ROTSA Launches Romania Startup Awards for Tech Innovation

ROTSA (Romanian Tech Startups Association), the organization that aims to promote, support and represent the interests of technology startup founders, launches the Romania Startup Awards, the annual competition dedicated to recognizing the most innovative and impactful startups at national level. The awards gala will take place on Tuesday, November 26, in Bucharest.

Startups can register for nominations until Sunday, November 10 on the ROTSA website.

Benefits for startups that sign up include access to investors and partnership opportunities, recognition, credibility and media exposure.

Early stage (pre-seed, seed) startups that have an already tested MVP and can prove traction through revenue, partnerships, customer interest or that have raised investment can apply.

The organizers are also targeting innovative businesses that focus on regional and international impact, from competitive fields such as Artificial Intelligence, data automation, enterprise software, financial services, eHealth, proptech, cleantech, edutech & future of work, market places, SaaS , transport and mobility, aerospace & defence, smart-city, cyber security, gaming, data & analytics and agtech.

The team’s vision, ability to scale internationally, execution of the go-to-market strategy and attracting subsequent investments will be analyzed.

The awardees will be selected impartially by a board made up of representatives of the most active nationally distributed representative organizations: venture capital investors, business angels, mentors, accelerators, facilitating organizations, incubators, regional development agencies.

Categories

• Agritech & Foodtech Innovator
• AI Excellence Award
• Cleantech Pioneer
• eHealth Innovator
• Female-Led Startup of the Year
• FinTech Innovator
• Most Scalable Startup
• Retail & E-Commerce Disruptor
• Sustainability Champion
• EdTech Leader
• Rising Star Award
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year
• Dual-use Award
• R&D Award
• Best Startup in Moldova
• Best Startup in Romania

“Romania needed a national competition to highlight Romanian technology startups and their performance. This is the purpose of launching the Romania Startup Awards and it is a first for Romania. Yes, the startups that will enter the competition will have access to investors, partnership opportunities and an increase in notoriety. But the main advantage in being nominated and winning these awards is the recognition in the industry, but also by the general public. We need the stories of entrepreneurs and their contribution from the economic, technological and innovation point of view to go beyond the ecosystem and reach as many people as possible, become successful models and be known even beyond the borders of the country. ROTSA is actively connected with a lot of partner organizations in Europe and beyond. We want to add to our leverage this type of recognition of founders with potential to support them in their internationalization efforts,” said Cristina Țoncu, regional director of the Romanian Tech Startups Association (ROTSA).

“As president of TechAngels, I have often said that I want to see more people who have the courage to become entrepreneurs and more Romanian startups that succeed in growing globally. And, we all know that in order to succeed, people need confidence – confidence in themselves, but also the confidence of those around them. I saw this both from inside UiPath, the only tech unicorn founded in Romania, but also as an investor in over 20 startups. Thus, I believe that the Romanian Startup Awards will bring an infusion of courage and confidence both to those who have already ventured into creating a business, but also to those who are thinking of starting on this path”, said Marius Istrate, President of TechAngels, a network of business angels in Romania.

“Our startup ecosystem is booming, and Romania Startup Awards comes to validate and celebrate this progress. We need local heroes to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. We invite you to celebrate together the successes of Romanian entrepreneurs and inspire a new generation of innovators”, said Andrei Dudoiu, Managing Partner of SeedBlink.