The delegation included Virginie Poncet, Senior Advisor in the European and International Affairs Department, and Sofiane Alla, Investment Associate. Held in Chișinău from July 23–25, the visit contributed to Moldova’s ongoing efforts to modernise its startup funding mechanisms and attract venture capital through public-backed instruments.
A key focus of the mission was supporting the Government of Moldova in designing its first Fund of Funds, envisioned as a strategic vehicle to stimulate private-sector investment in early-stage ventures. This effort aligns with broader EU support for developing a resilient, competitive innovation ecosystem.
Throughout the mission, Bpifrance experts engaged in targeted consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government institutions, startup enablers, and financial regulators. These discussions will help inform their strategic guidance and the sharing of best practices on the legal, institutional, and operational design of innovation finance tools. The support provided by EU4Innovation East aligns with Moldova’s efforts to refine its policy framework and funding instruments to meet European standards and boost investor confidence.
The delegation met with the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation, including Deputy Prime-Minister Doina Nistor and State Secretary Natalia Selevestru, to align on strategic readiness, discuss legal and procedural framing, and explore pathways for structuring the Fund in compliance with EU-aligned practices.
HE Dominique Waag, Ambassador of France to Moldova, welcomed strengthened bilateral cooperation and reiterated France’s support – via Expertise France, Bpifrance, AFD and other agencies – for Moldova’s innovation and economic development agenda.
The EU Delegation to Moldova reaffirmed the EU’s continued support for economic development and strategic reforms agenda. Discussions with Deputy Head of Cooperation Adam Grodzicki highlighted the importance of donor coordination and Moldova’s steady alignment with European policy frameworks.
Consultations with local ecosystem leaders – Olga Melniciuc, CEO of Startup Moldova, Marina Bzovîi, Director of Moldova IT Park, Stella Jemna, Country representative of the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund and Mihai Stipanov, General Partner at Mozaic and Founder of Dreamups – revealed current gaps in founder support, mentorship infrastructure, and investor matchmaking. Stakeholders emphasised the need for scalable soft support mechanisms to complement financial instruments and bridge operational maturity gaps in Moldova’s startup landscape.
The team also engaged with Traian Chivriga, Founder of Business Angels Moldova, XY Partners and Sirius Expert, to better understand Moldova’s pre-seed investment dynamics and evaluate potential co-investment schemes under a future Fund of Funds structure.
The mission also included a meeting with the Organisation for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA), where Director Vadim Codreanu and Deputy Director Alina Cebotariov shared insights into Moldova’s SME support landscape and the potential role of ODA in deploying public-backed instruments toward early-stage ventures. Both ODA and Bpifrance expressed keen interest in deepening collaboration, and a potential twinning of the organisations, to explore possibilities of best practices transfer, and identification of effective models for investment fund management and entrepreneurship support.
A meeting with a delegation from the National Commission for Financial Markets, led by President Dumitru Budianschi, explored regulatory alignment with EU standards for alternative investment vehicles.
This expert mission forms part of Moldova’s broader engagement under the EU4Innovation East project to foster cross-border collaboration, regulatory convergence, and sustainable ecosystem development across the Eastern Partnership region. With continued EU support, Moldova is aiming to positioning itself as a credible regional tech hub, and a destination for venture capital and equity funding—where public-private cooperation, institutional reform, and cross-border partnerships converge to unlock new opportunities.
EU4Innovation East is committed to supporting Moldova’s journey toward a resilient, inclusive, and investor-friendly innovation ecosystem.
As a regional initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France, EU4Innovation East works across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to strengthen startup and innovation ecosystems and create fertile ground for investment. Through technical assistance, policy reform support, and the development of smart funding instruments, the project aims to enhance national capacities, promote digital transformation agenda, and support integration of Moldova in the broader EU tech ecosystem. In Moldova, EU4Innovation East plays a catalytic role in bridging national ambition with European best practice, fostering forward-thinking and sustainable reforms across the innovation landscape.
