Startup Weekend Bucharest

16-18 May 2025

No talk. All action!

Startup Weekend brings together those interested in startups with co-founders, mentors and experts.
Participants put all their energy into their projects to find out after 54 hours whether the business idea has a chance on the market. The event is open to everyone – regardless of whether they have their own idea or not.
Get inspired, develop new skills, and network with creative minds!

Workshops & Mentorship

Get feedback on your business idea, from launch strategy to pricing models and pitching skills from our Mentors and Experts during dedicated mentorship hours!

Pitch your concept

If you have an idea for a startup, you can pitch it on Friday, and convince your peers to join the ride! Don’t worry if you don’t have an idea, you can join any of the ideas pitched!

Build & win

During the weekend you will validate your idea, build an MVP, define the business model,  train your pitch and present in front of our expert jury to win awesome prizes! 

Fuel the journey

We make sure that you have unlimited coffee, 7 meals, snacks and other goodies during the weekend, so you have the energy to build something great! 

54 hours to build a startup

Learn how to think, work, and build like a startup in 54 thrilling hours. 
Techstars Startup Weekend is an exciting and immersive foray into the world of startups. Over an action-packed three days, you’ll meet the very best mentors, investors, co-founders and sponsors to show you how to get more done faster – and, maybe even start that business.

54 hours to build a startup

Learn how to think, work, and build like a startup in 54 thrilling hours.

Techstars Startup Weekend is an exciting and immersive foray into the world of startups.

Over an action-packed three days, you’ll meet the very best mentors, investors, co-founders and sponsors to show you how to get more done faster – and, maybe even start that business.

Techstars Startup Weekend Globally

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Speakers & Mentors

Aleodor Tabarcea

Engineering Manager

Stripe

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Laurentiu Balasa

Co-Founder

Bible Chat

Maria Niculescu Aron

General Manager

Bolt Romania

Stefan Gergely

Head of Growth

Veridion

Bogdan Iordache

CEO

 Underline VC

Monica Zara

Head of Conference

How to Web

Alex Dascalu

Lead Director

Founder Institute CEE

Theodor Filos

Chief Expansion Officer

Flip

Andrei Pavel

Technology Lawyer

Ventures’n’Law

Ivaylo Ivanov

Director

Founder Institute CEE

Silvia Ursu

Community Officer

EIT Community Hub Romania

George Diaconu

Full Stack Engineer

Stripe

Andra Iacob

Managing Director

Chapter 4 Communications Romania 

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Calin Spiridon

CEO

Mingrl

Claudiu Jojatu

Co-founder

Milk & Cookies Studio

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Mihai Guran

CEO

SalesOMMO

Agenda

Day 1: Network & find a team

 18:00 – 18:30

Registration

Welcome to Startup Weekend! Check in, grab your badge, and meet the crew. The weekend starts now.

18:30 – 19:00

Dinner & networking

Fuel up and mingle! Share ideas, chat with potential teammates, and get into the startup mindset over good food.

19:00 – 19:30

Welcome

Our Techstars facilitator will walk you through what to expect this weekend. Spoiler: it’s going to be intense, fun, and unforgettable.

19:30 – 20:00

Resilience as an Entrepreneur

Laurentiu Balasa, CEO @ Bible Chat, will share the raw truth about what it takes to stay in the game — the highs, the lows, and the mindset that keeps you building even when it’s tough.

20:00 – 20:30

Pitches

Here’s your shot! The facilitator explains the rules, then it’s pitch time. You’ve got 60 seconds to share your idea and rally a team.

20:30 – 21:00

Vote for top pitches and form teams

Everyone votes on their favorite ideas. The top pitches move forward — and the real game begins. Join a team or recruit your own.

21:00 – Late

Start building!

Claim your workspace, meet your new teammates, and dive into brainstorming, planning, and MVP madness.

DAY 2: LEARN, WORK AND PLAY!

09:00 – 09:30

Breakfast

Start strong with breakfast at the venue. You’ve got a big day ahead.

10:30 – 11:30

Choosing the right marketing channels​

Calin Spiridion, CEO @ Minglr, will walk you through how to identify the best marketing channels for your startup, based on your audience, goals, and resources, so you can market smarter from day one.

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch

Take a well-earned break and recharge with some good food.

14:00 – 17:00

Mentoring sessions

Meet one-on-one with mentors to get feedback, ideas, and support. Ask anything — they’re here to help you move faster and smarter.

18:30 – 19:00

Dinner

Refuel, chat with other teams, and get ready for the evening grind.

19:00 – 19:30

Pitch Perfect: Mastering Startup Storytelling​

Alex Diaconu [Lead Director @ Founder Institute, will break down what makes a pitch truly compelling — from crafting your narrative to delivering it with clarity and confidence.

21:00 – Late

Night Sprint: Build, Iterate, Repeat

Check in with your team, ask for help if needed, and keep pushing forward. The venue stays open late — stay as long as your energy (or caffeine) lasts.

DAY 3: PRESENT & CELEBRATE!

09:30 – 10:00

Breakfast

Grab some breakfast, check in with your team, and get ready for the final sprint!

11:00 – 12:00

Vote in the presidential elections

Nu va fi usor. WeekeND fain!

12:00 – 13:00

Pitch Practice

Test your pitch in a safe space. Get feedback, tweak your story, and boost your confidence before showtime.

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch

Fuel up one last time before the big moment.

14:00 – 15:00

Pitch Prep & Rehearsal, Tech Check

Final polish for your slides and delivery. Make sure everything works and your team’s ready to shine.

15:00 – 17:00

Final presentations

Time to pitch like a pro! Each team gets 5 minutes to present their startup and 5 minutes for Q&A with the jury. Show what you’ve built, why it matters, and leave it all on stage.

17:00 – 19:00

Dinner, awards, wrap up and after party!

Celebrate everything you’ve built — the ideas, the teamwork, the late nights, and the breakthroughs. Enjoy a well-earned meal, cheer each other on, and close out an unforgettable weekend together.

Sponsors & Partners

A series of events

You can join Startup Weekend in more over 160 countries all across the world, while in Romania there are several cities organizing Startup Weekend!

Startup Weekend in pictures