HORECA
BUSINESS
ACCELERATOR
Led by Innovation
2nd Edition
An educational program by
Supported by
Sponsor
Partner
Tech Partner
MISSION
Find, mentor and scale-up the genius in hospitality entrepreneurs
Stimulate IT companies to develop apps and technologies for hospitality sector
Help Start-up Hospitality Companies in Romania sharpen their competitive edge
Finance innovative businesses and help them overcome themselves
VISION
Increase the percentage of sustainable businesses in HoReCa by 10% in 3 years
(YTD 60% are going bankrupt within the first 9 months)
Help 5 hospitality businesses to develop outside Romanian market within 2 years
We search for innovative ideas and startups in the following areas:
Food&drinks serving concepts
Food&drinks products
Technology for hospitality industry
HOW WE DO IT
We receive applications until 15th of march 2021
From Idea and Early stage start-up’s through Recruiting Events, referrals or Direct Application.
1. Application
2. Selection
We will accept ideas and start-ups with the greatest potential to become successful businesses.
3. Acceleration
6 weeks mentorship, research and capacity building, IP & Regulation, revenue and Business model.
4. Demo Day
Presenting the best startups in
front of partner companies and investors.
HOW WE DO IT
1. Application
We receive applications until 15th of march 2021
From Idea and Early stage start-up’s through Recruiting Events, referrals or Direct Application.
2. Selection
We will accept ideas and start-ups with the greatest potential to become successful businesses.
3. Acceleration
Six weeks mentorship, research and capacity building, IP & Regulation, revenue and Business model.
4. Demo Day
Presenting the best startups in
front of partner companies
and investors.
Curricula
Business Concept
Business Model
Branding
Systemic Coaching
PR & Corporate Communication
Digital Transformation
Marketing 7PS
Hospitality Trends
Legal
HR
Kitchen & Operational Bar
Operational Management
Engineering Menu
Franchising și M&A
Client Service Attitude
Fiscality
Fiscal Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
EU funding opportunities
Scaling Session
Investment Case
Intellectual Property and Competition Law
Corporate Governance
6 WEEKS incubation PROGRAM
Mentorship sessions every week
DEMO Day
Post-graduation support
Curricula
Business Concept
Business Model
Branding
Systemic Coaching
PR & Corporate Communication
Digital Transformation
Marketing 7PS
Hospitality Trends
Legal
HR
Kitchen & Operational Bar
Operational Management
Engineering Menu
Franchising și M&A
Client Service Attitude
Fiscality
Fiscal Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
EU funding opportunities
Scaling Session
Investment Case
Intellectual Property and Competition Law
Corporate Governance
6 weeks incubation PROGRAM
Mentorship sessions every week
DEMO Day
Post-graduation support
mentor & trainer
Tinu Sebeșanu
CEO of Trend Hospitality
Tinu Sebeșanu is CEO of Trend Hospitality, a leader in consultancy and management in the hospitality industry, as well as regional representative of some of the most powerful international brands. He is the man that imposed Howard Johnson Hotel ( now Sheraton) in the tourism market of Bucharest and brought the Ramada chain to Romania.
mentor
Utku Ogrendil
CEO SIBS Romania
He has an experience of more than 20 years in the banking financial field. Since 2000, Utku Ogrendil has held several management positions in local banks: Finansbank (Credit Europe Bank), Banca Transilvania, Libra Internet Bank and Garantibank. Since 2011 he has switched to the technology providers area, becoming CEO of Provus Romania. Later the company was integrated into the international group Wirecard
trainer
Bebi Oprea
HoReCa entrepreneur
One of the most successful concept creators in HoReCa. He operated clubs on the seaside and in Bucharest. Perhaps his most successful concept is the Bordello club. Recognized for the constant innovation in the menu, Bebi Oprea is also the one who opened the first school of professional bartenders in Romania.
mentor & trainer
Gabriel Iovu
CEO Expressoft
Gabriel Iovu – Owner Expressoft. He is a serial entrepreneur, investor and CEO/founder of Expressoft Technology, dedicating his professional career to developing innovative products and services for different industries. Gabriel Iovu has been extensively involved in the development of the Romanian software industry, being also an active member of different associations supporting Romanian Entrepreneurs: Romanian Business Leaders, Tech Angels and AmCham Association.
