Over 3,500 participants had the opportunity to select their favourite sessions from 4 amazing stages: Center Stage, Impact Stage, Technical Workshops Stage, and Q&A Session Stage, where more than 50 leaders in business and technology shared their insights.

In addition, our event featured 5 workshops, was supported by over 60 partners, and benefited from the efforts of more than 50 hard-working volunteers. We couldn’t be more grateful to the entire Techsylvania community: participants, partners, speakers and volunteers for contributing to the success of Techsylvania 2024. 

We have some highlights below that you might want to read if you missed the event or if you want to refresh your memory. 

CENTER STAGE

Center Stage was the epicenter of activity on Day 2, hosting sessions that kicked off the day’s events. International leaders in business and technology shared invaluable insights for techsylvanians. 

Mircea Geoană, Deputy Secretary General of NATO was the first speaker of the day. He emphasized the transformative role of technology and innovation in the global landscape and the unprecedented speed and scale of technological advancements, particularly in AI and biotechnology, and their impact on various sectors, including national security, economy, and society. While acknowledging the immense potential of new technologies, Geoană also warned about the risks they pose and how important is the responsible use and ethical standards to prevent these advancements from becoming threats to security and stability.

He ended the speech by pointing out the necessity of collaboration between governments, private sectors, and civil societies to harness the benefits of technological innovations effectively. He mentioned initiatives like NATO’s Innovation Fund which supports startups and technological advancements. This collaboration is crucial to ensuring that innovations are used for the greater good and that societies can adapt to rapid technological changes.

Sacha Dragic, Founder and Board Member of Superbet was next on stage and he talked about the global expansion of Superbet into Latin America, highlighting the company’s strategic vision and adaptability. Despite initial challenges, including significant fraud issues in Brazil, the company managed to develop effective solutions and apply them globally.

This expansion underscores the importance of seizing opportunities and being prepared for the complexities of new markets. Sasha emphasized the critical role of hiring the right talent and fostering an innovative culture. He stated that he spends a significant portion of his time on talent recruitment and believes in combining diverse perspectives to drive innovation. Additionally, Superbet invests heavily in AI and technology, positioning itself to stay ahead of competitors and adapt to future industry changes.

“One of the secrets of success in the early days was discipline. It’s very easy as a founder and entrepreneur to get distracted because new ideas come every day. You need to be very disciplined, focus on your main goal, and continuously question your beliefs because what you think is true today may be totally wrong in a year or two.”

Drew Banin, Co-Founder dbt Labs talked about his journey in building a database in order to understand how databases work under the hood. Towards the end, he integrated music with the database in Google Sheets, demonstrating how data can be transformed into musical notes and played back, adding a creative and engaging dimension to the database’s functionality. He also talked about future plans: to build a query optimizer, get it distributed and then create a YouTube series on how to build your own database. Also, for those interested, he mentioned they are soon opening an office in Cluj-Napoca and hiring talented people. 

Giuseppe Castelbuono, Chief Digital and Information Officer at UniCredit Bank discussed UniCredit Bank’s digital transformation strategy, focusing on enhancing customer experience through improved technology and business processes. This transformation involves leveraging technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence to optimize both customer interactions and internal operations.

He emphasized that while banks must adopt new technologies quickly, they must also ensure security and compliance. Castelbuono envisions a future where banking services are simpler, more secure, and seamlessly integrated into customers’ daily lives. He highlights the importance of making banking processes as effortless as possible while maintaining stringent security standards.

“Artificial intelligence is not gonna replace humans but humans with artificial intelligence are gonna replace humans without artificial intelligence.”

Jonathan Rivers, Chief Technology Officer at Fortune Magazine talked about the transformation of Fortune Magazine under his leadership. The magazine underwent a significant transformation, including the development of new products and revenue streams. A notable achievement was the launch of a generative AI application that modernized the Fortune 500 data, turning it into a SaaS product. This initiative aimed to democratize access to financial data and improve user interaction through advanced data visualization and AI-driven functionalities. Rivers highlighted key lessons learned during the rapid development and deployment of the AI application. These include the importance of clean data, the necessity of focused and user-friendly AI applications, and the understanding that an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is the starting point for further development. He emphasized that enterprise applications must meet high standards set by best-of-breed consumer experiences.

“The MVP is not the finish line; it is the beginning. It is the start of the marathon. You have done a warm-up; you are deciding if you are ready to even run the race.” 

Nigel Richardson, SVP and CIO Europe at PepsiCo, talked about how PepsiCo has leveraged AI and digital transformation to significantly impact their agricultural operations. By using machine learning for pattern recognition, they have been able to optimize farming practices. AI is also crucial in PepsiCo’s manufacturing processes. They use AI-driven applications to monitor and manage plant operations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and addressing packaging concerns. By integrating AI solutions to predict and fix issues before they escalate, PepsiCo enhances operational efficiency and sustainability.

AI helps PepsiCo understand consumer preferences and behaviors, enabling better market segmentation and product assortment. By analyzing consumer data, they tailor products to different demographics and regions, minimizing waste and ensuring precise product distribution. This AI-driven approach aids in delivering the right products to the right places, enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing excess inventory.

“AI has made a massive impact for farmers because it can increase their yields, improve quality, reduce the amount of pesticides, and reduce water usage. It’s one of those examples of AI being a win-win for everyone that we couldn’t do before.”

Quharrison Terry, Growth Marketer at MarkCuban Companies talked about the startup culture in Japan. Currently, Japan is increasingly focusing on technology and AI to drive economic growth and innovation. The government is actively supporting AI initiatives and startups, aiming to become the most AI-friendly country in the world. The Japanese government has launched several initiatives to foster a vibrant startup ecosystem.

