Where? Casa Armatei (Cercul Militar), 1A Strada Lungă, Brașov, 1st floor.
Startup Registration: https://www.arenaursilor.ro/inscriere
⏳Registration deadline: April 17, 2026, 12:00 a.m.
Are you ready to take your startup out of its “cocoon”?
Following the international success of Romanian startups at the Global Startup Awards, we’re bringing the elite of innovation to the heart of Transylvania! On May 7, the Army House in Brașov becomes the stage where ideas take flight and MVPs meet capital, mentorship, and access to national and international entrepreneurial ecosystems. Ever since the first edition of Arena Ursilor (2010), the focus has been on innovation and technology, and recent editions have introduced new verticals tailored to the times.
Launched back in 2010, “Arena Ursilor” is a national business pre-accelerator developed in Brașov, which aims to encourage entrepreneurship, motivate entrepreneurs to publicly present their business projects and find support for their development, as well as connect the business community with resources, opportunities, mentors, investors, and markets. In recent years, Arena Ursilor has grown steadily, bringing numerous startups before the “bears,” as well as numerous partners and media partners interested in this national program for startups.
This is an independent public pitching program offering access to seed and early-stage funding for entrepreneurial projects in their early stages. Startup representatives will publicly pitch their business to both the “bears” and the audience, and will receive feedback and/or funding on the spot.
It is also a project where investors can participate to support the startups competing in the “BBB – Be the Big Bear” initiative—syndicated investments in startups.
Why participate? It’s not just a pitch; it’s your gateway to global scaling. This year, we’re focusing on four strategic verticals:
IT & Software – The Digital Future (Fintech, Apps & Platforms, SaaS, AI etc.)
⚙️ Technology & DeepTech – Tangible Innovation (Advanced Computing & Quantum, Robots & Cobots, Nanotechnology etc.)
Environment (GreenTech) – Real Sustainability (Clean Energy, NanoMaterials, ClimateTech, Eco-agrifood, WaterTech etc.)
️ Defense (Intelligence, Autonomous Systems & Robotics) – Security and Dual-Use Technologies (Cybersecurity, Drones, MedTech etc.)
Registered startups will receive immediate public validation and will be able to attract investments from the bears participating in the competition or from other investors. They will also gain public exposure and a partnership with ProAfaceri Romania to scale their businesses nationally and internationally. Partners from the Brasov Chamber of Commerce and Industry, DWK – the German Economic Club, the Romania-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, the Romania-UK Bilateral Chamber of Commerce, CARE – the Club of Romanian Entrepreneurs in Switzerland, and CFAB – the Francophone Business Club of Brasov, as well as partner business associations, aim to support the startups at the Arena Ursilor in connecting with investors from Romania, France, or Luxembourg and, together with ProAfaceri Romania, to help them participate in events dedicated to startups and investors.
Sign up NOW here: https://www.arenaursilor.ro/inscriere
Who are the “Bears” waiting for you in the Arena?
This year, the jury (the bears) consists of leaders who aren’t just looking for ideas, but for practical solutions:
✅ Raluca Baghiu (Founder of First Job School) – Your strategist for human resources and European funding.
✅ Mircea Capatina (Founder of SmartBill) – Serial entrepreneur and experienced startup investor
✅ Sergiu Nichiforov (BCR Management) – Your expert in scaling and financial support.
✅ Dragos Benga (Benga & Coltan Attorney) – International law & intellectual property entrepreneur
✅ Marius Dan (Tudor Personal Tailor) – Global fashion entrepreneur
⚠️ Eligibility requirement: We are looking for startups that have moved beyond the concept phase. To take the stage, you must have a functional MVP (Minimum Viable Product). After registration, a pre-selection round will take place, and the 12 winners will be organized into 3 cohorts of 4 startups each and will deliver a 5-minute pitch to the “bears,” followed by a 5-minute Q&A session. Finally, the winners will be announced and will receive prizes and investments from the “bears,” if they choose to add the startups to their portfolio.
⚠️ We recommend using systems to protect your ideas and MVP, such as the Idea Envelope from OSIM or a notarized registered letter to demonstrate priority over the idea, or even registering the trademark and prototype at https://www.osim.ro/plicul-cu-idei.
What do you get?
✨ Exposure and validation in front of investors and the national media
✨ Access to the startup ecosystem (incubators, accelerators, VCs, business angels)
✨ A syndicated investment opportunity provided by ProAfaceri, pooling investment commitments from various “bear angels” and investment funds that team up to support startups.
✨ High-level networking with mentors and national and international strategic partners.
✨ Access to national and international investment funds and “bear” angels (private investors)
✨ Opportunity for accelerated scale-up domestically and abroad
✨ Chance to be nominated for future editions of the Global Startup Awards.
✨ Pitching and mentoring with an experienced entrepreneur from Brașov who has participated in startup pitching sessions in Romania and abroad: London, Luxembourg, Malmö, Copenhagen, Bucharest (over 5 million EUR raised) – Mihai Gheza, CEO and co-founder of the startup Machinations, one of the first organizers of Arena Ursilor.
✨ Contribution to financial and entrepreneurial education.
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Spots for presentations are limited.
Register NOW here by April 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM: https://www.arenaursilor.ro/inscriere
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Organized by: ProAfaceri Romania
Partners: First Job School, Exitly, Parflex, Besen & Brill Financial Group, Oferte Bancare.ro, Coson Media, CakeShop Brasov, Bruscio, Tudor Personal Tailor
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