MENTORS &
TRAINErS’ TEAM
1/4
mentor & trainer
Răzvan Gheorghiu-Testa
Founding Partner at Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații
Răzvan Gheorghiu-Testa – Partner at Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații. He has built up significant experience in corporate/M&A, real estate, taxation and has been directly involved in many of the most important projects taking place in Romania, including acquisitions and disposal of real estate, investment and development real estate projects, and real estate finance.
trainer
Dan Isai
CEO Salad Box
Eight years ago Dan Isai bet his money on healthy food, a market that was looked upon reluctantly in Romania. Today, Salad Box is the third biggest fast-food chain in the country. Internationally, Salad Box reached three continents, 12 countries and developed over 70 restaurants. Dan Isai is also shareholder in more than 15 other HoReCa businesses.
trainer
Bogdan Stanciu
Founder and Managing Director Bit Soft
Shareholder and General Manager of BIT SOFT, a company that makes high-performance software for restaurants and is the sole distributor of Oracle Hospitality (hotel and restaurant) and Protel (hotel) products in Romania. He has an extensive experience in all software development for the HoReCa industry, as well as for the specialized consulting area dedicated to the hospitality industry. Thus, since 1988, Bogdan Stanciu was part of the team that developed the first hotel management solution in Romania, and in 1994 he founded the company Bit Soft, which covers all the digital needs of the HoReCa industry.
MENTORS & TRAINErS’ TEAM
mentor & trainer
Tinu Sebeșanu
CEO of Trend Hospitality
Tinu Sebeșanu is CEO of Trend Hospitality, a leader in consultancy and management in the hospitality industry, as well as regional representative of some of the most powerful international brands. He is the man that imposed Howard Johnson Hotel ( now Sheraton) in the tourism market of Bucharest and brought the Ramada chain to Romania.
mentor
Utku Ogrendil
CEO SIBS Romania
He has an experience of more than 20 years in the banking financial field. Since 2000, Utku Ogrendil has held several management positions in local banks: Finansbank (Credit Europe Bank), Banca Transilvania, Libra Internet Bank and Garantibank. Since 2011 he has switched to the technology providers area, becoming CEO of Provus Romania. Later the company was integrated into the international group Wirecard
trainer
Bebi Oprea
HoReCa entrepreneur
One of the most successful concept creators in HoReCa. He operated clubs on the seaside and in Bucharest. Perhaps his most successful concept is the Bordello club. Recognized for the constant innovation in the menu, Bebi Oprea is also the one who opened the first school of professional bartenders in Romania.
mentor & trainer
Gabriel Iovu
CEO Expressoft
Gabriel Iovu – Owner Expressoft. He is a serial entrepreneur, investor and CEO/founder of Expressoft Technology, dedicating his professional career to developing innovative products and services for different industries. Gabriel Iovu has been extensively involved in the development of the Romanian software industry, being also an active member of different associations supporting Romanian Entrepreneurs: Romanian Business Leaders, Tech Angels and AmCham Association.
mentor & trainer
Răzvan Gheorghiu-Testa
Founding Partner at Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații
Răzvan Gheorghiu-Testa – Partner at Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații. He has built up significant experience in corporate/M&A, real estate, taxation and has been directly involved in many of the most important projects taking place in Romania, including acquisitions and disposal of real estate, investment and development real estate projects, and real estate finance.
trainer
Dan Isai
CEO Salad Box
Eight years ago Dan Isai bet his money on healthy food, a market that was looked upon reluctantly in Romania. Today, Salad Box is the third biggest fast-food chain in the country. Internationally, Salad Box reached three continents, 12 countries and developed over 70 restaurants. Dan Isai is also shareholder in more than 15 other HoReCa businesses.
trainer
Bogdan Stanciu
Founder and Managing Director Bit Soft
Shareholder and General Manager of BIT SOFT, a company that makes high-performance software for restaurants and is the sole distributor of Oracle Hospitality (hotel and restaurant) and Protel (hotel) products in Romania. He has an extensive experience in all software development for the HoReCa industry, as well as for the specialized consulting area dedicated to the hospitality industry. Thus, since 1988, Bogdan Stanciu was part of the team that developed the first hotel management solution in Romania, and in 1994 he founded the company Bit Soft, which covers all the digital needs of the HoReCa industry.
trainer
Mihai Bârsan
Founder at Brandelier.biz
In 2009 Mihai Bârsan became head of marketing of SABMiller’s subsidiay in Slovakia, and in April of 2012 became in charge of the marketing department at Ursus Breweries. He started his antrepreneurial adventure with Brandelier.biz in January of 2019
trainer
Claudiu Vrînceanu
Communication Specialist
Ambassador and connector of the business sector in Romania, Claudiu Vrânceanu plays the part of a „Bridge Builder” between entrepreneurs, investors, multinationals, media and the public sector (government authorities and European institutions)
trainer
Ray Iunius
CEO Winsedswiss
CEO of Winsedswiss, Ray Iunius is seen by the experts în the industry as a true visionary in HoReCa. In the past, he was the director of development of EHL Adivosory Services, from École hôtelière de Lausanne. And the graduates put his teachings into practice în their careers at the top of the hotel, banking or health fields
trainer
Radu Savopol
Founder 5 to go
Radu Savapol developed the 5toGo coffe shop chain în 2015, having a prior 14 year experience as pub and club owner. Today 5toGo is the biggest coffe shop chain în Romania and one of the biggest în Europe.
