Avatar photoAnna Kowalski

Warsaw-based, Anna focus is on the rapid rise of Central and Eastern European tech. She covers startups, investors and ecosystem builders across Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary and the broader CEE region, with expertise in SaaS, cybersecurity and gaming.

Romania Launches Swiss-Backed SME Eco-Tech Platform to Finance Green Manufacturing Transformation

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Romania launched the SME Eco-Tech platform on May 21, 2026, a Swiss-funded financing program with a budget of 288.8 million RON (54 million CHF) designed to support green and digital transformation of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. The application period opens May 26, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis, with funding through five partner banks. Minimum project value is 668,100 RON, with at least 40% of eligible expenses dedicated to green or digital investments.

Romanian Tax Authority Launches iBon App to Let Citizens Verify Receipts, Attracts 2,200 Users in First Three Days

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ANAF launched iBon, a free mobile application that allows Romanian citizens to verify if fiscal receipts were issued correctly. The app achieved over 2,200 user registrations within three days of launch, with users performing over 2,000 receipt scans and filing dozens of reports about merchant issues including missing receipts and payment problems.

Łukasiewicz – AI Opens Competence Center in Katowice to Bridge Science and Enterprise

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Łukasiewicz – AI officially opened a new AI Competence Center in Katowice titled ‘Technological Solutions in Artificial Intelligence’. The center aims to serve as a key bridge connecting Polish science, public administration, and enterprises, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized businesses that have previously faced barriers in implementing AI and data analysis-based innovations.

UiPath Foundation Expands Educational Reach in Romania With 67,000 Hours of Learning Activities in 2025

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UiPath Foundation, the non-profit organization of Romanian-American software robotics company UiPath, reported that in 2025 it provided over 67,000 hours of educational activities to children from vulnerable communities in Romania. The foundation launched the AI Generation curriculum in collaboration with MIT App Inventor Foundation and UNESCO, trained approximately 10,000 education professionals, and expanded long-term programs supporting 1,135 high school students (Caleidoscop), 228 children aged 11-15 (Salt Către Viitor), and distributed 14,570 scholarships.

Polish MarTech Firm Adquery Explores Digital Marketing Budget Inefficiencies in Industry Podcast

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Anna Gruszka, Chief Growth Officer at Adquery, discussed why digital marketing budgets are still being wasted on low-value campaigns despite increasingly powerful algorithms. She spoke about the main sins of the advertising industry, traps of excessive automation, and true online security in an episode of MamStartup Podcast.

Romanian Wedding Planner Cristina Stan Transforms Hobby Into Professional Business Through BT Stup Entrepreneurship Program

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Cristina Stan is a Romanian wedding and event planner who founded her business in 2021 after working four years in event planning agencies in Bucharest. She is a solopreneur who organizes weddings and events across Romania. She recently participated in the Avânt în antreprenoriat program by BT Stup, which helped her transition from running her business as a hobby to operating it professionally. She plans to target premium clients and mentor other event planners.