Romanian Startup Jobful Transforms with EBRD's Star Venture Programme
Jobful, a Romanian startup, has benefited from the EBRD's Star Venture Programme, which offers tailored advisory services to early-stage companies in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The programme, active in 26 countries and having supported over 550 companies, aims to bridge the gap for founders who lack structured access to expertise.
Mihai Cepoi, CEO of Jobful, accessed funding for an advisory project through Star Venture in 2022. This led to the creation of Jobful's social impact strategy and theory of change, marking the startup's first advisory project. The process helped Jobful mature its operations and decision-making processes, ultimately aiding in writing a proposal for the EIC Accelerator.
The EBRD's Star Venture Programme provides tailored support to startups, helping founders identify blind spots, clarify complex decisions, and accelerate business maturity. For the 2025 cohort in Romania, the programme covers the full net cost of advisory projects up to €40,000 per startup. The initiative is funded by the TaiwanBusiness-EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund and has supported entrepreneurs like Carfix, which received a grant for brand consolidation and sustainable innovation leadership. Consultant projects mainly focus on technology sectors such as digital platforms and sustainable innovation.
In Romania, the EBRD's Star Venture Initiative continues to empower entrepreneurs, offering structured access to expertise and tailored advisory services. By covering the full net cost of advisory projects up to €40,000, the programme enables startups to transform ideas into scalable businesses, fostering innovation and growth in the CEE region.
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