Traditionally conservative in their business practices, Japanese companies are beginning to embrace more risk-taking and innovative approaches. This shift is necessary to combat economic challenges such as an aging population and deflation. By fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting venture activities, Japan aims to revitalize its economy and compete globally.

“The government basically said they want to become the most AI-friendly country in the world. The prime minister actually is pushing this and the chairman of the Democratic Liberal Party actually said Japan is not thinking of implementing strict regulations and it will be fewer regulations as possible when it comes to AI development.“

Suthen Thomas, Group CTO at Grab, talked about how at their company, the approach to technology, including AI, starts with the customer. The company focuses on identifying customer problems first and then finding the best technological solutions, which may include AI, to address these problems.

This method ensures that technological advancements directly enhance customer experiences and solve real-world issues effectively. Grab employs auto-adaptive systems that continuously adjust to changing conditions and user behaviors. These systems use feedback loops to evaluate and refine their performance over time. AI models at Grab are extensively used across various segments of the business, including mobility, deliveries, and financial services. These models are active in production environments, helping to determine pricing, predict ETAs, and ensure safety. This widespread application demonstrates AI’s versatility and critical role in optimizing Grab’s operations and services.

“At Grab, when we think about artificial intelligence, we treat it no different than any other technology. We start with the problem of the customer and then use AI to solve their problem.“

Michelle Rosa-Wolfe, Executive Vice President at VistaJet, declared that VistaJet heavily relies on technology to optimize its aviation operations. This includes developing new technologies to predict demand patterns and surge areas months in advance. By leveraging these innovations, VistaJet strategically positions its aircraft around the globe to meet growing business demands, such as recent expansions into Africa and India. The company focuses on enhancing customer experience through technological advancements.

This includes developing internal platforms that provide intelligence and optimize fleet management. These technologies enable VistaJet to offer seamless customer interfaces, allowing clients to book flights and manage services efficiently through user-friendly apps. The company has seen significant increases in aircraft movements in regions like Romania, reflecting its ability to flexibly expand operations based on emerging market dynamics and client demands.

“At VistaJet, we lean on technology because we need to learn, predict, and automate. We’ve invested significantly in internal platforms that not only provide intelligence but also optimize our fleet management, helping us place our assets strategically to meet business demands.”

Vladimir Dănilă, Founder and CEO of Linearity, talked about how he had this belief that success in the app market was quick and straightforward, akin to launching Flappy Bird. However, the reality of managing teams, aligning people, and understanding customer needs reset these expectations. The company now prioritizes simplicity in design and functionality, aiming to make complex technology accessible and user-friendly.

“I’ve learned that simplicity is key—not just in product design, but in how we approach technology. Complex technology should be made simple for the end user. That’s why I love the idea of using technology to make design accessible and powerful.”

Christyl Johnson, Deputy Director for Technology & Research Investments at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, talked about how NASA is envisioning a future where humanity not only returns to the moon, but also establishes sustainable habitats on Mars by 2100. This involves overcoming significant technological challenges such as creating habitats, generating resources like oxygen and water, and managing energy effectively. NASA’s approach involves pushing the boundaries of technology across various fields. This includes advancements in AI for managing energy and agriculture on other planets, 3D printing for constructing habitats, and medical technologies like digital twins and robotic surgery, which are crucial for sustaining human life in extraterrestrial environments. NASA emphasizes the importance of diversity in thought and collaboration to solve complex challenges.

The agency has historically partnered with diverse industries and disciplines, from sports equipment manufacturers to medical professionals, to develop groundbreaking solutions that often have broader applications beyond space exploration.”In order for that to happen again, we have to think about everything differently today because we’re gonna have humans living on Mars by 2040. We’ve got to really start now ramping up the technology capability in order for us to get there.”

IMPACT STAGE

Smaranda Teleabă, Chief Digital and Marketing Office at L’Oreal, talked about how the company is pioneering the integration of technology into the beauty industry under her leadership. They have introduced concepts like green science chemistry and they are digitalizing the customer journey, which are transforming how consumers interact with beauty products. This innovative approach not only enhances customer experience but also underscores L’Oréal’s commitment to sustainability and personalized beauty solutions. By combining deep beauty industry knowledge with advanced technological expertise, L’Oréal is shaping the future of beauty, ensuring a sustainable and enriching customer experience.

Angus Keck, COO at AgUnity underscored the critical importance of adhering to deadlines, maintaining regular contact (without coming across as desperate or pushy), and mentioning other investors. Moreover, he stressed the belief that with self-confidence, anything is achievable. His advice emphasized the necessity of perfecting your pitch and avoiding assumptions that the deal is already secured.

Shravan Nageswaran, Co-Founder & CEO at Atman Labs, encouraged participants to challenge the consensus, learn from nature and invent from first principles. He believed that advancements across multiple deep learning disciplines beyond large language models will allow to take flight.

“Humans will coexist with benevolent AI. Challenge the consensus. Learn from nature. Invent from first principles. Advancements across multiple deep learning disciplines beyond LLMs will allow us to take flight.”

Peter Sandberg, Founding Partner at Nordic Secondary Fund has been at the forefront of pioneering liquidity options for startup stakeholders through secondaries. With over 35 years of experience in investment banking and asset management, including founding successful asset management firms and making impactful pre-seed and seed investments as a business angel, Peter brings a wealth of expertise to the table and talked at Techsylvania about Navigating Secondaries: Unlocking Liquidity Options for Startup Stakeholder.

