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We’re Almost at the Start of Cohort 3. Until Then, a Throwback to Cohort 2

Cohort 3 is starting soon. But before we talk about it, let’s take a short look back at what happened in Cohort 2.

In short: 22 teams made it to Demo Day.

What actually happens in Pre-Acceleration

The Pre-Acceleration Program is for people who have an idea and want to see if it works. No excess theory and no PowerPoint presentations about “entrepreneurial mindset.” Participants attend practical workshops, work with mentors who have already been through the process, and validate their idea directly with potential customers.

How Cohort 2 went

The cohort was hybrid and lasted 4 weeks. Teams worked on their ideas with mentors, but the most important part happened in the field: they went out and asked the people they’re building for whether the problem exists and whether the idea solves it. Sometimes the answer was “yes,” other times “not yet.” Either way, it’s better to find out in 4 weeks than after a year of work.

Of the 30 teams enrolled at the start of the program, 22 made it onto the Demo Day stage with functional MVPs and first market validations. The diversity of the ideas presented reflected both the breadth of the problems addressed and the maturity of the teams’ entrepreneurial thinking.

The startups presented covered a wide range of fields, from legal tech, health, and urban mobility to AI, hospitality, proptech, and innovative hardware:

• Legal Suite Manager - a SaaS platform for the complete digitalization of compliance and administration processes for companies in Romania.

• AiGov - a solution that helps organizations using AI chatbots turn their GDPR documentation into an auditable and defensible position.

• BAOS (Business AI Operating System) - an AI Copilot for managers and entrepreneurs, with unified access to company data through a conversational interface.

• Anemoscope - automatic generation of marketing content from the client’s data.

• StyleSync - an AI-powered personalized styling solution placed in physical fashion stores.

• LinguaOps - automation of the complete workflow of translation agencies.

• Elevamo - automation of image and video processing for e-commerce.

• Preventis - a digital health assistant that turns medical history into personalized recommendations.

• MedLink - an integrated medical results platform with secure, time-limited sharing with clinics.

• Healestia - a therapy app that makes mental health support easier to access.

• Defensive Pedal - a navigation app for cyclists that finds the safest routes, reducing risks and building confidence in cycling.

• RetroFit Dynamics Engineering - a hardware and software system for modernizing existing public transport vehicles.

• Oyna - a booking platform for sports facilities, allowing players to find and reserve courts instantly.

• (Sim)Bioza - an app that turns healthy habits into interactive missions, connecting users with activities and places in the city.

• HomePitch.ro - a platform where users say what kind of home they’re looking for, and owners and agents come to them directly with matching offers.

• Nomad Print Books - the first integrated ecosystem in Romania that brings together premium book production, publishing, and promotion.

• EIOS Thermosystem - an advanced waterproof insulation solution that prevents condensation and maximizes thermal efficiency.

• Tuanis - an app for the hospitality industry that connects people, employers, and customers through soft-skills recommendations and reviews, helping with recruitment and finding the right experiences.

• Horeca QR - a platform for restaurants that digitalizes ordering via QR codes at the table, connects inventory in real time, and reduces wait times and operating costs.

• GreenArium - a smart mini-greenhouse for apartments and small spaces, letting people grow plants and vegetables at home by automating the growing process.

• SpeoBOT - a speleology robot with mechanical legs for exploring inaccessible underground spaces.

• Explore Architecture - a digital communication platform for architecture and art lovers.

The 22 startups now enter a phase of active monitoring, in which the teams continue to test and iterate on the solutions they’ve developed. Startups that demonstrate traction and resilience will have access to the next stage of the Vest Ventures ecosystem, the Acceleration program, where the conversation shifts from product development to investment and scaling.

And now, on to Cohort 3

Applications have closed with over 100 submissions. We’re delighted by the huge interest, and it can especially contribute to the local startup ecosystem. Thank you to everyone who applied!

You can find updates on Instagram.

If your idea has been sitting in your notes for too long, maybe it’s time to do something about it.