tech Archives - Techsylvania

Why dbt Labs Is Betting Big on Romania: A Vision for Local Talent, Global Impact

stefania.muresan — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:42:38 +0000

As dbt Labs expands its global footprint, Romania has emerged as a key strategic hub for innovation. In this exclusive Techsylvania interview, we sat down with Mark Porter, a senior leader from dbt Labs to explore the reasons behind their investment in Cluj and Bucharest, the company’s approach to building empowered local teams, and how AI and next-gen data tools are reshaping the analytics landscape. From career growth opportunities to the bold future of dbt Fusion, this conversation offers a deep look into how Romanian talent is powering the future of data transformation.

Why Romania? What strategic factors led dbt Labs to invest in a Romanian engineering hub, and how do you see Romania’s talent pool shaping the future of the dbt product suite?

We’re genuinely thrilled to be growing in Cluj and Bucharest—and I’m personally excited as well. So, why Romania? Let’s start with the people. At my previous company, Grab, we acquired a team in Cluj, and I was immediately impressed. The talent was exceptional. The culture was grounded in hard work, high judgment, and kindness. And the people? Really, really smart. That’s a pretty unbeatable mix.

We currently have two teams based in Romania—one focused on customer-facing special projects, the other working on core platform technology. While Romania’s tech talent pool may not be as large as that of the U.S., it’s more than robust enough for us to build full, capable teams. Between Cluj and Bucharest—and the strong technical universities in both—we’ve got access to a healthy pipeline of junior and senior engineering talent, as well as product managers and designers.

This is not about outsourcing. This is about building long-term, full-stack teams that own and ship critical pieces of the dbt product suite. We’re here to grow together.

Career Growth & Learning. What opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and technical leadership can Romanian engineers expect when joining dbt Labs?

Helping people grow is a personal passion of mine—because when people grow, amazing things happen.

Historically, our technical team has been concentrated in North America. But as dbt Labs becomes a truly global company, we’re committed to scaling the right way. That means avoiding scattered teams split across wildly different time zones. I’m not a fan of small engineering teams stretched across oceans—it’s hard to build the camaraderie and shared context that drive great outcomes.

Instead, we build complete local teams. That means engineers at all levels, paired with product and design teammates who are either local or in a nearby time zone—like Dublin, Ireland.

Of course, this takes real work. We have to architect our codebase, our org structure, and our internal systems to support distributed but self-sufficient teams. That means clean architecture, clear roles and responsibilities, and robust onboarding—designed to work in any time zone, not just U.S. hours.

When we launch a new hub—like in Cluj—we don’t just drop people in and hope for the best. We send Senior and Staff-level mentors to support the team. We nurture the environment. And we ensure that growth is baked into the experience.

This model benefits everyone. Diverse, empowered teams operating with psychological safety are more likely to take ownership and deliver exceptional results. That’s what we’re building.

Innovating in Data Transformation. Looking ahead, what emerging trends or features in data transformation and analytics excite you most, and how is your team preparing to integrate them into the dbt platform?

It’s a thrilling time to work in data. For the past 30 years, the industry has been laser-focused on collecting and analyzing more and more data. Today, we have systems that can process 100 times more data than before. But despite all that scale, one thing hasn’t changed much: how humans extract insights. We’re still looking at dashboards, writing SQL, and trying to translate machine output into business meaning.

AI is changing the game.

When AI operates on trusted data, it can surface real insights—not guesses. And when it has access to dbt’s rich metadata, large language models (LLMs) become dramatically more accurate and useful. They hallucinate less and help users more.

Enter MCP—the Model Context Protocol. It allows LLMs to do what they’re great at: ask smart questions and form answers. Meanwhile, MCP allows data systems do what they’re built for: provide timely, accurate answers. Paired with dbt’s multi-cloud, multi-warehouse capabilities, this enables our users to extract insights faster than ever across their entire data estate.

This is the missing link that data teams have been waiting for….forever.

Long-Term Vision. Where do you see dbt Labs—in terms of team size, product capabilities, and market impact—five years from now, and how will your Romanian engineering base factor into that vision?

If you’d asked me five years ago where tech would be today, I would’ve gotten a lot of it wrong—so I’m wary of five-year forecasts. In this fast-moving world, two years is about as far as anyone can reasonably see. But within that window? The future for dbt is electric.

We’re expanding our global footprint and rapidly evolving our product. What began as a focused transformation tool—turning raw data into clean, reliable models—has grown into something far bigger. dbt is now a true data control plane: with orchestration, observability, metadata cataloging, and a semantic layer. We’ve become the connective tissue of the modern data stack.

And now, with the launch of dbt Fusion, we’ve entered a new era. Fusion is a ground-up rewrite of our core technology—bringing blazing performance and smarter SQL understanding. It’s helping developers move faster while helping companies save on compute costs. That’s a win-win.

Looking ahead, we’re doubling down on features that speed up development, surface deeper insights, and help businesses move from data to action faster than ever.

Romania will play a central role in that future. We’re investing in Cluj and Bucharest not just for engineering, but for product, design, and support. The tech ecosystem here is vibrant, growing, and full of promise—and we’re excited to be part of its next chapter. If you want to join us on this mission, please visit us at our booth or connect with me directly!

As dbt Labs continues to redefine the modern data stack, its investment in Romania signals more than just global expansion—it reflects a commitment to building high-impact teams rooted in technical excellence and collaborative culture. With a focus on mentorship, innovation, and long-term growth, the Romanian hub is set to become a cornerstone of dbt’s mission to empower data teams around the world. For those looking to shape the future of data transformation, the journey starts here.

The post Why dbt Labs Is Betting Big on Romania: A Vision for Local Talent, Global Impact appeared first on Techsylvania.

Techsylvania 2024: uniting innovation and insight Day 2 Wrap-Up

Vlad Ciurca — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:31:33 +0000

This year’s edition of Techsylvania has come to a close! We enjoyed a vibrant atmosphere that fostered relationship-building and the exchange of innovative ideas and projects.

Over 3,500 participants had the opportunity to select their favourite sessions from 4 amazing stages: Center Stage, Impact Stage, Technical Workshops Stage, and Q&A Session Stage, where more than 50 leaders in business and technology shared their insights.

In addition, our event featured 5 workshops, was supported by over 60 partners, and benefited from the efforts of more than 50 hard-working volunteers. We couldn’t be more grateful to the entire Techsylvania community: participants, partners, speakers and volunteers for contributing to the success of Techsylvania 2024.

We have some highlights below that you might want to read if you missed the event or if you want to refresh your memory.

CENTER STAGE

Center Stage was the epicenter of activity on Day 2, hosting sessions that kicked off the day’s events. International leaders in business and technology shared invaluable insights for techsylvanians.

Mircea Geoană, Deputy Secretary General of NATO was the first speaker of the day. He emphasized the transformative role of technology and innovation in the global landscape and the unprecedented speed and scale of technological advancements, particularly in AI and biotechnology, and their impact on various sectors, including national security, economy, and society. While acknowledging the immense potential of new technologies, Geoană also warned about the risks they pose and how important is the responsible use and ethical standards to prevent these advancements from becoming threats to security and stability.

He ended the speech by pointing out the necessity of collaboration between governments, private sectors, and civil societies to harness the benefits of technological innovations effectively. He mentioned initiatives like NATO’s Innovation Fund which supports startups and technological advancements. This collaboration is crucial to ensuring that innovations are used for the greater good and that societies can adapt to rapid technological changes.

