging advanced AI technology, the partnership seeks to accelerate clinical trial enrollment, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to advancing cancer research and care.

3. Eco Wave Power x Rogan Associates

Eco Wave Power and Rogan Associates signed a partnership to bring wave energy technology to the beautiful lands of Greece. The collaboration aims to harness the power of ocean waves to generate clean and sustainable electricity, contributing to Greece's renewable energy goals.

Eco Wave Power's technology utilizes uniquely designed floaters to convert wave motion into electrical energy, offering an environmentally friendly and reliable power generation solution. By teaming up with Rogan Associates, a renowned engineering and energy consultancy firm in Greece, Eco Wave Power seeks to accelerate the deployment of its technology in the region and pave the way for a more sustainable energy future in Greece.

4. PwC Romania x Finqware

PwC Romania and Finqware have signed a strategic partnership with Romanian fintech Finqware to help financial departments optimize their internal processes using open banking technology.

PwC Romania will include Finqware solutions in its business automation services portfolio to cover the increasing demand of companies to achieve effective cash management, real-time accounts reconciliation, and treasury management.

5. R3

The capital of Bulgaria not only contributes to its AI community and creates new opportunities for blockchain solutions. R3, an American blockchain company with offices around the world, opened its first R&D hub in this part of Europe at the beginning of this year. The company plans to hire 50 employees by the end of this year and 50 more by the end of 2023.

6. UiPath x DRUID AI x OutSystems x FLOWX.AI

UiPath, Romania’s latest unicorn, signed a series of partnerships with local startups, contributing to the growth of the local ecosystem. The latest news shows us a collaboration with DRUID AI in 2020 to start reselling AI-powered Chatbot Platforms. The partnership helps both companies improve the communication between robots and humans, introduce artificial intelligence into customer support, and help employees get tedious tasks done faster and have a more productive environment.

Additionally, OutSystems and UiPath announced a partnership to combine the power of the UiPath Business Automation Platform with OutSystem's high-performance low-code. Together, the companies will enable customers to securely and intelligently automate core business processes and applications while saving time, improving efficiency, and delivering transformational app experiences.

Another recently announced partnership is with FLOWX.AI, another local startup working on a low-code/no-code experience orchestration technology for enterprises. With larger forces, the two companies want to enable the development of customer and employee experiences at a higher speed than possible.

7. KPMG x FLOWX.AI

Right before the announcement about UiPath, FLOWX.AI also signed a partnership with KPMG, announcing a strategic collaboration. The two companies want to support large companies in developing more unified and personalized digital experiences.

8. Microsoft x Infermedica

Infermedica, a Poland-based medical startup focused on early diagnosis, has started working with Microsoft. The partnership aimed to introduce AI-powered virtual assistants on a larger scale and improve the diagnosis process.

9. DHL x Dronamics

Dronamics, the Bulgarian aerospace startup, announced, in 2021, a partnership with the international logistics company DHL. The two companies aim to implement same-day drone-cargo delivery in emerging European markets, using „Black Swan,” the aircraft powered by Dronamics.

In May 2023, Black Swan performed its first cargo drone flight test at the Balchik airport in Bulgaria. Two commercial airline pilots remotely piloted the cargo drone.

10. Google x Goladman Sachs x Infobip

Google and Goldman Sachs partner with Infobip to launch a mentorship program for startups from the youngest EU member country.

The program aims to provide guidance, support, and resources to emerging startups in Croatia, fostering their growth and development in the competitive business landscape. As part of the mentorship initiative, Google and Goldman Sachs will share their expertise and insights with the selected startups, offering valuable mentorship and guidance to help them navigate challenges, expand their businesses, and scale their operations.

11. Startup Wise Guys x EBRD

Startup Wise Guys, the European B2B startup accelerator and early-stage investor, teamed up with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to launch a new accelerator and support regional fintech innovation.

The program welcomes ten startups to receive a €90K pre-seed investment, including a follow-on opportunity.

Startups & Ecosystem Players Who Support Each Other

1. MOWEA x ECS Poland

Mowea, a French renewable energy company specializing in wind turbine technology, has partnered with ECS Poland, a provider of engineering and construction services.

The collaboration aims to pilot Mowea's innovative mast-mounted turbine technology in Poland. The partnership is set to help MOWEA achieve the goal of producing 50,000 turbines by 2027. The pilot project will test the efficiency and viability of Mowea's turbines when installed on telecommunication masts.

2. SeedBlink x Equidam

SeedBlink partners with Equidam to facilitate fair startup valuation and empower entrepreneurs. This collaboration will facilitate startup valuation while fostering constructive negotiations and informed equity decisions for entrepreneurs and investors.

The partnership between SeedBlink and Equidam represents a pivotal advancement towards stronger long-term outcomes for ecosystems by empowering entrepreneurs with valuable insights, tools, and resources for startup valuation.

2. SeedBlink x Equidam

SeedBlink partners with Equidam to facilitate fair startup valuation and empower entrepreneurs. This collaboration will facilitate startup valuation while fostering constructive negotiations and informed equity decisions for entrepreneurs and investors.

The partnership between SeedBlink and Equidam represents a pivotal advancement towards stronger long-term outcomes for ecosystems by empowering entrepreneurs with valuable insights, tools, and resources for startup valuation.

3. Growceanu x PROCESIO

Growceanu, a business angel platform started by a group of investors, announced a partnership with a local startup, PROCESIO. Growceanu and its new partners want to improve the internal processes and optimize development costs for other startups. Growceanu has already implemented PROCESIO for internal operations and within the processes inside the business angel platform.

4. Credit Europe Bank Romania x Rofin.tech

The banking organization — Credit Europe Bank Romania joins forces with the Romanian Fintech Association (Rofin.tech). The collaboration between these two entities highlights the need for constant innovation in the area and how financial players are making continuous efforts to innovate.

5. CEC Bank Romania x Medeva Fintech

Similar to Credit Europe Bank Romania, CEC Bank partners up with Medeva Fintech to launch a dedicated solution of financial services for vulnerable people (people with disabilities, companions of people with disabilities, social workers, and staff engaged in activities serving social assistance.

6. Auchan x Recommerce Group

Recommerce Group, a company selling refurbished smartphones across multiple European countries, recently struck a deal with Auchan Retail Romania. It was the first retail player in the country to integrate refurbished smartphones and aimed to incorporate more sustainable solutions.

7. Bonapp.eco x Yves Rocher

Romanian-based startup bonapp.eco signed a series of partnerships with different ecosystem players to fight product waste in the country. Besides local restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops, international brands, such as Glovo or Starbucks, and hypermarkets, such as Penny, Auchan, and even Yves Rocher, as the first non-food companies to join the network.

Other recent partners include Ana Pan, Berezka, Domino’s Pizza, La Doi Pasi, Pain Plaisir, Noodle Pac, and Secom.

8. Smartree x Salarium

Smartree, a Romanian-based company offering human resources services and software solutions, signed a partnership with Salarium. Salarium is the first solution to offer instant payment of salary advances and financial education in the country, and it wants to innovate and improve this sector with Smartree.

Final Thoughts

These are just some of the few partnerships we could find, but we are looking to update the list constantly. If you have heard the news about other companies working with tech startups, please contact us and help us keep an updated index.

These partnerships demonstrate the increasing recognition of the potential in the region and the commitment of both global enterprises and startups to leverage each other's strengths for mutual growth and innovation.

By joining forces, companies can tap into the agility and innovation of startups, while startups can benefit from established companies' resources, market reach, and expertise. Such collaborations foster growth in the local tech ecosystem and accelerate the development and adoption of cutting-edge technologies.