Equity-free Accelerator for
early-stage startups in CEE & SE
Hybrid | English | 2023
Equity-free Accelerator for early-stage startups in CEE & SE
Hybrid | English | 2023
Strategic Partners
Media Partner
Together with
Our strategic and media partners, we embarked on a mission to support and accelerate startups with disruptive or highly innovative ideas/business models to reach the next milestone in their growth.
Looking for
→ MVP-stage tech startups
or
→ Early-stage startups with an experienced team,
based in Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) and Southern Europe (SE), and using technology to solve real problems with innovative and scalable solutions, regardless of the sector.
To support your growth to
→ get to €2,000 MRR
OR
→ raise a new investment round
OR
→ or launch into a new market
(in the next 3-9 months).
Together with
Our strategic and media partners, we embarked on a mission to support and accelerate startups with disruptive or highly innovative ideas/business models to reach the next milestone in their growth.
Strategic Partners
Media Partner
Looking for
MVP-stage tech startups
or
Early-stage startups with an experienced team,
based in Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) and Southern Europe (SE), and using technology to solve real problems with innovative and scalable solutions, regardless of the sector.
To support your growth to
→ get to €2,000 MRR
OR
→ raise a new investment round
OR
→ or launch into a new market
(in the next 3-9 months).
#WeAreInThisTogether
We worked with over
300 startups
that change the way people live,
interact and buy.
The Rubik Hub community has over
200 mentors
and experienced founders from over
40 growth startups & scaleups.
We provide the infrastructure
to support our exceptional founders
who’ve gone on to raise over
€22 million
in follow-on funding
from leading global investors.
#WeAreInThisTogether
We worked with over
300 startups
that change the way people live, interact and buy.
The Rubik Hub community has over
200 mentors
and experienced founders from over 40 growth startups & scaleups.
We provide the infrastructure to support our exceptional founders who’ve gone on to raise over
€22 million
in follow-on funding from leading global investors.
Program Structure
selection-based
1. Bootcamp
(Mid-March 2023)
We are not a one-size-fits-all program.
- We will collaborate closely with our experts to tailor the workshops based on your needs and your level of development.
- We will start with a 2-days Founders Bootcamp – on-site, in Piatra Neamt, Romania
2. Acceleration
(March-June 2023)
Three months of intensive workshops:
- Overall, you’ll get over 60 hours of practical workshops and 1:1 feedback sessions focusing on a wide range of topics
- Dedicated mentors
- Group sessions – peer-to-peer learning
- Meet the investors sessions
- Ask Me Anything sessions
- Network & connect – community building
- Optional: you can move into our hub to build your startup
3. Demo Day & Mentors' Retreat
(Mid-June 2023)
The acceleration phase will culminate with a Demo Day.
You get the chance to pitch your startup in front of our community of investors, VCs, partners, and mentors.
- But don’t worry, you’ll have help: over 40% of our 150+ mentors have been involved in startups that scaled internationally.
After Demo Day, only a handful of founders will be selected for the
Investment Readiness follow-on program.
Program Structure
selection-based
1
Bootcamp
(Mid-March 2023)
We are not a one-size-fits-all program. We will collaborate closely with our experts to tailor the workshops based on your needs and your level of development.
We will start with a 2-days Founders Bootcamp – on-site, in Piatra Neamt, Romania
2
Acceleration
(March-June 2023)
Three months of intensive workshops:
- Dedicated mentors
- Group sessions – peer-to-peer learning
- Meet the investors sessions
- Ask Me Anything sessions
- Network & connect – community building
- Optional: you can move into our hub to build your startup
3
Demo Day & Mentors' Retreat
(Mid-June 2023)
The acceleration phase will culminate with a Demo Day.
You get the chance to pitch your startup in front of our community of investors, VCs, partners, and mentors.
- But don’t worry, you’ll have help: over 40% of our 150+ mentors have been involved in startups that scaled internationally.
After Demo Day, only a handful of founders will be selected for the Investment Readiness follow-on program.
4. Investment Readiness Program
(October 2023 – March 2024)
A follow-up program tailored to top startups in our accelerator, looking to raise investment in the next 3-6 months.