Under his leadership, N2F has carved out a unique position in the Nordic market, raising €140M across two funds and completing over 30 secondary deals, resulting in five successful exits. His commitment to navigating secondaries has not only unlocked new liquidity pathways but also set a precedent for strategic investment in the region.

Masoud Al – Rawahi, Co-Founder & Partner at Phaze Ventures is a dynamic figure in the realms of entrepreneurship, investment, and technology. He talked about his whole journey, including details about working for over a decade in information technology within corporate settings.

Bogy Skowronski, Partner at Founder Partners, is a seasoned serial entrepreneur and influential figure in the technology startup ecosystem. With a distinguished background in capital transactions at UBS AG, EBRD London, and FFC Fincoord Ltd, she also thrives as an active venture capitalist and angel investor. Bogy’s commitment to global success is encapsulated in her title of presentation, “Building Global Success: Strategy, Support, and Capital.” This encapsulates her expertise in providing strategic guidance, robust support systems, and crucial capital to emerging ventures.

Sorin Anagnoste, Applied Strategy Professor is specialized in online business models and technology entrepreneurship. With a profound finance background of over 15 years in managerial roles, Sorin brings a wealth of practical experience to his academic efforts. He talked about how generative AI has reached peaked interest and the revolution is continuing.  He underscores concerns about overregulation stifling growth in this burgeoning field, advocating for balanced policies to sustain innovation and development.

Arnaud Collery, CEO of Humanava emphasized the importance of leadership in defining purpose, setting clear goals, and fostering a cohesive vision while promoting a culture of trust through meaningful rituals.

Arnaud’s diverse background includes coaching top tech CEOs and unicorn startups like Careem, leveraging his creativity and empathy to drive innovation and sustainable success. 

Adrian Pica, CPO Potters Maps, delivered a compelling presentation on navigating modern business challenges with strategic clarity. He emphasized understanding a business’s intrinsic value and the pivotal role of product leaders in integrating digital and physical elements for broad market appeal. Bica illustrated his points with examples such as the surge in food delivery services during economic crises, highlighting the importance of achieving a strong product-market fit. His analogy of “cooking your business recipe” underscored the potential of platforms like YouTube and Netflix for revenue generation, even in competitive landscapes.

Partner session with Dan Mihăescu, Founding Partner at GapMinder Ventures, Alex Popa, President at AXP Holding and Elena Vrabie, Moderator and Country Lead Romania at The Recursive. 

The speakers talked about the importance of choosing investors and Alex Popa emphasized that you should select investors based on their ability to contribute to your growth rather than just their capital. He also advised fostering strong relationships with investors to leverage their support effectively as your company scales.

Dan Mihăescu spoke about the importance of going to as many events as possible, having the right people besides you and learning from them. Then the next step is to focus on technology because proper technology can help you advance fast. 

During the day we also had some insightful Q&A sessions where attendees engaged directly with keynote speakers, actively posing questions and gaining deeper insights into the topics at hand. The speakers who attended the sessions where: Sasha Dragic – Superbet, Drew Banin – dbt Labs, Jonathan Rivers – Fortune Magazine, Quharrison Terry – Mark Cuban Companies and Suthen Thomas – Grab.

Techsylvania 2024 brought together over 3,500 participants and 50 leaders in business and technology across four main stages: Center Stage, Impact Stage, Technical Workshops Stage, and Q&A Session Stage. 

Attendees engaged directly with keynote speakers during Q&A sessions, asking questions that uncovered deeper insights into complex topics. This interactive format not only enhanced the conference experience but also fostered discussions on the cutting edge of technology and business strategy. Participants also benefited from practical learning in technical workshops, gaining new skills and strategies. 

As we reflect on the success of Techsylvania 2024, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire community—participants, partners, speakers, and volunteers—who contributed to making this event a resounding success. We look forward to continuing this journey of business and technology exploration and discovery with you all in the years to come! 

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Here’s a brief overview of some of the highlights from the day’s sessions. 

CENTER STAGE

Shai Shalev from Mobileye has walked us through the evolution of AI and how self-supervised learning, particularly through large language models, revolutionized the field. For applications in the physical world, such as robotics and autonomous driving, learning from experience is crucial but challenging due to the risks and constraints of real-world testing. Simulations offer a safer alternative, though they may not perfectly replicate reality. 

Daniel Hume, Chief AI Officer at WPP, critiques the current use of the term “AI,” arguing that many systems labeled as AI are merely automation and not true artificial intelligence. True AI involves systems that can learn, adapt, and make decisions autonomously, rather than simply executing repetitive tasks. 

”You, the leaders, have to understand that AI is going to radically transform your business and is very important what you want to do. Ultimately, you want to create an organization that innovates.”, said Daniel. He has also addressed risks associated with AI, including micro risks (safe deployment), malicious risks (preventing misuse), and macro risks (potential existential threats). Effective AI implementation requires addressing these risks and ensuring AI is used ethically and responsibly.

Shervin Pishevar, Chairman & CEO of Edison Fund believes that ”As an entrepreneur, I understood that nothing can replace the human connection. Even if AI is moving thousand times faster, the value of people who have verbal communication skills, who can express things is going to go off now.” Yet, we are going to witness incredible advancements in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and Shervin encourages staying alive to witness these changes, suggesting that the next 20 years will bring significant breakthroughs in longevity and intelligence.

Angela Ivanova, Co-Founder & CEO at LAM’ON OOD, and Michiel Scheffer, President of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Board have talked about how your startup can thrive internationally.

Even if there are some  difficulties in securing initial funding, especially due to skepticism about the potential success and benefits, having angel investors and grants is vital for your business. 