MENTORS &
TRAINErS’ TEAM
2/4
trainer
Mugurel Stan
Professional Coach
Mugurel Stan is a professional Coach, graduate of Co-active coaching program at the Coaches Training Institute in USA. CTI has been a leader în the coaching industry for more than 20 years. Mugurel Stan has an extensive experience in both individual and group coaching, having worked with service providers, advertising, accountancy and financial consultancy firms, high level executives, administrative leaders, academic, business and political fields.
trainer
Dragos Panait
FounderNext Root Management Systems
Dragos Panait has over 10 years of hospitality experience, an industry he knows very well, as a founder and operator of restaurants and hotels. To meet the needs of his industry peers, Dragos funded, in 2018, Next Root Management Systems, the 360° consulting agency dedicated to the HoReCa industry.
MENTORS & TRAINErS’ TEAM
trainer
Mihai Bârsan
Founder at Brandelier.biz
In 2009 Mihai Bârsan became head of marketing of SABMiller’s subsidiay in Slovakia, and in April of 2012 became in charge of the marketing department at Ursus Breweries. He started his antrepreneurial adventure with Brandelier.biz in January of 2019
trainer
Claudiu Vrînceanu
Communication Specialist
Ambassador and connector of the business sector in Romania, Claudiu Vrânceanu plays the part of a „Bridge Builder” between entrepreneurs, investors, multinationals, media and the public sector (government authorities and European institutions)
trainer
Ray Iunius
CEO Winsedswiss
CEO of Winsedswiss, Ray Iunius is seen by the experts în the industry as a true visionary in HoReCa. In the past, he was the director of development of EHL Adivosory Services, from École hôtelière de Lausanne. And the graduates put his teachings into practice în their careers at the top of the hotel, banking or health fields
trainer
Radu Savopol
Founder 5 to go
Radu Savapol developed the 5toGo coffe shop chain în 2015, having a prior 14 year experience as pub and club owner. Today 5toGo is the biggest coffe shop chain în Romania and one of the biggest în Europe.
trainer
Mugurel Stan
Professional Coach
Mugurel Stan is a professional Coach, graduate of Co-active coaching program at the Coaches Training Institute in USA. CTI has been a leader în the coaching industry for more than 20 years. Mugurel Stan has an extensive experience in both individual and group coaching, having worked with service providers, advertising, accountancy and financial consultancy firms, high level executives, administrative leaders, academic, business and political fields.
trainer
Dragos Panait
FounderNext Root Management Systems
Dragos Panait has over 10 years of hospitality experience, an industry he knows very well, as a founder and operator of restaurants and hotels. To meet the needs of his industry peers, Dragos funded, in 2018, Next Root Management Systems, the 360° consulting agency dedicated to the HoReCa industry.
trainer
Cristian Cristea
Hospitality Business Consultant
After a ten year experience in sales at FMCG, Cristi chosed to join City Grill Group as Group Training Manager. He got to develop programs and projects for the biggest romanian group în hospitality, after which he worked with MGC Group and Macromex.
His current position is hospitality business consultant and Senior Lecturer at Hostalion Management School.
MENTOR
Vlad Șeitan
Managing Partner The People Engagement Company
He worked for 13 years in key positions within the OMV Group. Currently, Vlad Șeitan is involved in three projects: consulting in the real estate area (with ongoing activities both in Romania and internationally), consulting in the area of marketing, business development and strategy and The People Engagement Company.
trainer
Alexandra Crăciun
Branding Specialist
She has more than 13 years of experience in branding, communication & marketing with medium sized brands, mostly from Transylvania, Romania.
