Small Businesses, Big Opportunities: Creating Pathways for Growth

Date:20/03/2025 8:30 am
Location:University of Economics in Bucharest (Academia de Studii Economice din București, ASE), Piata Romana nr. 6, Bucuresti

Event Agenda:

  • 8:30 AM – Entrance and Registration
  • 9:00 AM – Opening by the Host (5 mins)
  • Dorel Paraschiv, Vice Rector at The Bucharest University of Economic Studies
  • 9:05 AM – Welcome Remarks & Call to Action (10 mins)
  • Cosmin Vladimirescu, General Manager, Romania & Croatia, Mastercard
  • Bartosz Ciolkowski, Division President, South-East Europe, Mastercard
  • 9:15 AM – Opening Remarks – Romanian MSEs: Empowering Local Growth for a Stronger European Presence (20 mins)
Moderator: Dorel Paraschiv, Vice Rector at The Bucharest University of Economic Studies
  • Andi Cristea, Member of the European Parliament
  • Bogdan Ivan, Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (tbc)
 
  • 9:35 AM – Fire-Side Chat: How I Transformed a Small Business into a Large One (15 mins)
  • Catalin Rus, COO and Co-founder of Prime Dash
  • Cosmin Vladimirescu, General Manager, Romania & Croatia, Mastercard
  • 9:50 AM – Flash Panel: Breaking Barriers: Challenges Holding MSEs Back and Key Trends for Growth (40 mins)
Exploring the financing needs of MSEs in the EU and Romania, the structural barriers they face, and the key market trends shaping their opportunities for scaling and innovation.
Moderator:  Dorel Paraschiv, Vice Rector at The Bucharest University of Economic Studies
  • Octavian Oprea, Member of the Romanian Parliament
  • Marin Daniela, Principle Manager at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  • Ioana Samoil, Romania Country Lead at NESsT Romania
  • Adelina Dabu, Head of Public Affairs at Employers Confederation (Concordia)
  • Cristina Sindile,  CEO at BT Mic (IFN part of Banca Transilvania)
  • 10:30 AM –  Flash Panel: Bridging Innovation and Growth: Unlocking the Digital Potential of Romanian Enterprises (40 mins)
Discussing the key enablers of digital growth, including funding, partnerships, and technological advancements
Moderator: Oana Craioveanu, Co-founder of Impact Hub Bucharest
  • Daniel Szekely, Executive Director IMM & Corporate at Banca Transilvania
  • David Achim, Executive Director at Make IT in Oradea
  • Andrei Danila, CEO at Code 932
  • Sergiu Negut, Co-founder at FintechOS
  • Sabrina Szabo, CPO & Head of Strategic Partnership at Thinslices
  • 11:10 AM – Short Break (20 mins)
  • 11:30 AM – Launching the Hands-On Sessions: Celebrating MSEs as the Heroes of Our Economy (10 mins)
Zsuzsanna Bodi, Programme Director at Caribou Digital
  • 11:40 AM – Workshops* (80 mins)
    • Mastercard Strive in Romania (for ecosystem stakeholders) – Eva & Zsuzsanna (Accenture Room)
    • Pitching skills – facilitated by David Achim, Make IT Oradea
    • Product development – facilitated by Andrei Danila
  • 1:00 PM – Networking Lunch (70 mins)
  • 2:10 PM – Workshops* (80 mins)
    • Product positioning – Unique Selling Proposition – facilitated by David Achim, Make IT Oradea
    • Scaling up and financing
    • Product development – facilitated by Andrei Danila
  • 3:30 PM – Coffee Break (30 mins)
  • 4:00 PM – Speed Networking Session* (60 mins)
    • Based on number of attendees:
      • Full room: 1:1 facilitated speed-dating.
      • Medium attendance: Smaller tables, sorted by interest/topic.
      • Lower attendance: One large table to share takeaways.
    • Moderator: Jesús Tabares, Caribou

 

Register here