Chris Mirabile from Novos has offered us a different perspective on what we think longevity means. Chris defines longevity not just as living longer, but more importantly as extending the period of life without chronic illness, referred to as healthspan. His deep knowledge in the field stems from a personal passion for longevity and health. This passion led to extensive reading of scientific studies and surrounding themselves with subject matter experts.

In the age of AI & digitalization, the power of working together has never been greater. Moderated by Elisabeta Moraru, Country Lead at Google, the discussion on Center Stage about ”How Can CEE Countries Leapfrog Leveraging Digital and AI?” has brought together visionaries like Patrick Warnking from Google, Bogy Skowronski of FounderPartners, and Sabin Sărmaș from the Romanian Parliament. Here are some takeaways: 

“We are all very busy but take some time and educate yourself on the latest AI tools that are all available for free.” (Patrick Warnking)

“We don’t have time for administration, we want to have time for strategies, for our organizations. So, governments play a crucial role on this topic.” (BogySkowronski)

“Which are the cultures that are performing best? I received this answer: wher ethe leadership of the country is at the highest level. I would like to have bold leaders that would assume a digital transformation of our country, not just a statement.” (Sabin Sărmaș)

Sumon Sadhu from Atman Labs believes that “The most ambitious company you can build is one that redefines a nation.” Seizing unique moments in history and raising the ceiling of ambition is crucial for transformative success. Flipkart capitalized on the rise of the Indian middle class and the shift from offline to online shopping, while DeepMind elevated the ambition for AI and contributed to global advancements. 

Exploring the virtual world of Metaverse might be fascinating but there are always two sides of a coin. Nina Jane Patel, Interpol’s Metaverse Expert emphasizes the rapid evolution and integration of technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), extended reality (XR), spatial computing, AI, and blockchain into the fabric of our digital lives.

Nina highlights the complexities, challenges, and potential risks associated with virtual worlds. These include issues related to safety and security, such as online grooming, sexual exploitation, and other forms of metaverse-specific crimes. The importance of developing effective safety measures, educational resources, and regulations to protect users, especially children, in these digital environments is a key focus of her work. 

Yet, there are immense opportunities that virtual worlds and associated technologies present. From the significant growth forecast in the virtual world market to innovative applications in gaming, education, and entertainment, these technologies offer new ways to engage, create, and connect. Patel also discusses the need for long-term strategies that prioritize user empowerment and the continued innovation that drives the technological landscape forward.

The next generation of AI is going beyond the surface. Fernando Dominguez Pinuaga from SandboxAQ thinks AI is transforming healthcare by simplifying complex processes, such as interpreting heart data, making it accessible without extensive training. Additionally, AI is advancing encryption methods, enhancing data security, and accelerating the development of quantum computing, highlighting the interconnected progress in technology and AI’s role in driving these advancements.

How do we transform ourselves so we don’t lose who we are but at the same time become very competitive with these other services? This is a tough challenge, especially for a satellite radio company like SiriusXM.

Joe Inzerillo has had an interesting discussion with Quharrison Terry about the development and challenges of satellite radio. Joe highlights the experience with Disney, focusing on the company’s strategic shift to streaming with Disney+. This transformation was driven by the need to adapt to changing media consumption habits and compete with established streaming platforms like Netflix.

Slava Rubin from Humbition strongly believes that it is important to have a passion for what you’re doing and be committed to it for the long term.

The early stages are challenging and may not yield immediate rewards. However, continued dedication and willingness to endure these struggles are essential for eventual success. Startups often fail due to a lack of focus, trying to do too much, and not identifying the right market fit. Learning to say no to distractions and concentrating on a core idea is crucial for survival and success.

We have found out from John Caspers, Co-founder Adyen & Rootline, that despite not succeeding in the SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) market, the experience was valuable as it provided important lessons in product-market fit, operational optimization, and understanding customer segments.

Hiring talented individuals with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset, allowing them freedom and support to innovate within the company not only nurtured internal innovation but also contributed to the broader startup ecosystem, with former employees starting new ventures based on their experiences.

IMPACT STAGE

We have had the chance to explore other countries’ entrepreneurial environments as well as dive deep into how to scale and fund your company. All the captivating talks on the Impact Stage were hosted by Elena Vrabie, Country Lead @The Recursive.

Partha Nageswaran from Aabhra brings our awareness on data. Enterprises have a lot of data that is not analysed and analysts don’t have support from systems. Unifying the world’s data will expand the world’s knowledge. 

Rutger de Waard from Rootline had an interesting discussion with Elena Vrabie from The Recursive about sales, startups, tactics, and innovation. He agrees that there is a challenge to start from scratch but he strongly advises to “Listen to what the client wants. Sell your value before pricing. If you sell on pricing, it’s only about pricing.” 

Yosuke Kurosawa (Japan Facts Organization) and Quharrison Terry (Mark Cuban Companies) have explored Japan’s entrepreneurial environment. The culture startups in Japan are supported by the government yet, there are not a lot of Japanese people starting companies.

Michiel Scheffer and Elena Ungureanu from the European Innovation Council have discussed with Ioana Mihai (European Investment Bank) and Endre Hunnyadi, Business Development Manager Lumen, about funding your deep tech company to scale up in the European Union. It is important to identify, develop, and scale up high-risk, high-impact innovation across Europe.

The EIC prioritizes deep tech innovations that align with the EUs strategic goals and address major societal challenges.

Karel Obluk from Evolution Equity Partners believes that there are opportunities for new technologies . A product becomes a product only when a customer pays for it. Understanding the market is very important and many people underestimate this.

