The summit agenda also included three workshop areas with practical sessions in Romanian and English, Startup Alley where 42 startups showcased their products, as well as the final of the Startup World Cup Moldova, whose winner will represent Moldova in San Francisco for a chance to secure a $1 million investment.
At the official opening, Olga Melniciuc, CEO of Startup Moldova Foundation, emphasized that the local ecosystem is experiencing accelerated growth and gaining increasing regional and international relevance: “Startup Moldova Summit 2026 shows very clearly that our ecosystem is no longer in a phase of promise, but one of real construction. We see more courageous founders, more capital, more international connections, and more interest in Moldova as a place where globally competitive companies can emerge. For us, this edition was not only the largest so far, but also one of the most important due to the concrete steps we took for the future of Moldovan startups.”
At the opening event, the Delegation of the European Union in Chișinău reiterated its support for the development of the innovation ecosystem in the Republic of Moldova and its connection to European opportunities. The summit was organized with the support of international partners actively contributing to innovation development in the region.
Julien Schmitt, Director of the EU4Innovation East programme: “Startup Moldova Summit 2026 reflects the continued progress of Moldova’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. For the second consecutive year, the European Union, through EU4Innovation East, is proud to support this platform that connects founders, investors and international markets. As the number of startups in Moldova grows, so does the need for stronger support structures and access to capital.
The memorandum signed today that brings together Moldova Innovation Technology Park, Startup Moldova and the Ukrainian Startup Fund, facilitated by EU4Innovation East is a clear statement of how we are contributing to strengthening the innovation ecosystem across the region and enabling new opportunities for innovation. This collaboration will help founders from both countries scale across borders and integrate more effectively into the European innovation landscape.”
New partnerships expanding access to capital, acceleration, and international markets
One of the most important outcomes of this year’s edition was the announcement of the memorandum between Unicorn Factory Lisbon and Startup Moldova, aimed at accelerating the integration of Moldovan startups into the European market.
The collaboration will facilitate local companies’ access to international acceleration programs, go-to-market initiatives, scale-up opportunities, exchange of best practices, mentors, and international expertise, connecting Moldovan founders with EU markets and enhancing their global competitiveness.
Additionally, the partnership between MITP, Startup Moldova, and the Ukrainian Startup Fund will create more joint growth opportunities for the Moldovan and Ukrainian startup ecosystems, including funding and acceleration programs, access to European funds, and regional initiatives that can generate real opportunities for founders in both countries.
Moreover, the partnership between SeedBlink and Startup Moldova introduces a new solution in the region for startups and companies seeking to attract investments from multiple investors in a more accessible, structured, and transparent way. Through this collaboration, startups will be able to list their investment rounds, while investors can participate easily, clearly, and securely in financing the new generation of innovative companies. At the same time, the partnership connects Moldova’s ecosystem to modern equity management tools and European investment networks.
Global ideas, practical lessons, and new perspectives for founders
International speakers brought inspirational ideas on building relevant companies in a global economy. Topics ranged from exploration, deeptech, and financing to scaling, organizational culture, and the future of AI-based products.
Guillermo Sohnlein, entrepreneur, investor, and explorer, spoke about the courage to pursue ideas that seem too big, too bold, or even impossible, in a presentation about exploration, the future, and the power to build beyond conventional limits. Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council Board, highlighted the role of deeptech and the need to support entrepreneurs who develop solutions for the world’s major challenges. Sacha Michaud, co-founder of Glovo, shared lessons from building one of Europe’s most dynamic on-demand platforms and spoke about the network effect left behind by companies that grow healthily and generate new generations of founders. During the fireside chat focusing on the EU Future of Moldovan Startups, Thibault Charlet, Programme Manager, Digital and Economic Development, DG ENEST, European Commission, and Ionela Titirez, Country Lead for Moldova, EU4Innovation East, explored the evolution of Moldova’s startup ecosystem, its future trajectory, and how EU opportunities can help local startups scale and integrate into Europe’s innovation landscape.