Sacha Dragic, Founder and Board Member of Superbet was next on stage and he talked about the global expansion of Superbet into Latin America, highlighting the company’s strategic vision and adaptability. Despite initial challenges, including significant fraud issues in Brazil, the company managed to develop effective solutions and apply them globally.

This expansion underscores the importance of seizing opportunities and being prepared for the complexities of new markets. Sasha emphasized the critical role of hiring the right talent and fostering an innovative culture. He stated that he spends a significant portion of his time on talent recruitment and believes in combining diverse perspectives to drive innovation. Additionally, Superbet invests heavily in AI and technology, positioning itself to stay ahead of competitors and adapt to future industry changes.

“One of the secrets of success in the early days was discipline. It’s very easy as a founder and entrepreneur to get distracted because new ideas come every day. You need to be very disciplined, focus on your main goal, and continuously question your beliefs because what you think is true today may be totally wrong in a year or two.”

Drew Banin, Co-Founder dbt Labs talked about his journey in building a database in order to understand how databases work under the hood. Towards the end, he integrated music with the database in Google Sheets, demonstrating how data can be transformed into musical notes and played back, adding a creative and engaging dimension to the database’s functionality. He also talked about future plans: to build a query optimizer, get it distributed and then create a YouTube series on how to build your own database. Also, for those interested, he mentioned they are soon opening an office in Cluj-Napoca and hiring talented people.

Giuseppe Castelbuono, Chief Digital and Information Officer at UniCredit Bank discussed UniCredit Bank’s digital transformation strategy, focusing on enhancing customer experience through improved technology and business processes. This transformation involves leveraging technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence to optimize both customer interactions and internal operations.

He emphasized that while banks must adopt new technologies quickly, they must also ensure security and compliance. Castelbuono envisions a future where banking services are simpler, more secure, and seamlessly integrated into customers’ daily lives. He highlights the importance of making banking processes as effortless as possible while maintaining stringent security standards.

“Artificial intelligence is not gonna replace humans but humans with artificial intelligence are gonna replace humans without artificial intelligence.”

Jonathan Rivers, Chief Technology Officer at Fortune Magazine talked about the transformation of Fortune Magazine under his leadership. The magazine underwent a significant transformation, including the development of new products and revenue streams. A notable achievement was the launch of a generative AI application that modernized the Fortune 500 data, turning it into a SaaS product. This initiative aimed to democratize access to financial data and improve user interaction through advanced data visualization and AI-driven functionalities. Rivers highlighted key lessons learned during the rapid development and deployment of the AI application. These include the importance of clean data, the necessity of focused and user-friendly AI applications, and the understanding that an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is the starting point for further development. He emphasized that enterprise applications must meet high standards set by best-of-breed consumer experiences.

“The MVP is not the finish line; it is the beginning. It is the start of the marathon. You have done a warm-up; you are deciding if you are ready to even run the race.”

Nigel Richardson, SVP and CIO Europe at PepsiCo, talked about how PepsiCo has leveraged AI and digital transformation to significantly impact their agricultural operations. By using machine learning for pattern recognition, they have been able to optimize farming practices. AI is also crucial in PepsiCo’s manufacturing processes. They use AI-driven applications to monitor and manage plant operations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and addressing packaging concerns. By integrating AI solutions to predict and fix issues before they escalate, PepsiCo enhances operational efficiency and sustainability.

AI helps PepsiCo understand consumer preferences and behaviors, enabling better market segmentation and product assortment. By analyzing consumer data, they tailor products to different demographics and regions, minimizing waste and ensuring precise product distribution. This AI-driven approach aids in delivering the right products to the right places, enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing excess inventory.

“AI has made a massive impact for farmers because it can increase their yields, improve quality, reduce the amount of pesticides, and reduce water usage. It’s one of those examples of AI being a win-win for everyone that we couldn’t do before.”

Quharrison Terry, Growth Marketer at MarkCuban Companies talked about the startup culture in Japan. Currently, Japan is increasingly focusing on technology and AI to drive economic growth and innovation. The government is actively supporting AI initiatives and startups, aiming to become the most AI-friendly country in the world. The Japanese government has launched several initiatives to foster a vibrant startup ecosystem.

Traditionally conservative in their business practices, Japanese companies are beginning to embrace more risk-taking and innovative approaches. This shift is necessary to combat economic challenges such as an aging population and deflation. By fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting venture activities, Japan aims to revitalize its economy and compete globally.

“The government basically said they want to become the most AI-friendly country in the world. The prime minister actually is pushing this and the chairman of the Democratic Liberal Party actually said Japan is not thinking of implementing strict regulations and it will be fewer regulations as possible when it comes to AI development.“

Suthen Thomas, Group CTO at Grab, talked about how at their company, the approach to technology, including AI, starts with the customer. The company focuses on identifying customer problems first and then finding the best technological solutions, which may include AI, to address these problems.

This method ensures that technological advancements directly enhance customer experiences and solve real-world issues effectively. Grab employs auto-adaptive systems that continuously adjust to changing conditions and user behaviors. These systems use feedback loops to evaluate and refine their performance over time. AI models at Grab are extensively used across various segments of the business, including mobility, deliveries, and financial services. These models are active in production environments, helping to determine pricing, predict ETAs, and ensure safety. This widespread application demonstrates AI’s versatility and critical role in optimizing Grab’s operations and services.

“At Grab, when we think about artificial intelligence, we treat it no different than any other technology. We start with the problem of the customer and then use AI to solve their problem.“

Michelle Rosa-Wolfe, Executive Vice President at VistaJet, declared that VistaJet heavily relies on technology to optimize its aviation operations. This includes developing new technologies to predict demand patterns and surge areas months in advance. By leveraging these innovations, VistaJet strategically positions its aircraft around the globe to meet growing business demands, such as recent expansions into Africa and India. The company focuses on enhancing customer experience through technological advancements.

This includes developing internal platforms that provide intelligence and optimize fleet management. These technologies enable VistaJet to offer seamless customer interfaces, allowing clients to book flights and manage services efficiently through user-friendly apps. The company has seen significant increases in aircraft movements in regions like Romania, reflecting its ability to flexibly expand operations based on emerging market dynamics and client demands.

“At VistaJet, we lean on technology because we need to learn, predict, and automate. We’ve invested significantly in internal platforms that not only provide intelligence but also optimize our fleet management, helping us place our assets strategically to meet business demands.”

Vladimir Dănilă, Founder and CEO of Linearity, talked about how he had this belief that success in the app market was quick and straightforward, akin to launching Flappy Bird. However, the reality of managing teams, aligning people, and understanding customer needs reset these expectations. The company now prioritizes simplicity in design and functionality, aiming to make complex technology accessible and user-friendly.

“I’ve learned that simplicity is key—not just in product design, but in how we approach technology. Complex technology should be made simple for the end user. That’s why I love the idea of using technology to make design accessible and powerful.”