Nick Powell from Bolt has shared inspiring stories about Bolt’s evolution and emphasized the importance of expanding value for their customers such as adopting new features, services and options like Bolt Luxe, long-term car rentals, and Bolt business card expense management.

Andreas Cser (Fraser) and Thomas Cser (Pricefx) had a debate on tech, culture, and who’s right. We should see the value of failure. People should not be afraid to fail and start again because failure is an opportunity to grow. 

Andrei Hasna has talked about how we can remain competitive when AI has the potential to disrupt any business and what is the true cost of innovation. There are 3 pillars of innovation: collaboration, transformative and multidisciplinary. Andrei has made us thinking about this question: “Do we afford to live in a world where AI is how it is right now and do we need regulations?”

Andrei Bica from Profi said that the main goals of CFO’s in 2024 are continuous automation, using data to drive value, taking charge of digitalization, guiding the enterprise value and ncrease the value of the company using the technology. Profi focuses on 4 main pillars: Customer Engagement (next step after customer experience – Mobile App – 2.4 million subscribers ), Sustainable Expansion (AI tools to check the traffic), State of the art logistic (6 distribution centers ), Efficiency (dedicated team taking care of process information).

Pranay Prakash from Windsor.io was very honest and confessed to Elena and the audience that if there is something that he would have done differently, he would be more careful with the hiring, maybe implement a different hiring process.

Martina Vidakovic has 6 years of experience working at Happening. She told us that each market had problems: inconsistent implementation, increased development time, frontend overhead, and testing. Using KMP has some advantages like  shared codebase which allows consistency, simplified maintenance, flexibility, interoperability, scalability, consistency, seamless integration.

Amazing Q&A sessions, practical workshops & a lot of valuable networking

During the Q&A sessions, participants had the chance to interact directly with the keynote speakers, posing questions and gaining additional understanding of the discussed subjects. These sessions added a valuable interactive dimension to the conference, fostering deeper exploration and clarification of the ideas presented.

Regarding the workshops, each offered practical and interactive learning opportunities for everyone, enabling us to acquire new skills in specific areas of interest. 

1. Design Smarter: The Untapped Power of Product Simulation with Tamás Biró  & Dacian Lucaci (Accenture)
2. Leveling up the Medical, Legal, and Regulatory process in Pharma with Gen.AI with Radu Radocea, Bogdan Peltea, Mario Dumitru (Deloitte). They showed us how AI is supporting the pharmaceutical industry and how you can ask the model for formula if you are a chemist.
3. Making it all come together: How Critical User Journeys shape products that empower people long-term with Ilona Farkas , Dragoș Bardac, Daniel Chiș (Google). They talked about impactful user experience design.
4. Achieving Low Latency and High Throughput with Apache Kafka with Andrei Moldovan (msg systems Romania). Andrei shared strategies for optimizing data processing efficiency. 
5. Preparing and Using Data for AI with LangChain and OpenSearch® Sébastien Blanc & Tibs (Aiven)

See you on Day 2, dear techsylvanians!

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This year’s lineup of speakers promises to be nothing short of phenomenal, with some of the brightest minds in technology, business, and innovation taking the stage to share their insights and visions for the future.

Here are the top 5 speakers you won’t want to miss:

Nigel Richardson is a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience in leading digital transformation. As the SVP & CIO Europe at PepsiCo, he is accountable for all aspects of Information Technology and leading digital transformation. Prior to this role, Richardson served as CIO for PepsiCo’s East Europe region and CIO for UK, Ireland, and Sub-Saharan Africa. His insights on the future of digital transformation and its impact on business will be invaluable at Techsylvania 2024.

These five visionaries are just a few of the many incredible speakers lined up for Techsylvania 2024. With their combined expertise and insights, this year’s conference promises to be an unforgettable experience for attendees. Don’t miss your chance to meet and learn from these industry leaders and shape your vision for the future of technology and business.

Register for Techsylvania 2024 today and get ready to be inspired by the top speakers in the field.

[button link=”#https://techsylvania.com/tickets/” newwindow=”yes”] Buy your ticket![/button]

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Techsylvania Executive Experience isn’t just another networking affair; it’s a meticulously curated platform designed to propel your career to new heights.

Picture yourself amidst a select group of investors, executives, founders, managers, and CEOs, all gathered to expand their networks and portfolios in an exclusive setting.

[button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCTEAeje59s&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=aftermovie&utm_campaign=Executive+Ticket” newwindow=”yes”] Dive Into Techsylvania Executive Experience[/button]

But that’s not all. The Techsylvania Executive Experience goes beyond conventional networking events by offering access to a plethora of bespoke activities. Imagine indulging in guided tours, wine tastings, traditional dinners, and exclusive cocktail parties—all tailored to foster meaningful connections and explore potential collaborations.

At the heart of the Techsylvania Executive Experience lies the “Executives Pool“—a dynamic space where you can interact with a diverse array of professionals, each interaction opening doors to unprecedented growth and development opportunities.

Here, you’re not just a participant, you’re a catalyst for change and deal-making, shaping the future of the tech industry with every exchange.

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Techsylvania 2024 is calling, and trust us, you won’t want to miss this tech rendezvous!
This year’s edition is more than just an event – it’s a personal journey. Picture visionary leaders and industry titans shaping the future of technology, all gathered for an unforgettable experience on June 26-27.

Join us in the heart of Transylvania, Cluj-Napoca, for an exciting, personal exploration into the future of tech.