- Interactive workshops on a wide range of key aspects involved in the fundraising process, including early-stage startup valuation methods, how to raise the first round, investors management, pitch deck preparation for investors, etc.
- Tailored support for your startup: feedback sessions with the Rubik Hub team, peer-to-peer learning groups, access to data room
- Match-making, warm intros and exclusive sessions of private pitching to investors
4
Investment Readiness Program
(October 2023 – March 2024)
A follow-up program tailored to top startups in our accelerator, looking to raise investment in the next 3-6 months.
- Interactive workshops on a wide range of key aspects involved in the fundraising process, including early-stage startup valuation methods, how to raise the first round, investors management, pitch deck preparation for investors, etc.
- Tailored support for your startup: feedback sessions with the Rubik Hub team, peer-to-peer learning groups, access to data room
- Match-making, warm intros and exclusive sessions of private pitching to investors
What Topics We Will Tackle Along the Journey
→ Key metrics for scaling startups
→ Mindset & resilience for startup founders
→ Go-to-market strategy
→ P&L & budgeting
→ Building a technical foundation for scaling
→ Sales strategy
→ Media for startups
→ Pricing strategy
→ Product-market fit
→ Launching in new markets
→ Legal basics for startups
→ Ask Me Anything: Founders Journey – raising investment
→ Hiring & organisational culture when growing a startup
→ Myths about investors
→ How to Pitch
→ Building & delivering an award-winning pitch
What Topics We Will Tackle Along the Journey
→ Key metrics for scaling startups
→ Mindset & resilience for startup founders
→ Go-to-market strategy
→ P&L & budgeting
→ Building a technical foundation for scaling
→ Sales strategy
→ Media for startups
→ Pricing strategy
→ Product-market fit
→ Launching in new markets
→ Legal basics for startups
→ Ask Me Anything: Founders Journey – raising investment
→ Hiring & organisational culture when growing a startup
→ Myths about investors
→ How to Pitch
→ Building & delivering an award-winning pitch
Access to Perks & Benefits Worth of €150,000+
Once you join our accelerator, you become part of our Rubikorns community. This gives you access to:
- Perks offered by our partners (Notion, AWS, Twilio Segment, Hubspot, Miro, Freya sense, SMSO, Idea Buddy)
- Immersion in an international ecosystem to help you validate and develop your startup/ideas in international markets, such as the USA, the Netherlands, the UK, Portugal, Spain, Germany
- House of Startups – Accommodation & free co-working space
Access to Perks & Benefits Worth of €150,000+
Once you join our accelerator, you become part of our Rubikorns community. This gives you access to:
- Perks offered by our partners (Notion, AWS, Twilio Segment, Hubspot, Miro, Freya sense, SMSO, Idea Buddy)
- Immersion in an international ecosystem to help you validate and develop your startup/ideas in international markets, such as the USA, the Netherlands, the UK, Portugal, Spain, Germany
- House of Startups – Accommodation & free co-working space
Experts You Will Work With
Experts You Will
Work With
The Rubik Hub experience was transformational, and continues to be. It provides many opportunities, and opens a lot of doors. The structure and quality of the programme are extremely excellent. For an equity-free accelerator, this is a must for any startup that wishes to get boosted to the next level. Coming to Rubik Hub was a blast. The people are truly happy to help. We also came back for another weekend after 4 weeks because we liked the place so much. It really feels like you are building a unicorn inside their hub.
Emil Chichioi, Bloomcoding
2022 spring & autumn editions alumnus, raised €1 mil. investment
Our team has benefited greatly from Rubik Hub’s accelerator program! The highlight was definitely the Bootcamp, it was amazing to meet the Rubik Hub team, the founders and the mentors, to pitch on stage and to have so many insightful and thought-provoking conversations! The Bootcamp gave us the motivation and the energy we needed to work ceaselessly for the entire duration of the program and to boost our key metrics.
We also appreciated how the Rubik Hub team worked hard to make the experience as relevant as possible for each startup and connect us with the right mentors and investors. We met amazing mentors all throughout the program and received their greatly valuable input that helped us grow!