She’s never been formally employed, after freelancing in her youth she started her own advertising agency (called Exquisite) for more than 4 years and then switched back to consultancy. For the last three years she launched one of the first dedicated project for hospitality industry in Romania, called Pinch of Salt, where she brings worldwide recognised chefs and trainers to meet with local community.
trainer
Daniel Nanboe
CTO Comarket
IT entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in B2B projects, Daniel has a rich experience in Software development, Software architecture, Integrated online advertising, Advertising, Branding, PHP, XML, HTML, JavaScript, usability, CSS, WYSIWYG layout tools
MENTORS &
TRAINErS’ TEAM
3/4
trainer
Alex Cirtu
Chef
After becoming known as a Masterchef participant, he quit his job as an English teacher and devoted 100% to cooking. Currently, he cooks at several private events and teambuildings and is the chef behind LifeBox, the online platform through which healthy food can be ordered.
trainer
Julien Zidaru
Founding Partner at DesignThinkers Academy Eastern Europe
Julien has a strong background in management and business consultancy with an experience of more than 20 years in Customer Experience and Consumer Understanding. He held several management positions within some multinational companies: Orange Romania, Epicor Software, Kantar Millward Brown, GfK.
Since 2016 Julien has switched to the entrepreneurial area, becoming Managing Partner in Exact Business Solutions (Market Research Agency) and being part of the founders team of DesignThinkers Academy Eastern Europe.
trainer
Raluca Vasilache
Partner at Țuca-Zbârcea & Asociații
She is a competition partner with Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații and has covered a wide array of legal issues in the field of competition law, as well as intellectual property. Praised for her work on merger control, antitrust and State aid cases she has undertaken numerous procedures of reviewing mergers and acquisitions under antitrust and competition law, acting for multinational clients from various sectors, such as oil, steel, pharma, telecommunications, consumer goods retail, electricity.
MENTORS & TRAINErS’ TEAM
trainer
Cristian Cristea
Hospitality Business Consultant
After a ten year experience in sales at FMCG, Cristi chosed to join City Grill Group as Group Training Manager. He got to develop programs and projects for the biggest romanian group în hospitality, after which he worked with MGC Group and Macromex.
His current position is hospitality business consultant and Senior Lecturer at Hostalion Management School.
MENTOR
Vlad Șeitan
Managing Partner The People Engagement Company
He worked for 13 years in key positions within the OMV Group. Currently, Vlad Șeitan is involved in three projects: consulting in the real estate area (with ongoing activities both in Romania and internationally), consulting in the area of marketing, business development and strategy and The People Engagement Company.
trainer
Alexandra Crăciun
Branding Specialist
She has more than 13 years of experience in branding, communication & marketing with medium sized brands, mostly from Transylvania, Romania.
She’s never been formally employed, after freelancing in her youth she started her own advertising agency (called Exquisite) for more than 4 years and then switched back to consultancy. For the last three years she launched one of the first dedicated project for hospitality industry in Romania, called Pinch of Salt, where she brings worldwide recognised chefs and trainers to meet with local community.
trainer
Daniel Nanboe
CTO Comarket
IT entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in B2B projects, Daniel has a rich experience in Software development, Software architecture, Integrated online advertising, Advertising, Branding, PHP, XML, HTML, JavaScript, usability, CSS, WYSIWYG layout tools
trainer
Alex Cirtu
Chef
After becoming known as a Masterchef participant, he quit his job as an English teacher and devoted 100% to cooking. Currently, he cooks at several private events and teambuildings and is the chef behind LifeBox, the online platform through which healthy food can be ordered.
trainer
Julien Zidaru
Founding Partner at DesignThinkers Academy Eastern Europe
Julien has a strong background in management and business consultancy with an experience of more than 20 years in Customer Experience and Consumer Understanding. He held several management positions within some multinational companies: Orange Romania, Epicor Software, Kantar Millward Brown, GfK.
Since 2016 Julien has switched to the entrepreneurial area, becoming Managing Partner in Exact Business Solutions (Market Research Agency) and being part of the founders team of DesignThinkers Academy Eastern Europe.
trainer
Raluca Vasilache
Partner at Țuca-Zbârcea & Asociații
She is a competition partner with Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații and has covered a wide array of legal issues in the field of competition law, as well as intellectual property. Praised for her work on merger control, antitrust and State aid cases she has undertaken numerous procedures of reviewing mergers and acquisitions under antitrust and competition law, acting for multinational clients from various sectors, such as oil, steel, pharma, telecommunications, consumer goods retail, electricity.
trainer
Traian Titirișcă
HoReCa Entrepreneur & Consultant
He has extensive experience in the field of hospitality consulting and entrepreneurship, offering his expertise over time for some of the most important players in the industry. It also specializes in one to one promotional techniques, leisure/horeca channel development and Brand activation by consumer contact and events.
