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After the local success of UiPath, Bitdefender, Avangate, and many other startups, Romania has positioned itself as an interesting startup hub in the eyes of international investors, alongside a few other countries in CEE. The country is well known for its IT and software development expertise, providing a solid foundation for startups to innovate and grow.

Startup programs and accelerators contributed to building Romania’s startup ecosystem. While these support pillars went through a transition period - just as the country did in the post-communist era - experts believe that Romania now has a fairly mature and vibrant startup ecosystem.

These initiatives are stepping stones that nurture early-stage companies, connect them with mentors, and open doors to funding and market opportunities.

They also help founders refine their ideas, develop strategies, and scale their ventures.

This article introduces Romania's main startup accelerators, which every founder should know about. It provides essential details to help you navigate the opportunities in Romania’s growing startup ecosystem.

If you’ve never joined a startup program or worked with an accelerator, this is the perfect starting point to learn about them and explore how they can help you grow your business.

1. Bright Labs Incubator my Make IT in Oradea

Operated by Make IT in Oradea, the Bright Labs Incubator fosters innovation and entrepreneurship by providing startup mentorship, resources, and funding opportunities. Bright Labs offers a structured program with hands-on workshops, business development sessions, and access to experienced mentors from various industries.

The incubator is open to startups from diverse sectors, strongly supporting digital transformation and technology-driven solutions.

2. Cluj Startups

Cluj Startups offers a 3-month applied business program designed to support 30+ startup founders. The program provides practical mentorship, tailored resources, and a collaborative environment to help early-stage startups validate their ideas and develop sustainable business models.

3. Factory by Raiffeisen Bank

Factory by Raiffeisen Bank is a financing and mentoring program designed to help Romanian entrepreneurs and startups realize their business ideas.

Factory by Raiffeisen Bank provides startups with access to funding, tailored mentorship, and strategic guidance, helping them validate and scale their businesses.

4. Fix Cluj

Fix Cluj is a dynamic accelerator and coworking space in Cluj-Napoca. It is dedicated to fostering innovation and empowering startups. Focused on building a strong entrepreneurial community, Fix Cluj provides startups access to tailored mentorship, business development resources, and collaboration opportunities.

The accelerator’s programs are designed to help startups at various stages, from idea validation to scaling, and emphasize practical solutions to real-world challenges. Fix Cluj also offers networking events, workshops, and access to a diverse ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

5. Founder Institute Romania

Founder Institute Romania is part of the global pre-seed startup accelerator of the same name. It is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders turn their ideas into fundable and scalable businesses.

The program provides a structured, step-by-step curriculum, mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, and access to a global network of startup experts and investors.

6. F&B Business Accelerator

The F&B Business Accelerator is a program powered by the Hospitality Culture Institute, dedicated to fostering innovation and growth in the food and beverage (FMCG) sector. It is designed to support startups and entrepreneurs in developing and scaling impactful solutions tailored to the hospitality and FMCG industries.

The program focuses on startups addressing challenges in food technology, sustainability, product innovation, digital transformation, and customer experience.

7. ImpactHub Bucharest acceleration programs

ImpactHub is a coworking space and community for entrepreneurs located in Bucharest that organizes a series of startup and acceleration programs for startups. Their initiatives focus on critical areas like climate and sustainability and projects like ClimAccelerator and WE.Circular and agri-food advancements through EIT Food and the Agrifood Innovation Summit 2024.

Social impact initiatives like Innovators for Children and CRAFT promote positive societal change, while programs such as Capsule and She’s Next provide critical business education for entrepreneurs.

8. Innovation Labs

Innovation Labs is a pre-acceleration program designed for students and young professionals in Romania. It is in major cities such as Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Sibiu, and Timișoara. The program offers a collaborative platform for budding entrepreneurs to transform their technical expertise and creative ideas into functional prototypes and viable business models.

It focuses on smart cities, health tech, cybersecurity, digital education, and more. Participants receive guidance from experienced mentors and industry experts while engaging in hackathons and workshops.

9. InnovX-BCR Accelerator

InnovX-BCR offers a structured program tailored to three categories: start-ups, scale-ups, and small and medium enterprises. Participants benefit from mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and access to BCR’s extensive resources and expertise.

Backed by Banca Comercială Română (BCR), the program focuses on startups operating in cutting-edge sectors such as cybersecurity, fintech, artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, and digital transformation.

10. Launch by How to Web, Google for Startups, and InnovX-BCR

Launch is a pre-acceleration program created through the collaboration of How to Web, Google for Startups, and InnovX-BCR. Designed to fast-track the growth of early-stage startups in Romania, the program provides entrepreneurs unparalleled access to mentorship, workshops, and funding opportunities.

Launch focuses on startups in technology-driven fields, helping them refine their products, validate their markets, and prepare for investment. With the backing of its global and local partners, Launch offers startups a well-rounded curriculum and hands-on guidance to accelerate their development.

11. Orange Fab

Orange Fab Romania is a corporate accelerator program powered by Orange Romania. It is designed to support innovative startups and scale-ups on their journey toward growth and market expansion.

The program focuses on startups working in smart cities, IoT, health tech, fintech, and digital transformation, providing them access to Orange’s cutting-edge technology, infrastructure, and expertise.

12. Risky Business

Risky Business is a pre-seed and accelerator fund in Romania that invests in relentless founders with bold visions. Risky Business is established to support promising early-stage startups with the resources to grow into regional and global, sustainable tech firms.

It offers intensive, high-quality consulting services focused on product development, scaling, strategy, and financial investment.

13. Rubik Hub

Rubik Hub, based in Piatra Neamț, is a leading initiative in North-East Romania dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting startups at every stage of their journey. Its mission is to develop the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting, educating, and empowering founders to create global businesses.

The hub offers various programs, including workshops, mentoring sessions, pre-acceleration, and tailored startup support. It is a good resource for early-stage entrepreneurs looking to refine their ideas and scale their ventures.

14. StepFWD

StepFWD, based in Bucharest, is an accelerator specifically designed to empower early-stage tech startups with diverse teams. The program offers a structured 9-week curriculum that includes workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and access to an extensive network of professionals and entrepreneurs.

The program creates an ecosystem of learning and collaboration by bringing together experienced mentors, industry experts, and like-minded peers.

15. Tech Ventures Startup Incubator

Tech Ventures Startup Incubator is a program designed to nurture early-stage startups and entrepreneurs in Romania, helping them transform their ideas into successful businesses.

Tech Ventures supports startups in validating their ideas, refining their business models, and scaling their operations.

16. Techcelerator

Techcelerator is a startup accelerator that focuses on early-stage technology startups. The program supports innovative projects in FinTech, B2B SaaS, eHealth, PropTech, cybersecurity, AI, and digital transformation.

The program is backed by GapMinder VC, providing startups with initial pre-seed or seed funding of up to €200,000. The accelerator also offers tailored workshops and resources aimed at helping startups refine their products and scale operations.

17. Venture Accel by IDea

Venture Accel by IDea is an accelerator program that supports early-stage startups and innovative entrepreneurs in Romania.

Powered by IDea, the program is designed to provide participants with the tools, mentorship, and resources necessary to scale their ventures and achieve market success.

Stay connected!

This article is part of a series in which we present the top startup incubators and accelerators across Europe. Stay tuned!

Is your accelerator not included? Contact us, and we will add you to the list!