[Startup story] Bloomcoding | Rubik Garage Accelerator 2022 Batch

[Startup story] Bloomcoding | Rubik Garage Accelerator 2022 Batch

August 12, 2022

Bloomcoding is one of the 22 startups selected in the Rubik Garage accelerator 2022 Batch, from over 120 international applicants. Discover its story below. 

First of all, we would like to know who’s behind the keyboard.

Emil Chichioi. I like to call myself a serial NGO-preneur. Before Bloomcoding, I started 4 NGOs in Education. In total, we reached more than 10,000 children. Today, I am multiplying to one million through Bloomcoding. My mission is to help civilization move forward. Obviously, Elon is my champion.

Tell us more about Bloomcoding. What problem do you solve? Who’s your audience?

There is a complete lack of coding education infrastructure in schools. Moreover, brick & mortar coding after-schools are not the greatest. This leaves parents worried as their children are missing out on education that leads to a bright future. We target parents with children of 7-14 years old and give them a strong head start into the world of coding. We help parents feel confident that their children will succeed.

What motivated you to create this startup? What’s your „why”?

By far, the most disenfranchised are the unborn souls. We are building the future for them. For the trillions of people that will be born, we need millions more doctors to heal the world, and millions more programmers that can build the world. At Bloomcoding, we believe that coding is becoming the next literacy form of the 21st century. To code means to succeed in the next era.

How is your startup different from competitors?

We put a lot of emphasis on connecting with children through the digital divide. We send them actual tools at home that they use to explore their own projects. Today we send a VR and AR gadget that they use during the lessons.

Do you have a team supporting you in your mission?

I have my co-founder, Mihaela Kawinska, COO, pulling a lot of weight behind me. She is very much day in and out in the trenches and completely hands-on with the operations of the company. She is a founder with tremendous product depth and a passion for go-to-market excellence. She is a parent and has an authentic story about the problem we address. She has a track record of building and an amazing ability to attract and hire amazing leaders. Behind us sit almost 50 people in our admin and teacher teams, serving more than 1000 customers today.

What are the biggest rewards of being a startup founder?

By far the amount of growth. It is a fast-paced environment and you get thrown into challenges every single day. 

On the contrary, what are the biggest challenges?

Mental health for sure. My personal problem is disconnecting and taking a break. My mind is always solving problems. I live and breathe Bloomcoding, every minute of the day. I need to change this, it is taking a toll on me. 

What made you apply to our accelerator Rubik Garage?

Your amazing story and that you are Moldovan Romanians, as Moldovans from the Republic of Moldova, we felt at home.

What are your top 3 learnings of the acceleration program?

1. Execution is more important than ideation
2. Fundraising is a numbers game, run like a process 
3. People want to help, don’t be afraid to reach out.

What do you like in the Rubikorns Startup Community?

The most I like about it is the values it represents.

What are your plans for Bloomcoding for the next 6-12 months?

We are tripling our revenue and breaking into the 7-figure range as we are expanding into two new geographies.

What message do you have for other startup founders?

Delegate, delegate, and delegate. Buy your calendar out and apply yourself to the most high-value activities only.

What is your special power?

My smile. I am a good storyteller and I absolutely love pitching (and any form of persuasive communication). I was a competitive debater before and it feels right at home.

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

#GiveBeforeYouGet

We encourage you to support Bloomcoding and follow their journey on Linkedin and Facebook.

Stay tuned to discover the story behind the other startups from the Rubik Garage accelerator! #WeAreInThisTogether

Rubik Garage is an equity-free acceleration program aiming to support startups from CEE. We are helping early-stage startups get to their first paying customer, raise investment or go international.

The accelerator started with a Founders Bootcamp in Piatra Neamt. Four months of acceleration will culminate with a Demo Day in September, where startups get the chance to pitch their startup in front of investors. For the most motivated teams, the journey will continue in the next 6-12 months – our team will offer their full support to help them raise an investment round.

If you want to pre-apply for the next Rubik Garage edition, complete this form and be the first one to get the chance of starting their acceleration journey!