trainer
Cezar Munteanu
Chef
Cezar Munteanu has been în the gastronomy field for over 27 years. He got to cook for top personalities in the world and also for the poor kids in Africa. Today he teaches culinary management, develops projects in the hospitality and food industries, teaches kids în Romania about healthy eating and inspires young cooks not just to cook, but to be responsible professionals
trainer
Dragoș Doroș
Fiscal Partner, KPMG
Dragoș, Tax Partner, has over 23 years’ experience in tax consultancy, mainly in the private sector, but he has also served as President of the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) and Director of the Department of Legislation and Direct Taxation within the Ministry of Public Finance. Since joining KPMG he has been instrumental in building the leading Tax Consulting practice in Romania. He has worked with clients from numerous sectors and industries, using his detailed knowledge of legislation and of Romania’s fiscal administration.
trainer
Paul Voicu
Managing Partner Franchwise
Franchise training consultant – specialized in preparing business for franchising. He coordinated over 90 consulting projects, for businesses with turnovers between 100 k euros and 25 million euros annually.
MENTORS &
TRAINErS’ TEAM
4/4
trainer
Alfred "Jerry" Dauteuil
General Manager Jerry’s Pizza
He arrived in Romania in the early 1990s and opened a business that would become one of the most successful in the segment in which he operates: Jerry’s Pizza. If today, food delivery is a must, in the 1990s Alfred Dauteuil was a pioneer of this segment.
trainer
Cristian Radu
Partner at Țuca-Zbârcea & Asociații
With significant experience in restructurings and business acquisitions, including cross-border acquisitions, the disposal of non-strategic businesses, divestitures, public offerings, squeeze-out and sell-out procedures and mergers, Cristian has acted on some of Romania’s most popular transactions of recent years as reflected in mass media.
trainer
Iulian Cazacu
President at SMART Development Center
President at SMART Development Center, with an extensive expertise in Project management and consulting for EU and national funds, startup funding projects, international relations, public policy making.
Last graduated school: EMBA at HULT International Business School, London UK.
Passionate about topics such as public relations, entrepreneur’s behavior and psychology.
MENTORS & TRAINErS’ TEAM
trainer
Traian Titirișcă
HoReCa Entrepreneur & Consultant
He has extensive experience in the field of hospitality consulting and entrepreneurship, offering his expertise over time for some of the most important players in the industry. It also specializes in one to one promotional techniques, leisure/horeca channel development and Brand activation by consumer contact and events.
trainer
Cezar Munteanu
Chef
Cezar Munteanu has been în the gastronomy field for over 27 years. He got to cook for top personalities in the world and also for the poor kids in Africa. Today he teaches culinary management, develops projects in the hospitality and food industries, teaches kids în Romania about healthy eating and inspires young cooks not just to cook, but to be responsible professionals
trainer
Dragoș Doroș
Fiscal Partner, KPMG
Dragoș, Tax Partner, has over 23 years’ experience in tax consultancy, mainly in the private sector, but he has also served as President of the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) and Director of the Department of Legislation and Direct Taxation within the Ministry of Public Finance. Since joining KPMG he has been instrumental in building the leading Tax Consulting practice in Romania. He has worked with clients from numerous sectors and industries, using his detailed knowledge of legislation and of Romania’s fiscal administration.
trainer
Paul Voicu
Managing Partner Franchwise
Franchise training consultant – specialized in preparing business for franchising. He coordinated over 90 consulting projects, for businesses with turnovers between 100 k euros and 25 million euros annually.
trainer
Alfred "Jerry" Dauteuil
General Manager Jerry’s Pizza
He arrived in Romania in the early 1990s and opened a business that would become one of the most successful in the segment in which he operates: Jerry’s Pizza. If today, food delivery is a must, in the 1990s Alfred Dauteuil was a pioneer of this segment.
trainer
Cristian Radu
Partner at Țuca-Zbârcea & Asociații
With significant experience in restructurings and business acquisitions, including cross-border acquisitions, the disposal of non-strategic businesses, divestitures, public offerings, squeeze-out and sell-out procedures and mergers, Cristian has acted on some of Romania’s most popular transactions of recent years as reflected in mass media.
trainer
Iulian Cazacu
President at SMART Development Center
President at SMART Development Center, with an extensive expertise in Project management and consulting for EU and national funds, startup funding projects, international relations, public policy making.
Last graduated school: EMBA at HULT International Business School, London UK.
Passionate about topics such as public relations, entrepreneur’s behavior and psychology.
PARTNERS
Supported By
Sponsor
Tech Partner
Partner
PARTICIPANTS BENEFITS
100 hours accelerator curricula
Access to the largest network of entrepreneurs and suppliers from HoReCa industry
Mentorship
Networking events
Pitch for finance with top investors and business angels