Picture this:

Shai Shalev-Shwartz, the CTO of Mobileye, takes center stage. Recognized as one of the 100 most influential researchers worldwide in 2016, Shalev-Shwartz is no stranger to groundbreaking achievements. His contributions to machine learning have not only earned him accolades but have also paved the way for a future where car accidents are a thing of the past. The recipient of the prestigious Michael Bruno Award in 2020, Shalev-Shwartz is on a mission to make our roads safer through cutting-edge technology.

Next up, we have Cosmin Nicolaescu, the CTO of Brex, a true force to be reckoned with in the world of financial technology. With a track record of driving innovation, Cosmin has played a pivotal role in the development of Brex, supporting entrepreneurs on their financial journeys.

But that’s not all – before his time at Brex, he led teams at Stripe, contributing to the creation of Stripe Terminal and building engineering teams across the globe. Starting his career at Microsoft, Cosmin played a key role in launching Azure and Office365. Talk about a tech heavyweight!

Still not convinced? Check out the Techsylvania 2023 aftermovie for a sneak peek into the electrifying atmosphere.

Hit the button, catch the vibes, and prepare for a journey into the future of technology.

Techsylvania 2024 is not just an event; it’s a portal to the tech revolution. Secure your spot now and be part of shaping the tomorrow of tech!

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Let’s dive into the latest trends that are shaping the future of technology.

Artificial Intelligence.

Unleash the power of AI. Dive into machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. Discover AI’s impact on industries and its limitless potential for innovation.

Driving Societal Change Through AI Innovation

Yossi Matias is on the leadership team of Google Research. He is the global lead of Google’s Health AI and Climate Crisis AI, and leading pioneering efforts in Conversational AI.

Yossi Matias – Vice President of Engineering at Google

Computing Large Foundational Models

At Stability Tom is designing and implementing solutions using collective intelligence and augmented technology that will transform the world and usher in a new era of personal creativity.

Stability runs one of the largest HPC centers for AI researchers, currently featuring over 4000 Nvidia A100 GPUs on AWS Cloud

Tom Mason – CTO at Stability AI

Panel: Advancing AI for Everyone

Dan Oros (Google)
Ioan Iacob (FLOWX.AI)
Diana Borsa (Google DeepMind)
Ovidiu Cîmpean (State Secretary – Ministry of Investments and European Projects)

F(o)unding.

Discover the art of masterful fundraising and the captivating quest for investors! Unearth the hidden gems of entrepreneurial terminology that can be the make-or-break of your business journey.

Scaling and Fundraising for Marketplace, Consumer, and SMB Software Companies in a Downturn

Getting Past 93 VC Rejections

Product.

Talks related to product management, marketing, growth hacking, industry trends, and ideation, but also related to building up a company from an organizational perspective (culture, management, operations)

Mapping the Future with Lars Rasmussen, Founder, and Angel Investor

Following the Steps of the Start-Up Nation: How to Scale-Up the Romanian Ecosystem

Reuven Azar – Ambassador of Israel to Romania

Designing for Impact: Harnessing Collaboration and Innovation

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to expand your tech knowledge and learn from the top experts.

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In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, UniCredit Bank stands at the forefront of digital transformation, embracing innovation while ensuring the security and stability of its digital platforms. As a Platinum partner of Techsylvania 2023, the bank’s collaboration with this cutting-edge tech event has not only enriched its digital prowess but also propelled it into a league of market trendsetters. Let’s delve into the insights shared by Andrei Stamatian, Director of Alternative Distribution Channels at UniCredit Bank, as he unveils the bank’s strategies, successes, and aspirations in the realm of digital banking.

Unleashing Synergies – UniCredit Bank and Techsylvania 

UniCredit Bank’s partnership with Techsylvania is rooted in the recognition of the transformative power of fintech. According to Andrei, “New technologies pioneered by fintech and other digital players have produced significant changes in the way we do banking, at a very rapid pace. The partnership between banks and fintechs is the answer to today’s technological challenges.” This collaboration allows UniCredit Bank to remain informed about the latest trends and technologies that are reshaping the industry.

Pioneering Trends – UniCredit’s Digital Roadmap 

To be a market trendsetter, UniCredit Bank recognizes the need to swiftly adapt to evolving customer preferences. Andrei emphasizes, “We as a banking institution must move quickly in capturing the new style of successful offering that helps us to be a market trendsetter in our industry.” Rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data analytics, provide opportunities to enhance efficiency and elevate customer experiences. UniCredit Bank’ s swift adoption of these technologies underscores its commitment to staying ahead in the dynamic digital banking landscape.

In a digital era, security remains paramount. Andrei underscores the significance of customizing solutions to meet the specific needs of the local market. He explains that collaboration with the Digital Foresight team at UniCredit Group helps identify optimal solutions for local deployment. Incorporating on-the-ground feedback is crucial. This strategy begins with identifying needs in a significant market and subsequently adapting these solutions for local deployment in suitable geographies. This approach not only ensures customer data security but also nurtures a culture of innovation.

Empowering Through Knowledge – UniCredit Bank‘s Employee Transformation

In the pursuit of digital transformation, UniCredit Bank understands that employee upskilling is paramount. Andrei Stamatian shares, “Internal digital training platforms deliver adequate training for all new digital offerings for our employees.” This commitment ensures that the bank’s workforce is well-prepared to support new digital offerings. Additionally, through experience exchanges between head office and global teams, UniCredit Bank fosters a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.

Their commitment to digital readiness extends beyond training programs. Andrei further explains, “UniCredit Bank‘s head office digital teams have regular experience exchanges with the teams in other countries where the group is present and we discuss market news with the Digital Foresight team.” This engagement ensures that employees are not only equipped with skills but also engaged in shaping the bank’s digital journey.