Christyl Johnson, Deputy Director for Technology & Research Investments at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, talked about how NASA is envisioning a future where humanity not only returns to the moon, but also establishes sustainable habitats on Mars by 2100. This involves overcoming significant technological challenges such as creating habitats, generating resources like oxygen and water, and managing energy effectively. NASA’s approach involves pushing the boundaries of technology across various fields. This includes advancements in AI for managing energy and agriculture on other planets, 3D printing for constructing habitats, and medical technologies like digital twins and robotic surgery, which are crucial for sustaining human life in extraterrestrial environments. NASA emphasizes the importance of diversity in thought and collaboration to solve complex challenges.

The agency has historically partnered with diverse industries and disciplines, from sports equipment manufacturers to medical professionals, to develop groundbreaking solutions that often have broader applications beyond space exploration.”In order for that to happen again, we have to think about everything differently today because we’re gonna have humans living on Mars by 2040. We’ve got to really start now ramping up the technology capability in order for us to get there.”

IMPACT STAGE

Smaranda Teleabă, Chief Digital and Marketing Office at L’Oreal, talked about how the company is pioneering the integration of technology into the beauty industry under her leadership. They have introduced concepts like green science chemistry and they are digitalizing the customer journey, which are transforming how consumers interact with beauty products. This innovative approach not only enhances customer experience but also underscores L’Oréal’s commitment to sustainability and personalized beauty solutions. By combining deep beauty industry knowledge with advanced technological expertise, L’Oréal is shaping the future of beauty, ensuring a sustainable and enriching customer experience.

Angus Keck, COO at AgUnity underscored the critical importance of adhering to deadlines, maintaining regular contact (without coming across as desperate or pushy), and mentioning other investors. Moreover, he stressed the belief that with self-confidence, anything is achievable. His advice emphasized the necessity of perfecting your pitch and avoiding assumptions that the deal is already secured.

Shravan Nageswaran, Co-Founder & CEO at Atman Labs, encouraged participants to challenge the consensus, learn from nature and invent from first principles. He believed that advancements across multiple deep learning disciplines beyond large language models will allow to take flight.

“Humans will coexist with benevolent AI. Challenge the consensus. Learn from nature. Invent from first principles. Advancements across multiple deep learning disciplines beyond LLMs will allow us to take flight.”

Peter Sandberg, Founding Partner at Nordic Secondary Fund has been at the forefront of pioneering liquidity options for startup stakeholders through secondaries. With over 35 years of experience in investment banking and asset management, including founding successful asset management firms and making impactful pre-seed and seed investments as a business angel, Peter brings a wealth of expertise to the table and talked at Techsylvania about Navigating Secondaries: Unlocking Liquidity Options for Startup Stakeholder.

Under his leadership, N2F has carved out a unique position in the Nordic market, raising €140M across two funds and completing over 30 secondary deals, resulting in five successful exits. His commitment to navigating secondaries has not only unlocked new liquidity pathways but also set a precedent for strategic investment in the region.

Masoud Al – Rawahi, Co-Founder & Partner at Phaze Ventures is a dynamic figure in the realms of entrepreneurship, investment, and technology. He talked about his whole journey, including details about working for over a decade in information technology within corporate settings.

Bogy Skowronski, Partner at Founder Partners, is a seasoned serial entrepreneur and influential figure in the technology startup ecosystem. With a distinguished background in capital transactions at UBS AG, EBRD London, and FFC Fincoord Ltd, she also thrives as an active venture capitalist and angel investor. Bogy’s commitment to global success is encapsulated in her title of presentation, “Building Global Success: Strategy, Support, and Capital.” This encapsulates her expertise in providing strategic guidance, robust support systems, and crucial capital to emerging ventures.

Sorin Anagnoste, Applied Strategy Professor is specialized in online business models and technology entrepreneurship. With a profound finance background of over 15 years in managerial roles, Sorin brings a wealth of practical experience to his academic efforts. He talked about how generative AI has reached peaked interest and the revolution is continuing. He underscores concerns about overregulation stifling growth in this burgeoning field, advocating for balanced policies to sustain innovation and development.

Arnaud Collery, CEO of Humanava emphasized the importance of leadership in defining purpose, setting clear goals, and fostering a cohesive vision while promoting a culture of trust through meaningful rituals.

Arnaud’s diverse background includes coaching top tech CEOs and unicorn startups like Careem, leveraging his creativity and empathy to drive innovation and sustainable success.

Adrian Pica, CPO Potters Maps, delivered a compelling presentation on navigating modern business challenges with strategic clarity. He emphasized understanding a business’s intrinsic value and the pivotal role of product leaders in integrating digital and physical elements for broad market appeal. Bica illustrated his points with examples such as the surge in food delivery services during economic crises, highlighting the importance of achieving a strong product-market fit. His analogy of “cooking your business recipe” underscored the potential of platforms like YouTube and Netflix for revenue generation, even in competitive landscapes.

Partner session with Dan Mihăescu, Founding Partner at GapMinder Ventures, Alex Popa, President at AXP Holding and Elena Vrabie, Moderator and Country Lead Romania at The Recursive.

The speakers talked about the importance of choosing investors and Alex Popa emphasized that you should select investors based on their ability to contribute to your growth rather than just their capital. He also advised fostering strong relationships with investors to leverage their support effectively as your company scales.

Dan Mihăescu spoke about the importance of going to as many events as possible, having the right people besides you and learning from them. Then the next step is to focus on technology because proper technology can help you advance fast.

During the day we also had some insightful Q&A sessions where attendees engaged directly with keynote speakers, actively posing questions and gaining deeper insights into the topics at hand. The speakers who attended the sessions where: Sasha Dragic – Superbet, Drew Banin – dbt Labs, Jonathan Rivers – Fortune Magazine, Quharrison Terry – Mark Cuban Companies and Suthen Thomas – Grab.

Techsylvania 2024 brought together over 3,500 participants and 50 leaders in business and technology across four main stages: Center Stage, Impact Stage, Technical Workshops Stage, and Q&A Session Stage.

Attendees engaged directly with keynote speakers during Q&A sessions, asking questions that uncovered deeper insights into complex topics. This interactive format not only enhanced the conference experience but also fostered discussions on the cutting edge of technology and business strategy. Participants also benefited from practical learning in technical workshops, gaining new skills and strategies.

As we reflect on the success of Techsylvania 2024, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire community—participants, partners, speakers, and volunteers—who contributed to making this event a resounding success. We look forward to continuing this journey of business and technology exploration and discovery with you all in the years to come!

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Inspiring ideas, innovative business solutions, and future predictions – Day 1 Wrap Up @Techsylvania 2024

Vlad Ciurca — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 14:00:13 +0000

Techsylvania is the place where you need to be if you are a tech expert, entrepreneur, or passionate about the latest technologies. This year the main focus was on topics regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on business and society, how local and international authorities can join forces and improve our everyday lives and how important is to believe in your business idea and never give up despite all obstacles you may encounter.

Here’s a brief overview of some of the highlights from the day’s sessions.

CENTER STAGE

Shai Shalev from Mobileye has walked us through the evolution of AI and how self-supervised learning, particularly through large language models, revolutionized the field. For applications in the physical world, such as robotics and autonomous driving, learning from experience is crucial but challenging due to the risks and constraints of real-world testing. Simulations offer a safer alternative, though they may not perfectly replicate reality.

Daniel Hume, Chief AI Officer at WPP, critiques the current use of the term “AI,” arguing that many systems labeled as AI are merely automation and not true artificial intelligence. True AI involves systems that can learn, adapt, and make decisions autonomously, rather than simply executing repetitive tasks.