Gabriela Constantinescu, Chambr
2022 spring & autumn editions alumna
Until 2022, embarrassingly enough, I had never set foot in Romania, despite being separated just by a border. I had, however, been hearing a lot about the Romanian ecosystem and how active and developed it is. When the news about Rubik Garage came out, there was no doubt in my mind we should apply.
When we visited Rubik Hub for the first event of the accelerator, we were very impressed by a number of things. First was the public-private partnership that turned out in such a fruitful way in Piatra Neamt. It is a wonderful example of going from zero to hero, which is what all of us startup founders are after. Second was the energy of the entire Rubik Hub’s team, their competency and willingness to help. Third was the friendly atmosphere among the founders and the spirit of helping each other out.
I find it useful that the program stretches over a few months, so we have time to turn things into practice. The Rubik Hub team has also been very helpful in connecting us with people who can help us overcome our challenges: advisors, and other startups. What is also helpful is that the startups come from different countries and industries, so everyone brings a lot of different perspectives.
I would highly recommend the program to anyone looking to grow their startup with strategic and friendly guidance from a group of outstanding individuals.
Boryana Levterova, Infinity Toy Box, Bulgaria
2022 spring edition alumna
At ROCA X, we believe that Romania has a lot of ideas with international scaling potential but there is a need for partners to sustain these initiatives. We support Rubik Garage in offering the first validation for startups through accessing a community of experts, mentors, and investors, helping founders in developing their entrepreneurial skills and giving them access to financing. For the entire startup ecosystem to grow sustainably, we need this kind of acceleration program in Romania and venture capitals working together in helping founders achieve their dream.
Alexandru Bogdan
CEO ROCA X
We are pleased to be part of the Rubik Garage program and look forward to working with participants as they explore and advance key solutions to market entry challenges in CEE & SEE. We will bring our investment expertise and experience to help startups structure and build a solid roadmap for their high-growth journey, helping them multiply their impact and become more resilient.
Andrei Dudoiu
Managing Partner SeedBlink
We are delighted to support Rubik Hub in their upcoming program, knowing that they are such an integral and active part of the Romanian early-stage startup ecosystem. We feel that we are driven by the same founder-centric principles and values, fueling us to grow and to impact for the better the local startup ecosystem.
Razvan Sutu
Program Managing Director & Business Development Lead Startup Wise Guys
Our team has benefited greatly from Rubik Hub’s accelerator program! The highlight was definitely the Bootcamp, it was amazing to meet the Rubik Hub team, the founders and the mentors, to pitch on stage and to have so many insightful and thought-provoking conversations! The Bootcamp gave us the motivation and the energy we needed to work ceaselessly for the entire duration of the program and to boost our key metrics.
We also appreciated how the Rubik Hub team worked hard to make the experience as relevant as possible for each startup and connect us with the right mentors and investors. We met amazing mentors all throughout the program and received their greatly valuable input that helped us grow!
Gabriela Constantinescu, Chambr
2022 spring & autumn edition alumna
The Rubik Hub experience was transformational, and continues to be. It provides many opportunities, and opens a lot of doors. The structure and quality of the programme are extremely excellent. For an equity-free accelerator, this is a must for any startup that wishes to get boosted to the next level. Coming to Rubik Hub was a blast. The people are truly happy to help. We also came back for another weekend after 4 weeks because we liked the place so much. It really feels like you are building a unicorn inside their hub.
Emil Chichioi, Bloomcoding
2022 spring & autumn editions alumnus, raised €1 mil.
Until 2022, embarrassingly enough, I had never set foot in Romania, despite being separated just by a border. I had, however, been hearing a lot about the Romanian ecosystem and how active and developed it is. When the news about Rubik Garage came out, there was no doubt in my mind we should apply.
When we visited Rubik Hub for the first event of the accelerator, we were very impressed by a number of things. First was the public-private partnership that turned out in such a fruitful way in Piatra Neamt. It is a wonderful example of going from zero to hero, which is what all of us startup founders are after. Second was the energy of the entire Rubik Hub’s team, their competency and willingness to help. Third was the friendly atmosphere among the founders and the spirit of helping each other out.
I find it useful that the program stretches over a few months, so we have time to turn things into practice. The Rubik Hub team has also been very helpful in connecting us with people who can help us overcome our challenges: advisors, and other startups. What is also helpful is that the startups come from different countries and industries, so everyone brings a lot of different perspectives.