Navigating the Digital Horizon – UniCredit Bank‘s Vision 

UniCredit Bank’s vision transcends the present, with an unwavering focus on future trends and technologies. Stamatian highlights, “UniCredit looks at digital adoption and penetration of the product sales. Whenever we launch a new digital offering we see an initial spike in digital sales from the digital early adopters that were already waiting for the product to come in digital format.” Navigating through the complex landscape of regulations, UniCredit Bank aims to harness nimble technologies that drive efficiency and innovation.

UniCredit Bank’s journey portrays an institution that stands as a pioneer of digital transformation. The bank’s ability to marry innovation with security, empower its employees, and navigate the digital landscape with foresight underscores its dedication to shaping the future of banking. As UniCredit Bank continues to pioneer trends and embrace partnerships, its journey remains a beacon of inspiration for the financial industry’s ongoing digital evolution.

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Carlo Driussi is the Executive Vice President & COO of UniCredit Bank Romania. His banking career started in 1997 and he has held leadership positions since 2003. After moving to Bank of Rome in HR department, he took part to the start-up of Capitalia Holding and took over the position of Head of HR of CSJV, a joint venture company between Capitalia and Archon Group (Goldman Sacks)

He took part to the start-up of Capitalia Informatica (currently UniCredit Services) in 2005, before moving to Milan in 2008 for the merger with UniCredit as Head of HR Business Partners in Finance, Communication and holding functions. He moved to UniCredit Bank Serbia as HR Director in 2011 and became the COO of the same Bank in 2015.

He has amazing background and experience so we thought we just had to sit down with him and ask him a few questions about the company and Techsylvania.

Q: You say that digitalization is in your company’s DNA. How does UniCredit use innovation to provide clients with experiences that fit their needs and lifestyle?

A: Digitalization has been a key priority to UniCredit for many years, as we put our customers at the centre of our business strategy. Today, especially in a post-pandemic world, customers ask for state-of-the-art digital solutions oriented towards their needs, flexible and simple products and processes, access to innovative solutions. The pandemic changed an option for digitalization in a concrete need. We, at UniCredit, started to increase the solutions for companies to handle some of the contracts and documents digitally years ago and gradually, we saw a growing number of companies adopting this way of doing business.

We also enhanced our new mobile banking application for private individuals customers, developed in partnership with an innovative Finnish fintech, Meniga. Now the application includes a personal finance manager (PFM module) solution that tracks transactions, categorizes them, and gives the customer a very easy view on their spending. It integrates, as well, the functionality ShopSmart (cashback offers), instant virtual debit cards issuing directly in the application, remote customer data update via photo ID upload and smart multifunctional ATMs withdrawal without using a plastic card. UniCredit was also a pioneer in integrating AI in its services through the robot “Ioana” (a Natural Language Understanding solution) which is continuously enhanced to improve customers’ experience.

Q: What is that „something” that makes you stand out from the crowd?

A: Through everything we do, we want to offer communities the opportunity to progress, building on the unique expertise that comes from the synergy of the 13 markets in our European banking network. In line with our ambition to be a truly digital bank, powered by data in everything we do, we have a plan to invest heavily at group level until 2024 on IT services, improving the user experience, creating a new digital offering, making simpler and faster international payments, and strengthening our cyber defences. These are precisely the differentiators and success factors that make us stand out from the crowd and our focus on the Romanian market. By the way, did I mention that UniCredit offered, in world premiere, the first credit card on the name of an artificial intelligence user, Sophia The Robot?

Q: What will a future employee find at UniCredit that’s going to make him love his job?

A: I believe that our openness to digital and innovation are also key elements of our employer branding profile, appealing precisely to new talents that want to explore, develop and have a native curiosity to explore new territories of business. So, in this logic, we are very proud to present our new digital “baby”: Tech School. Briefly, Tech school is a program meant to increase awareness on digital solutions and the adoption of new technologies inside the organization and keep our colleagues connected to the digital world, often restricted to a group of experts. Tech School is also a tool we designed to attract and retain external young talents with technical skills and make them part of UniCredit team, by offering them a ticket in the “back stage” of the digital knowledge areas.

The Tech School connects top speakers all around the world with our internal audience during monthly events on different trending digital topics (such as Blockchain, Artificial intelligence, Metaverse, Cloud Computing, etc). The first selected topic was Artificial Intelligence, which was detailed by a well-known, reputable speaker from Cotrugli Business School — Terence Tse, as UniCredit Bank is already using RPA technology (Robotic Process Automation) in order to automatize the internal processes. The second topic on the agenda will be Blockchain Innovation in Banking. Additionally, starting June 2022, we will also launch an IT internship program for students from top Tech Universities, with a duration of 6 months. At the end of this program our commitment is to have onboarded young talents willing to build the digital future.

On a broader umbrella, Tech School is also part of our commitment that aims at empowering communities to progress and in this specific case we talk about a community of young students that can access various learning opportunities such as internships and trainings on the job. Tech School is their access ticket to the business world at an early stage of their professional life. The success of the program is already given by the number of CVs we received so far from students willing to join our team.

Q: What are the objectives for Techsylvania and what do you want to leave this conference with?

A: We are very happy to be partners of Techsylvania, one of the important technology events in the SEE, as for UniCredit the digitization of banking services is the backbone of our business strategy. Moreover, we share the same goals of empowering communities to progress through enabling passionate talks about the digital trends and also encourage the young innovators to pitch their ideas and give them the possibility to implement them. I am sure that the content I will find at Techsylvania will inspire me and my team to further consolidate our innovation and digital agenda within UniCredit Bank.