”You, the leaders, have to understand that AI is going to radically transform your business and is very important what you want to do. Ultimately, you want to create an organization that innovates.”, said Daniel. He has also addressed risks associated with AI, including micro risks (safe deployment), malicious risks (preventing misuse), and macro risks (potential existential threats). Effective AI implementation requires addressing these risks and ensuring AI is used ethically and responsibly.

Shervin Pishevar, Chairman & CEO of Edison Fund believes that ”As an entrepreneur, I understood that nothing can replace the human connection. Even if AI is moving thousand times faster, the value of people who have verbal communication skills, who can express things is going to go off now.” Yet, we are going to witness incredible advancements in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and Shervin encourages staying alive to witness these changes, suggesting that the next 20 years will bring significant breakthroughs in longevity and intelligence.

Angela Ivanova, Co-Founder & CEO at LAM’ON OOD, and Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Board have talked about how your startup can thrive internationally.

Even if there are some difficulties in securing initial funding, especially due to skepticism about the potential success and benefits, having angel investors and grants is vital for your business.

Chris Mirabile from Novos has offered us a different perspective on what we think longevity means. Chris defines longevity not just as living longer, but more importantly as extending the period of life without chronic illness, referred to as healthspan. His deep knowledge in the field stems from a personal passion for longevity and health. This passion led to extensive reading of scientific studies and surrounding themselves with subject matter experts.

In the age of AI & digitalization, the power of working together has never been greater. Moderated by Elisabeta Moraru, Country Lead at Google, the discussion on Center Stage about ”How Can CEE Countries Leapfrog Leveraging Digital and AI?” has brought together visionaries like Patrick Warnking from Google, Bogy Skowronski of FounderPartners, and Sabin Sărmaș from the Romanian Parliament. Here are some takeaways:

“We are all very busy but take some time and educate yourself on the latest AI tools that are all available for free.” (Patrick Warnking)

“We don’t have time for administration, we want to have time for strategies, for our organizations. So, governments play a crucial role on this topic.” (BogySkowronski)

“Which are the cultures that are performing best? I received this answer: wher ethe leadership of the country is at the highest level. I would like to have bold leaders that would assume a digital transformation of our country, not just a statement.” (Sabin Sărmaș)

Sumon Sadhu from Atman Labs believes that “The most ambitious company you can build is one that redefines a nation.” Seizing unique moments in history and raising the ceiling of ambition is crucial for transformative success. Flipkart capitalized on the rise of the Indian middle class and the shift from offline to online shopping, while DeepMind elevated the ambition for AI and contributed to global advancements.

Exploring the virtual world of Metaverse might be fascinating but there are always two sides of a coin. Nina Jane Patel, Interpol’s Metaverse Expert emphasizes the rapid evolution and integration of technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), extended reality (XR), spatial computing, AI, and blockchain into the fabric of our digital lives.

Nina highlights the complexities, challenges, and potential risks associated with virtual worlds. These include issues related to safety and security, such as online grooming, sexual exploitation, and other forms of metaverse-specific crimes. The importance of developing effective safety measures, educational resources, and regulations to protect users, especially children, in these digital environments is a key focus of her work.

Yet, there are immense opportunities that virtual worlds and associated technologies present. From the significant growth forecast in the virtual world market to innovative applications in gaming, education, and entertainment, these technologies offer new ways to engage, create, and connect. Patel also discusses the need for long-term strategies that prioritize user empowerment and the continued innovation that drives the technological landscape forward.

The next generation of AI is going beyond the surface. Fernando Dominguez Pinuaga from SandboxAQ thinks AI is transforming healthcare by simplifying complex processes, such as interpreting heart data, making it accessible without extensive training. Additionally, AI is advancing encryption methods, enhancing data security, and accelerating the development of quantum computing, highlighting the interconnected progress in technology and AI’s role in driving these advancements.

How do we transform ourselves so we don’t lose who we are but at the same time become very competitive with these other services? This is a tough challenge, especially for a satellite radio company like SiriusXM.

Joe Inzerillo has had an interesting discussion with Quharrison Terry about the development and challenges of satellite radio. Joe highlights the experience with Disney, focusing on the company’s strategic shift to streaming with Disney+. This transformation was driven by the need to adapt to changing media consumption habits and compete with established streaming platforms like Netflix.

Slava Rubin from Humbition strongly believes that it is important to have a passion for what you’re doing and be committed to it for the long term.

The early stages are challenging and may not yield immediate rewards. However, continued dedication and willingness to endure these struggles are essential for eventual success. Startups often fail due to a lack of focus, trying to do too much, and not identifying the right market fit. Learning to say no to distractions and concentrating on a core idea is crucial for survival and success.

We have found out from John Caspers, Co-founder Adyen & Rootline, that despite not succeeding in the SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) market, the experience was valuable as it provided important lessons in product-market fit, operational optimization, and understanding customer segments.

Hiring talented individuals with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset, allowing them freedom and support to innovate within the company not only nurtured internal innovation but also contributed to the broader startup ecosystem, with former employees starting new ventures based on their experiences.

IMPACT STAGE

We have had the chance to explore other countries’ entrepreneurial environments as well as dive deep into how to scale and fund your company. All the captivating talks on the Impact Stage were hosted by Elena Vrabie, Country Lead @The Recursive.

Partha Nageswaran from Aabhra brings our awareness on data. Enterprises have a lot of data that is not analysed and analysts don’t have support from systems. Unifying the world’s data will expand the world’s knowledge.

Rutger de Waard from Rootline had an interesting discussion with Elena Vrabie from The Recursive about sales, startups, tactics, and innovation. He agrees that there is a challenge to start from scratch but he strongly advises to “Listen to what the client wants. Sell your value before pricing. If you sell on pricing, it’s only about pricing.”

Yosuke Kurosawa (Japan Facts Organization) and Quharrison Terry (Mark Cuban Companies) have explored Japan’s entrepreneurial environment. The culture startups in Japan are supported by the government yet, there are not a lot of Japanese people starting companies.

Michiel Scheffer and Elena Ungureanu from the European Innovation Council have discussed with Ioana Mihai (European Investment Bank) and Endre Hunnyadi, Business Development Manager Lumen, about funding your deep tech company to scale up in the European Union. It is important to identify, develop, and scale up high-risk, high-impact innovation across Europe.

The EIC prioritizes deep tech innovations that align with the EUs strategic goals and address major societal challenges.

Karel Obluk from Evolution Equity Partners believes that there are opportunities for new technologies . A product becomes a product only when a customer pays for it. Understanding the market is very important and many people underestimate this.

Nick Powell from Bolt has shared inspiring stories about Bolt’s evolution and emphasized the importance of expanding value for their customers such as adopting new features, services and options like Bolt Luxe, long-term car rentals, and Bolt business card expense management.

Andreas Cser (Fraser) and Thomas Cser (Pricefx) had a debate on tech, culture, and who’s right. We should see the value of failure. People should not be afraid to fail and start again because failure is an opportunity to grow.

Andrei Hasna has talked about how we can remain competitive when AI has the potential to disrupt any business and what is the true cost of innovation. There are 3 pillars of innovation: collaboration, transformative and multidisciplinary. Andrei has made us thinking about this question: “Do we afford to live in a world where AI is how it is right now and do we need regulations?”