I would highly recommend the program to anyone looking to grow their startup with strategic and friendly guidance from a group of outstanding individuals.
Boryana Levterova, Infinity Toy Box, Bulgaria
2022 spring edition alumna
We are pleased to be part of the Rubik Garage program and look forward to working with participants as they explore and advance key solutions to market entry challenges in CEE & SEE. We will bring our investment expertise and experience to help startups structure and build a solid roadmap for their high-growth journey, helping them multiply their impact and become more resilient.
Andrei Dudoiu
Managing Partner SeedBlink
We are delighted to support Rubik Hub in their upcoming program, knowing that they are such an integral and active part of the Romanian early-stage startup ecosystem. We feel that we are driven by the same founder-centric principles and values, fueling us to grow and to impact for the better the local startup ecosystem.
Razvan Sutu
Program Managing Director & Business Development Lead Startup Wise Guys
At ROCA X, we believe that Romania has a lot of ideas with international scaling potential but there is a need for partners to sustain these initiatives. We support Rubik Garage in offering the first validation for startups through accessing a community of experts, mentors, and investors, helping founders in developing their entrepreneurial skills, and giving them access to financing. For the entire startup ecosystem to grow sustainably, we need this kind of acceleration program in Romania and venture capitals working together in helping founders achieve their dream.”
Alexandru Bogdan
CEO ROCA X
Why Should You Trust Us
- In 2022, we received applications from over 28 countries and we directly accelerated 40 startups trusted by 50+ investors with a total of over €5.5m. Are you the next one?
- Vestbee named us Accelerator of the month in November 2022
- We have a long-term mission of supporting startups go international – read details here
- All our programs are free-of-charge, as we are supported operationally by the North-East RDA (public NGO). However, they require a strong commitment from the participants
- We started the ROStartup initiative, aimed at creating the first national strategy of the Romanian startup ecosystem & supported by the World Bank and the European Commission
Why Should You Trust Us
- In 2022, we received applications from over 28 countries and we directly accelerated 40 startups trusted by 50+ investors with a total of over €5.5m. Are you the next one?
- Vestbee named us Accelerator of the month in November 2022
- We have a long-term mission of supporting startups go international – read details here
- All our programs are free-of-charge, as we are supported operationally by the North-East RDA (public NGO). However, they require a strong commitment from the participants
- We started the ROStartup initiative, aimed at creating the first national strategy of the Romanian startup ecosystem & supported by the World Bank and the European Commission
Community partners
In-House Team
Community Partners
In-House Team
Are you ready to
get international fast?
Join the successful startups that started in a garage!
Are you ready to
get international fast?
Join the successful startups that started in a garage!
Keep It Balanced
Who Says You Can’t Have Fun
While Building a Successful Startup?
Creativity comes when being in a space that encourages it. Rubik Hub is That space!
Our 1200 sq co-working hub offers space for your team to focus, build and grow your startup in large, open-space rooms. Use our recording studio to engage with your audience, take smart decisions in our intimate meeting rooms and enjoy working in the sunshine on our terrace.
Our massive kitchen has a dedicated table for team bonding, and our relaxing area is the perfect place to unwind on a hammock or challenge other startup teams over foosball.
The forest and the lake surrounding the Hub offer you space to relax or go on adventures that build a stronger team: rock climbing, cycling, riding, off-roading, bouldering.
See you there!
Keep It Balanced
Who Says You Can’t Have Fun While Building a Successful Startup?
Creativity comes when being in a space that encourages it. Rubik Hub is That space!
Our 1200 sq co-working hub offers space for your team to focus, build and grow your startup in large, open-space rooms. Use our recording studio to engage with your audience, take smart decisions in our intimate meeting rooms and enjoy working in the sunshine on our terrace.
Our massive kitchen has a dedicated table for team bonding, and our relaxing area is the perfect place to unwind on a hammock or challenge other startup teams over foosball.
The forest and the lake surrounding the Hub offer you space to relax or go on adventures that build a stronger team: rock climbing, cycling, riding, off-roading, bouldering.
See you there!