We are really excited that we had the opportunity to talk to Carlo before Techsylvania, but now we are even more excited to see him on stage on June 28 and 29 in Cluj Napoca! See you there!

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Techsylvania is the place where business & tech meet to take it to another level. Our conference has been the place where people come to get inspired, find out the next in tech and learn from some of the brightest minds’ do’s & don’ts.

Each year, renowned professionals have stepped on the main stage of Techsylvania to spark ideas and passions among our tech community, by using their most fierce weapons: their knowledge and expertise.

Reframed in 2020 into a virtual event, Techsylvania returns in 2021 again as an online experience. Addressing hot issues, facing stark challenges, and learning from the industry change-makers — all available under one virtual roof.

In 2021, Techsylvania brings it all to the next level, focusing on exploring today — how to spot and create opportunities in a not-so-favourable environment, in order to innovate tomorrow.

In an exciting interview with Alexandru Mihalache, Head of Transformation, UniCredit Bank

we have discovered how the banking industry experienced the latest digital transformations and what are the plans for constant innovation.

1. The banking industry has experienced many shifts in consumer behaviour during the last years and adopting a digital mindset to adapt to these is key. How would you describe your company’s approach and path to innovation and what are some of the technology solutions you’ve found most suitable for your industry?

UniCredit Romania has always been an early adopter of new technologies and we invested a lot in innovation over the past few years; our strategic focus, both for large companies and in the retail segment, has been on promoting digitalization, with the aim of consolidating our top player position in the digital banking segment.

As such, we have been constantly bringing innovative digital banking solutions to the Romanian market even before the pandemic and, after the COVID-19 crisis start, we decided to accelerate the implementation of digitalization projects already started. The adoption of a multi-channel service model was stepped up, leveraging on our investments in mobile banking, contact centres, internet banking and paperless branches.

Throughout the years, UniCredit Bank has brought numerous innovative digital banking solutions to the Romanian banking market, including the digital signature, contactless payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay, a new, innovative e-commerce solutions, modern Mobile Banking and Business Mobile applications, private individuals clients possibility of EUR withdrawals from BNAs, and a very smart artificial intelligence — Ioana The Robot, that helps our colleagues in the call centre streamline the interactions with our private individual clients on this channel — to name only a few.

We believe that the banks who will be successful in the future need to be simple and effective, to provide their clients with a high-quality experience, with banking products and services that truly matter to them, wherever and whenever they need them. And this is the line we follow in our business.

2. Doing banking on the mobile phone is a must-have, but do you imagine banking shifting towards a branchless model?

I don’t think that after the experience generated by the pandemic we will stop this accelerated digitalization trend, as it brings numerous benefits to customers, especially to companies.

If we look in our portfolio, this trend of adopting digital tools in everyday activity is obvious: around 97% of transactions and payments are performed in the digital environment and during 2020, 87% of the total documents used by the Bank in relation to customers were available for digital signing.

The digitalization of banking services is not a forced trend but has many cost and time benefits for companies, and most already appreciate this. Slowly but surely, customers are adopting this trend and, in these conditions, the winning banks are the ones who are prepared — and even anticipate — these needs. On the other hand, banking is and will continue to be an activity in which the human relationship is very important; therefore, the branches will continue to play an important role, operating together with the digital channels, with an optimal balance between the two.

3. What about artificial intelligence: is there a place for AI in the banking system?

As I mentioned before, we already have a Robot „in our team”. At the beginning of 2020, we implemented Robot Ioana in our Contact Centre — an AI-enabled voice-assistant that interacts with private individual customers using Natural Language Understanding (NLU) capabilities in the Romanian language, as part of our digital strategy of being there for our customers 24/7, with a fast and reliable approach. We use Ioana’s NLU capabilities to ensure an easy customer experience when calling the Contact Centre and understand the reason for the call while deciding the best way of managing the query, whether it’s directly by Robot Ioana, through self-services available or by consultants.

Our aim is to serve our customers immediately when they need us, without having to wait in queues. Currently, 23% of our calls are managed by Robot Ioana from end to end, without any interaction with agents and with zero waiting time to receive assistance. This percentage is growing month by month as we are constantly developing new skills and new vocabulary for Ioana. Besides the reactive support, Ioana is involved in running several initiatives with the purpose of facilitating proactive support for our customers.

Since the launch of Robot Ioana, she has been interacting with more than 100,000 private individual customers every month. This brings several benefits, including reduced agent talk time (for the calls that Ioana cannot handle end-to-end, she summarises the reason for the call for the agents while performing part of the customer identification checks); positive effects on the Abandon Rate; extending our contacting capacity (delivering proactive outbound campaigns to inform about different topics); surprise our customers; running initiatives for customer activation and digitalization and an overall significant increase in customer satisfaction. One of the most efficient skills of this system is the customers’ proactive assistance in activating the Mobile Banking app, respectively in detecting an unsuccessful attempt to activate the application, followed by a phone call from the Virtual Guide that guides the clients in successful activation.

4. What are the plans of UniCredit on the Romanian market and what will be the focus for the coming years?

We believe that the banks which will be successful are the banks that will continue the digitalisation process both internally and in the relationship with the clients, and the banks which will be able to innovate constantly, thus contributing to a better experience for the clients, providing them with proximity and streamlining their activity at the same time.

As the main development direction, we will continue to bring innovative and useful features in Mobile Banking, continuously develop new skills for Robot Ioana and digitize all the processes in our branches. These are also our goals. We also remain true to our firm commitment to continue to be a reliable partner for our corporate and retail customers, to develop long-term relations and to support the real economy.

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