Andrei Bica from Profi said that the main goals of CFO’s in 2024 are continuous automation, using data to drive value, taking charge of digitalization, guiding the enterprise value and ncrease the value of the company using the technology. Profi focuses on 4 main pillars: Customer Engagement (next step after customer experience – Mobile App – 2.4 million subscribers ), Sustainable Expansion (AI tools to check the traffic), State of the art logistic (6 distribution centers ), Efficiency (dedicated team taking care of process information).

Pranay Prakash from Windsor.io was very honest and confessed to Elena and the audience that if there is something that he would have done differently, he would be more careful with the hiring, maybe implement a different hiring process.

Martina Vidakovic has 6 years of experience working at Happening. She told us that each market had problems: inconsistent implementation, increased development time, frontend overhead, and testing. Using KMP has some advantages like shared codebase which allows consistency, simplified maintenance, flexibility, interoperability, scalability, consistency, seamless integration.

Amazing Q&A sessions, practical workshops & a lot of valuable networking

During the Q&A sessions, participants had the chance to interact directly with the keynote speakers, posing questions and gaining additional understanding of the discussed subjects. These sessions added a valuable interactive dimension to the conference, fostering deeper exploration and clarification of the ideas presented.

Regarding the workshops, each offered practical and interactive learning opportunities for everyone, enabling us to acquire new skills in specific areas of interest.

Design Smarter: The Untapped Power of Product Simulation with Tamás Biró & Dacian Lucaci (Accenture)
Leveling up the Medical, Legal, and Regulatory process in Pharma with Gen.AI with Radu Radocea, Bogdan Peltea, Mario Dumitru (Deloitte). They showed us how AI is supporting the pharmaceutical industry and how you can ask the model for formula if you are a chemist.
Making it all come together: How Critical User Journeys shape products that empower people long-term with Ilona Farkas , Dragoș Bardac, Daniel Chiș (Google). They talked about impactful user experience design.
Achieving Low Latency and High Throughput with Apache Kafka with Andrei Moldovan (msg systems Romania). Andrei shared strategies for optimizing data processing efficiency.
Preparing and Using Data for AI with LangChain and OpenSearch® Sébastien Blanc & Tibs (Aiven)

See you on Day 2, dear techsylvanians!

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Meet the Visionaries Taking the Stage as Top 5 Speakers at Techsylvania 2024

Vlad Ciurca — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:43:07 +0000

Techsylvania 2024 is just around the corner, and the excitement is palpable.

This year’s lineup of speakers promises to be nothing short of phenomenal, with some of the brightest minds in technology, business, and innovation taking the stage to share their insights and visions for the future.

Here are the top 5 speakers you won’t want to miss:

Christyl Johnson – Deputy Director for Technology & Research Investments at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Dr. Christyl Johnson is a renowned expert in the field of space technology and innovation. As the Deputy Director for Technology & Research Investments at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, she manages the Center’s research and development portfolio, formulating the Center’s future science and technology goals. With her extensive experience in the space industry, Dr. Johnson’s talk at Techsylvania 2024 is sure to be a highlight, as she shares her insights on the future of space exploration and its potential applications. including her topic “Harnessing Technology to Bring Sustainable Human Presence to Mars“.

Sebastian Dobrincu – Co-Founder of Revocalize.ai

Sebastian Dobrincu is a tech entrepreneur, investor, and software engineer with a passion for AI and innovation. As the co-founder of Revocalize.ai, an AI startup building synthetic AI voice technology, Dobrincu is known for being the youngest investor on the Shark Tank franchise and has been recognized as Silicon Valley’s Youngest Self-Made Millionaire.

His talk at Techsylvania 2024 will likely focus on the future of AI and its potential applications in various industries, including his topic “Identifying Your Target Customers: A Guide for Engineers in Tech”

Nina Jane Patel – Vice President of Metaverse Research at Anthropic

Nina Jane Patel is an expert in the field of virtual and augmented reality, with a background in computer science. As the Vice President of Metaverse Research at Anthropic, she has worked on developing innovative technologies for immersive experiences.

Her talk at Techsylvania 2024 will likely focus on the future of metaverse technology and its potential applications in various industries. Her topic will be “Spatial Computing: Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of the 3D Metaverse”

Shai Shalev-Shwartz – CTO of Mobileye

Professor of Computer Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem & Chief Scientist at Deci AI
Shai Shalev-Shwartz is a leading expert in machine learning and has made significant contributions to the field of deep learning. As a Professor of Computer Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Chief Scientist at Deci AI, he has published extensively in top-tier machine learning conferences and journals. His topic will be “Through the AI Looking Glass: A Personal Chronicle of Innovation and Safety”.

Nigel Richardson – SVP & CIO Europe at PepsiCo

Nigel Richardson is a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience in leading digital transformation. As the SVP & CIO Europe at PepsiCo, he is accountable for all aspects of Information Technology and leading digital transformation. Prior to this role, Richardson served as CIO for PepsiCo’s East Europe region and CIO for UK, Ireland, and Sub-Saharan Africa. His insights on the future of digital transformation and its impact on business will be invaluable at Techsylvania 2024.

These five visionaries are just a few of the many incredible speakers lined up for Techsylvania 2024. With their combined expertise and insights, this year’s conference promises to be an unforgettable experience for attendees. Don’t miss your chance to meet and learn from these industry leaders and shape your vision for the future of technology and business.

[button link=”#https://techsylvania.com/tickets/” newwindow=”yes”] Buy your ticket![/button]

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The Impactful Journey of Techsylvania Executive Experience

Vlad Ciurca — Wed, 22 May 2024 13:26:03 +0000

Are you an investor seeking fresh ventures, an executive aiming to broaden your network, or a founder hungry for connections that fuel growth? Look no further than the Techsylvania Executive Experience—an extraordinary event tailored precisely for professionals like you.

Techsylvania Executive Experience isn’t just another networking affair; it’s a meticulously curated platform designed to propel your career to new heights.

Picture yourself amidst a select group of investors, executives, founders, managers, and CEOs, all gathered to expand their networks and portfolios in an exclusive setting.

[button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCTEAeje59s&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=aftermovie&utm_campaign=Executive+Ticket” newwindow=”yes”] Dive Into Techsylvania Executive Experience[/button]

But that’s not all. The Techsylvania Executive Experience goes beyond conventional networking events by offering access to a plethora of bespoke activities. Imagine indulging in guided tours, wine tastings, traditional dinners, and exclusive cocktail parties—all tailored to foster meaningful connections and explore potential collaborations.

At the heart of the Techsylvania Executive Experience lies the “Executives Pool“—a dynamic space where you can interact with a diverse array of professionals, each interaction opening doors to unprecedented growth and development opportunities.

Here, you’re not just a participant, you’re a catalyst for change and deal-making, shaping the future of the tech industry with every exchange.

Whether you’re seeking investment opportunities, aiming to expand your professional network, or eager to forge strategic alliances, the Techsylvania Executive Experience offers a rare chance to enhance your journey and leave a lasting mark in the tech landscape.

Don’t let this exclusive opportunity pass you by. Seize the chance to transform your career trajectory at Techsylvania Executive Experience—a gateway to unparalleled growth and success in the dynamic world of technology.

Join us and elevate your professional journey to extraordinary heights.