On the summit stage, Jaïr Halevi, expert in startup development and organizational culture at Miro, spoke about psychological safety and the fact that real innovation emerges more easily in teams where people can speak openly, test ideas, and raise issues without fear. Ethan Mayers, Venture Partner at Fairbridge VC, brought a strong perspective on changes in the world of financing and the fact that venture capital is no longer the only possible model for founders. Massimo Giulio Caterino opened the discussion about the future of digital products in a world where classic interfaces gradually disappear, and AI, user intent, and reduced cognitive effort become central in experience design.
The agenda was completed by interventions and discussions relevant for founders who want to scale beyond the local market. Bill Reichert, Silicon Valley investor and one of the key figures of the Startup World Cup, spoke about what makes a startup ready for the global stage and about the standards international investors use. In the panel dedicated to scaling, Laurent Koerge, Director of Expansion & Franchise at Bolt, explained how a startup launched in a small market can become a European unicorn, while Lidia Scarlat brought a different but equally relevant perspective on how Moldova’s creative talent can deliver experiences for global brands such as NASA, Microsoft, Disney, and Nike.
In parallel, the summit included three workshop areas – Inspire Stage, Glass Room, and Startup Stage – designed to combine inspiration with practical aspects and to offer participants examples, tools, and ideas immediately applicable in developing their own products and companies. Those who wanted to network could use the Brella platform, created to facilitate meetings, discussions, and potential collaborations between founders, investors, and ecosystem partners.
Pitching, international visibility, and the chance to represent Moldova at the final in San Francisco
One of the most anticipated moments of the day was Startup World Cup Moldova, the pitching competition organized within Startup Moldova Summit, which brought to the stage startups ready to compete for international visibility and the opportunity to represent the Republic of Moldova in the final in San Francisco.
Thus, 10 startups presented their ideas in front of experienced investors and the audience. The competition took place in two pitching sessions, moderated by Bill Reichert, one of the best-known investors and mentors from Silicon Valley, and was complemented by the Jury Investors’ Panel, a discussion that brought together important names from the investment ecosystem. Beyond the competition, the moment offered visibility, valuable feedback, and the real chance for a Moldovan startup to reach the final in San Francisco.
First place went to Prompted AI – the grand winner of the local stage, which goes directly to the Global Final in San Francisco to compete for the $1,000,000 prize. Second place was won by LyricFluent, and third place by Argus AI – two startups that impressed the jury and showed that Moldova is building solutions with global reach.
Startup Moldova Summit 2026 concluded with the message that Moldova is no longer just an emerging startup market, but an ecosystem that learns quickly, builds boldly, and connects increasingly well to international opportunities, while startups born in Moldova are ever more prepared to be built for the world.
About Startup Moldova
Startup Moldova is the foundation that builds and supports the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in the Republic of Moldova. Through support programs for startups, access to financing, events, international partnerships, and public policy initiatives, Startup Moldova connects tech founders, investors, and corporations around a common goal: a Moldova where good ideas have resources and markets. Startup Moldova Summit is the ecosystem’s main event, organized annually by Startup Moldova with the aim of inspiring, connecting, and supporting a new generation of entrepreneurs who build global companies from Moldova.
Moldovan startups in numbers
The startup ecosystem in the Republic of Moldova continues to record constant growth year after year. In 2025, Moldovan startups attracted over EUR 14,5 million in investments, more than double the previous year, while total investments attracted by the ecosystem exceeded EUR 51,3 million. Startup sales revenues grew by over 35%, and the number of jobs generated by the sector surpassed 1,500. One-third of startups have at least one female founder. Adoption of emerging technologies is increasing – the number of startups integrating artificial intelligence into their products doubled in just one year. The most active verticals in the ecosystem are currently HealthTech, FinTech, and Mobility & Logistics, followed by AgriTech and EdTech.