[button link=”https://techsylvania.com/executive-experience/” newwindow=”yes”] Apply Now[/button]

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Techsylvania 2024: Dive into Innovation with CTOs from $10B companies

Vlad Ciurca — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 09:58:44 +0000

Welcome, tech enthusiasts!

Techsylvania 2024 is calling, and trust us, you won’t want to miss this tech rendezvous!
This year’s edition is more than just an event – it’s a personal journey. Picture visionary leaders and industry titans shaping the future of technology, all gathered for an unforgettable experience on June 26-27.

Join us in the heart of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, for an exciting, personal exploration into the future of tech.

Picture this:

Shai Shalev-Shwartz, the CTO of Mobileye, takes center stage. Recognized as one of the 100 most influential researchers worldwide in 2016, Shalev-Shwartz is no stranger to groundbreaking achievements. His contributions to machine learning have not only earned him accolades but have also paved the way for a future where car accidents are a thing of the past. The recipient of the prestigious Michael Bruno Award in 2020, Shalev-Shwartz is on a mission to make our roads safer through cutting-edge technology.

Next up, we have Cosmin Nicolaescu, the CTO of Brex, a true force to be reckoned with in the world of financial technology. With a track record of driving innovation, Cosmin has played a pivotal role in the development of Brex, supporting entrepreneurs on their financial journeys.

But that’s not all – before his time at Brex, he led teams at Stripe, contributing to the creation of Stripe Terminal and building engineering teams across the globe. Starting his career at Microsoft, Cosmin played a key role in launching Azure and Office365. Talk about a tech heavyweight!

Still not convinced? Check out the Techsylvania 2023 aftermovie for a sneak peek into the electrifying atmosphere.

Hit the button, catch the vibes, and prepare for a journey into the future of technology.

Techsylvania 2024 is not just an event; it’s a portal to the tech revolution. Secure your spot now and be part of shaping the tomorrow of tech!

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Elevate Your Tech Experience I Exclusive Patreon Speeches at Techsylvania

Vlad Ciurca — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 09:08:41 +0000

At Techsylvania, we’re committed to bringing you the most insightful and cutting-edge content from the tech world.
That’s why we’ve launched our Patreon community, where you can access exclusive speeches delivered by tech visionaries, industry leaders, and innovation experts.

Let’s dive into the latest trends that are shaping the future of technology.

Artificial Intelligence.

Unleash the power of AI. Dive into machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. Discover AI’s impact on industries and its limitless potential for innovation.

Driving Societal Change Through AI Innovation

Yossi Matias is on the leadership team of Google Research. He is the global lead of Google’s Health AI and Climate Crisis AI, and leading pioneering efforts in Conversational AI.

Yossi Matias – Vice President of Engineering at Google

Computing Large Foundational Models

At Stability Tom is designing and implementing solutions using collective intelligence and augmented technology that will transform the world and usher in a new era of personal creativity.

Stability runs one of the largest HPC centers for AI researchers, currently featuring over 4000 Nvidia A100 GPUs on AWS Cloud

Tom Mason – CTO at Stability AI

Panel: Advancing AI for Everyone

Dan Oros (Google)
Ioan Iacob (FLOWX.AI)
Diana Borsa (Google DeepMind)
Ovidiu Cîmpean (State Secretary – Ministry of Investments and European Projects)

F(o)unding.

Discover the art of masterful fundraising and the captivating quest for investors! Unearth the hidden gems of entrepreneurial terminology that can be the make-or-break of your business journey.

Scaling and Fundraising for Marketplace, Consumer, and SMB Software Companies in a Downturn

Vinny Pujji – Managing Partner at Left Lane Capital

Getting Past 93 VC Rejections

Slava Rubin – Founder of Indiegogo

From Zero to Unicorn: A Deep Dive into Building and Scaling 8 Companies

Levi King – Founder and Executive Chairman of Nav

Product.

Talks related to product management, marketing, growth hacking, industry trends, and ideation, but also related to building up a company from an organizational perspective (culture, management, operations)

Mapping the Future with Lars Rasmussen, Founder, and Angel Investor

Lars Rasmussen – Creator of Google Maps

Following the Steps of the Start-Up Nation: How to Scale-Up the Romanian Ecosystem

Reuven Azar – Ambassador of Israel to Romania

Designing for Impact: Harnessing Collaboration and Innovation

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to expand your tech knowledge and learn from the top experts.

Join our Patreon community and choose the membership tier that best suits your appetite for innovation.

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Revolutionizing Banking through Innovation: UniCredit Bank’s Techsylvania Journey

Vlad Ciurca — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:28:43 +0000

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, UniCredit Bank stands at the forefront of digital transformation, embracing innovation while ensuring the security and stability of its digital platforms. As a Platinum partner of Techsylvania 2023, the bank’s collaboration with this cutting-edge tech event has not only enriched its digital prowess but also propelled it into a league of market trendsetters. Let’s delve into the insights shared by Andrei Stamatian, Director of Alternative Distribution Channels at UniCredit Bank, as he unveils the bank’s strategies, successes, and aspirations in the realm of digital banking.

Unleashing Synergies – UniCredit Bank and Techsylvania

UniCredit Bank’s partnership with Techsylvania is rooted in the recognition of the transformative power of fintech. According to Andrei, “New technologies pioneered by fintech and other digital players have produced significant changes in the way we do banking, at a very rapid pace. The partnership between banks and fintechs is the answer to today’s technological challenges.” This collaboration allows UniCredit Bank to remain informed about the latest trends and technologies that are reshaping the industry.

Pioneering Trends – UniCredit’s Digital Roadmap

To be a market trendsetter, UniCredit Bank recognizes the need to swiftly adapt to evolving customer preferences. Andrei emphasizes, “We as a banking institution must move quickly in capturing the new style of successful offering that helps us to be a market trendsetter in our industry.” Rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data analytics, provide opportunities to enhance efficiency and elevate customer experiences. UniCredit Bank’ s swift adoption of these technologies underscores its commitment to staying ahead in the dynamic digital banking landscape.

In a digital era, security remains paramount. Andrei underscores the significance of customizing solutions to meet the specific needs of the local market. He explains that collaboration with the Digital Foresight team at UniCredit Group helps identify optimal solutions for local deployment. Incorporating on-the-ground feedback is crucial. This strategy begins with identifying needs in a significant market and subsequently adapting these solutions for local deployment in suitable geographies. This approach not only ensures customer data security but also nurtures a culture of innovation.

Empowering Through Knowledge – UniCredit Bank‘s Employee Transformation

In the pursuit of digital transformation, UniCredit Bank understands that employee upskilling is paramount. Andrei Stamatian shares, “Internal digital training platforms deliver adequate training for all new digital offerings for our employees.” This commitment ensures that the bank’s workforce is well-prepared to support new digital offerings. Additionally, through experience exchanges between head office and global teams, UniCredit Bank fosters a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.

Their commitment to digital readiness extends beyond training programs. Andrei further explains, “UniCredit Bank‘s head office digital teams have regular experience exchanges with the teams in other countries where the group is present and we discuss market news with the Digital Foresight team.” This engagement ensures that employees are not only equipped with skills but also engaged in shaping the bank’s digital journey.

Navigating the Digital Horizon – UniCredit Bank‘s Vision

UniCredit Bank’s vision transcends the present, with an unwavering focus on future trends and technologies. Stamatian highlights, “UniCredit looks at digital adoption and penetration of the product sales. Whenever we launch a new digital offering we see an initial spike in digital sales from the digital early adopters that were already waiting for the product to come in digital format.” Navigating through the complex landscape of regulations, UniCredit Bank aims to harness nimble technologies that drive efficiency and innovation.

UniCredit Bank’s journey portrays an institution that stands as a pioneer of digital transformation. The bank’s ability to marry innovation with security, empower its employees, and navigate the digital landscape with foresight underscores its dedication to shaping the future of banking. As UniCredit Bank continues to pioneer trends and embrace partnerships, its journey remains a beacon of inspiration for the financial industry’s ongoing digital evolution.

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Day 2 Wrap Up: Techsylvania’s 2023 10th Anniversary Edition came to an end, see you in 2024, June 26–27! #2

Vlad Ciurca — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 21:09:01 +0000

Techsylvania 2023 concluded with resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on its 3500 participants from around the world. Over the course of the event, a remarkable lineup of 60 speakers shared their expertise and insights, while attendees immersed themselves in a diverse range of topics discussed during 60 engaging sessions on stage. Techsylvania 2023 offered an unparalleled experience to all those involved and extended its reach through 27 satellite events and 2 dedicated events for startups, further enhancing the impact and collaboration within the tech community.

Day 2 on Center Stage: Embracing Innovation and Diversity

The second day of the anniversary edition of Techsylvania kicked off with a captivating talk on the future of programming in an AI-powered world. Scott Chacon, co-founder of GitButler, took the stage to discuss the impact of AI on workflow and the importance of continuous learning. He emphasized the need to address real needs and contribute to open-source solutions for global challenges. Chacon stressed the value of building great teams and products by eliminating redundancy and maintaining a sense of fun.

In a thought-provoking session titled Getting Past 93 VC Rejections, Slava Rubin, co-founder of Indiegogo and Humbition, shared his entrepreneurial insights and highlighted the importance of perseverance in the face of rejection. He encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to follow their passion, be persistent, and learn from failure. Rubin recounted his own journey, which involved countless rejections before ultimately raising millions of dollars.

Slava Rubin – Founder of Indiegogo and Humbition

Later in the day, Chris Leacock, also known as Jillionaire, delivered an inspiring talk on embracing diversity through interdisciplinary exchange. Leacock emphasized that diversity and inclusion lead to better business outcomes by fostering innovation, diverse thought, and a culture of competence and ownership. He discussed the power of collaborative exchange, combining knowledge, music, food, and technology to unlock untapped potential and maximise team performance.

JP Castlin, esteemed author and entrepreneur, challenged conventional wisdom in his session titled “Delusions of Determinism: Why Planning for Success So Often Leads to Failure.” He questioned the effectiveness of rigid planning and emphasized the need for practical and flexible strategies. He encouraged attendees to embrace uncertainty and adapt to changing circumstances, highlighting that innovation often stems from iteration and reevaluation. Castlin urged the audience to prioritise success over adherence to a predefined plan: „There is no right answer to be found. Planning is the answer for that perfect path that doesn’t exist.”

Jean-Marc Denis, a prominent figure in the tech industry, engaged in a conversation about designing for impact. As a product designer for Meta, Denis has worked on platforms such as Instagram and Messenger, serving billions of users. He talked about the importance of data-driven decision-making and the power of feedback to shape user experiences. Denis shared his insights on designing for international markets, highlighting the significance of understanding cultural nuances and optimising products accordingly.

In this thought-provoking talk, Bradford Cross, the AI expert with over 20 years of experience from Two Lions, discussed the impending disruptions and transformations brought about by AI and crypto: AI, Crypto, and Future of State: Why the World Is About to Change Way More and Way Faster Than You Think. He emphasized the need to innovate governments as an industry, suggesting that they should be treated like any other sector. Cross highlighted the potential for radical solutions to global problems through technological advancements and AI models. „Governments will fight like hell, they will try to shut down ChatGPT and outlaw crypto, and this is stupid, because they are trying to shut down progress, because they can’t control it and don’t know what to do about it. We will see thousands of decentralized city states. The monolithics states will break apart — and this is as radical as it gets. Governments must be run as a profitable business — as now, they are all failing.” also concluding ”You should be prepared, the future will look a lot different than what you expect.

Asif Makhani and Marco Eylert, founders of Handshake, along with moderator Andreas Cser, engaged in a conversation about their platform’s global expansion and its impact on democratizing opportunities. They discussed how Handshake aims to connect students and young professionals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to educational and career opportunities worldwide. The speakers highlighted the importance of community-building, researching individual aspirations, and providing more opportunities for early talent professionals. They also emphasized the role of AI as a tool to leverage and enhance human potential.

Donald Sumbry from Upbound focused on the utilization of AI, specifically ChatGPT, to overcome writer’s block and enhance engineering managers’ performance, in the Unleashing the Power of AI: How Engineering Managers Can 10X Their Performance with ChatGPT talk. He emphasized the importance of prompt engineering, providing context and examples, and knowing what to ask to achieve desired results. Sumbry referred to ChatGPT as a process accelerator that assists with heavy lifting and offers a live demo of its capabilities. He cautioned against using ChatGPT for purposes beyond its intended scope, highlighting its effectiveness as a specialized tool.

Zeinab Ardeshir, the founder of PillSorted, shared her journey from being a pharmacist to a tech specialist and discussed the challenges of navigating the startup roller coaster in the health industry, in a discussion with Hussein Kanji (Hoxton Ventures) as moderator. She talked about the importance of skill improvement, optimization, continuous learning, and integration to create rapid solutions in healthcare. Ardeshir highlighted the significance of word-of-mouth promotion, ambassadors, and leveraging technology to improve medicine sorting and overall health systems. She also stated the need for a motivated and driven team, feedback culture, and the impact of treating people well in building a thriving culture.

Tom Mason delved into the topic of computing large foundational models, focusing on the value of platforms and open-source technology. He discussed the advancements in image generation and talked about the continuous improvement of AI models. Mason highlighted the need for infrastructure optimization and educated the audience on the benefits of AI models, emphasizing the expertise and collaboration of his team at Stability AI to advance the field of artificial intelligence.

Andrew O’Neal, one of the brilliant minds behind Clearbit shared his insights on building and scaling product teams while fostering a world-class team culture. He discussed the challenges of transitioning from building great products to building and managing teams effectively. O’Neal emphasized the significance of clarity in product vision, hiring for willpower and drive, and avoiding excessive processes that hinder progress. He stressed the importance of feedback and maintaining motivation within the team for continuous growth.

Andrei Stamatian, the UniCredit Bank representative & expert in the banking industry, provided insights into digital transformation and its impact on the banking sector. He discussed the key drivers of digital transformation in a regulated industry and highlighted conversational AI with natural language as a transformative technology. Stamatian showcased UniCredit Bank’s use of conversational AI and introduced Ioana, their AI service consultant, stating the enhancement of customer experiences.

Levi King from Nav Technologies shared his entrepreneurial journey, from starting with limited resources to building and scaling eight successful companies: From Zero to Unicorn: A Deep Dive into Building and Scaling 8 Companies. He was the true model of will power, ambition, and overcoming failures in pursuing meaningful solutions. King discussed the importance of addressing critical problems, securing funding, and maintaining a strong foundation. He highlighted the value of a growth-minded culture, honest leadership, and the lessons learned from failures in achieving sustainable growth and success.

Ryan Sarver provided insights into leadership, continuous adaptation, and investing in the closing Lessons in Scaling as Employee #30 at Twitter & 10 Years of Investing session of Techsylvania 2023. He shared his experiences as an angel investor and discussed the constant need for reinvention in the face of changing circumstances. Sarver emphasized the importance of creating a culture by openly discussing core values and actively seeking feedback to drive progress. He encouraged deep exploration within teams to identify areas for improvement and highlighted the dynamic nature of the investment landscape.

Day 2 on Impact Stage: Mastering Determination, Adaptability, and Scaling

On the Impact Stage, the day started with Angus Keck, COO of AgUnity, delivering a compelling talk on the roadmap to impact. Keck emphasized the importance of determination for entrepreneurs, stating, “If the market doesn’t want it, you’re doomed.” He shared insights on how to cultivate determination, including the use of positive affirmations. Keck also discussed the significance of adaptability and storytelling, emphasising the need to create a compelling narrative that resonates with customers.

Efi Dahan from PayPal took the stage next to discuss tips and trends for scaling businesses from local to global. Dahan emphasized the need to dream big from day one and understand the target market. He shared insights into PayPal’s comprehensive solutions and highlighted the importance of collaborating when you want to grow on multiple markets, while stressing the value of investing in mobile apps and providing customers with a localised experience.

Sandi Conroy shared valuable insights on selecting metrics aligned with the mission and user value. She emphasized the need for a clear mission that reflects user value and highlighted the importance of team alignment with the mission. Conroy reminded the audience not to develop metrics before having a clear mission, stating, “Develop a clear mission that reflects user value.”

Aarik Mudgal from METRO.Digital introduced attendees to Google Cloud Armor, a powerful tool for ensuring the availability of applications and protecting against security attacks. He explained how Google Cloud Armor Threat Intelligence helps users secure their traffic by identifying and blocking threats based on various categories of threat intelligence data. Mudgal conducted demonstrations and provided insights on managing security attacks effectively.

Patrick Poels from Snyk focused on the importance of building globally distributed teams. He shared his experiences and highlighted the value of brilliant, driven engineers with diverse backgrounds, emphasising the need to hire great leaders and give them autonomy, as well as the significance of meaningful work in retaining talent. He stated “Nobody wants to do unimportant work.” Poels also revealed that Snyk has expanded its presence to Cluj, talking about the company’s commitment to the Romanian ecosystem.

Eduard Varvara from MassMutual had a nice presentation about all teams in MassMutual. Eduard was one of the first employees in Cluj. It was a great experience for him to work in a team that emphasized the need of digitalization. The Data Team from MassMutual has built an amazing system that provides a consistent way of interpreting data. One of their goals is to check if the data they are reading makes sense for the business.

Andrew Davies from Paddle has talked about Market-fit, how to find your efficient & scalable growth method. When defining a target market we have to be big enough to matter and small enough to win. He has shared with us a piece of advice: “Whatever method you use in demand generation, you should test it. Drive customer growth having a multi-product strategy.vThe truth is, even at the highest growth companies, this is a process of constant learning. Everything is always breaking and it’s your job to fix it. “

Sharon Gai shed light on the remarkable growth of ecommerce in China and the lessons it offers for brands worldwide. Gai emphasized the importance of looking at China as a market, given its rising middle-class population. She introduced the audience to Singles’ Day, a shopping festival in China that dwarfs Black Friday in scale. Gai highlighted the cashless nature of Chinese society and the significance of live streams and personalization in driving consumer engagement. She shared compelling statistics, stating, “89% of consumers report that watching a video has led to a purchase,” and “84% of consumers expect personalization in their shopping experience or won’t make a purchase.”

Reuven Azar from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, in conversation with Andrei Pitis from genezio, discussed how Israel supports the scaling of Romanian companies, in Following the Steps of the Start-Up Nation: How to Scale-Up the Romanian Ecosystem talk. Azar highlighted the importance of thinking globally, analysing global competitors, and creating a marketing strategy. He emphasized the role of the government and venture capital in fostering the growth of startups, revealing that Israel has had more unicorns in recent years than all of Europe.

Moderated by Will Sternlicht from NFX, the Fundraising from the East to West: Best Practices in Raising Funds and Leveraging VC for International Expansion panel featured Masha Bucher from Day One Ventures and Francois-Xavier Cope from First Bridges Ventures. The panel described best practices in raising funds and leveraging venture capital for international expansion. They focused on the need to understand your strengths, create a culture of efficient communication, and quickly pursue international expansion. They also encouraged attendees to stay informed about global trends and maintain connections with international networks.

Opportunities of Networking and Q&A Sessions

Apart from the inspiring talks on the Impact Stage, attendees had the chance to engage in valuable networking opportunities, book meetings with peers, and participate in Q&A sessions. These sessions provided a platform for exchanging ideas, seeking advice, and building meaningful connections with industry experts, speakers, and fellow participants. Attendees took full advantage of these interactive sessions to expand their networks and gain insights from experienced professionals.

Until we meet again, let’s keep pushing the boundaries of technology, driving progress, and creating a future that surpasses our wildest imaginations.

Thank you for being a part of Techsylvania 2023, and we eagerly await your return for an even more remarkable Techsylvania next year.

Save the Date & let’s groove into the next decade together: 2024, June 26–27!

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3 reasons why you should be at Techsylvania 2023

Vlad Ciurca — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:42:13 +0000

Techsylvania is an annual technology conference held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, that brings together professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and tech enthusiasts from various fields and industries.

The event features keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops by some of the brightest minds in the tech industry, making it an excellent opportunity to learn, network, and showcase your work.

But here are the main 3 reasons why you should be at Techsylvania 2023.

The opportunity to network.

The event provides an excellent place for attendees to expand their network, make new connections, and potentially find new opportunities for collaboration or employment. The attendees come from various parts of the world, so the chances of meeting people with diverse perspectives and experiences are high. The connections made at the event can potentially lead to future collaborations, partnerships, or even job opportunities.

Keynote speakers.

In addition to networking, Techsylvania offers a great opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s brightest minds. The keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops at Techsylvania offer insights into the latest trends and innovations in the tech industry. Attending these sessions can help you stay up-to-date with the latest developments in your field, gain new perspectives on the industry, and learn from experienced professionals.

Techsylvania partners.

Techsylvania has established partnerships with some of the leading tech companies in the world, including Google, MassMutual, Accenture, and Metro Digital. These partnerships bring immense value to the event, providing attendees with access to some of the most innovative technologies, insights from industry leaders, and a chance to interact with these companies’ representatives.

Something extra.

Finally, attending Techsylvania can be a great way to explore Cluj-Napoca, one of Romania’s most vibrant and entrepreneurial cities. The city has a thriving tech community, and Techsylvania offers a chance to experience the city’s culture and tech ecosystem.

Attending Techsylvania can be a great way to learn, network, and showcase your work. The event offers a unique opportunity to connect with experienced professionals, gain insights into the latest trends and innovations, and potentially secure funding for your business. Moreover, Techsylvania provides a “platform” to interact with new and upcoming technologies, and experience the vibrant culture of Cluj-Napoca.

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