Elena Ghinita

Bucharest

Startup Community Editor at The Recursive

Featured in: Favicon

therecursive.com

Articles

It Feels Like Déjà Vu: How Investors are Recalibrating in 2025

1 week ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

The world feels tense. A potential US recession, ongoing war in Ukraine, political instability at home and abroad — these aren’t the kinds of headlines that encourage risk-taking. For startups in Romania, the environment in 2025 is anything but predictable. But uncertainty doesn’t stop innovation. It just changes how investors think — and how founders must act. It feels like déjà vuRemember 2021, when a good pitch deck and some traction could get you a seed round in just a few weeks?
The EU AI Act: What’s (Not) Going According to the Plan

1 week ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

The EU AI Act is set to become the world’s first major regulation focused entirely on artificial intelligence. It aims to ensure that AI systems used in Europe are safe, fair, and respect people’s rights. But as the rules start to take shape, many companies—especially startups and small businesses—are wondering: what’s the current status, and what do we need to do to prepare?
Why European AI Startups are Skipping Traditional Funding Stages

2 weeks ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

As artificial intelligence accelerates the pace at which new tech products can be developed and tested, a growing number of European startups are bypassing traditional venture stages and leaping straight into major rounds. OpenOcean, the early-stage venture capital firm known for its deep technical heritage, sees this as a moment of opportunity — and responsibility.
Will These Three Initiatives Boost Romania’s Innovation Capabilities?

4 weeks ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

Once spring has arrived, it looks like not only the flowers are set to blossom, but also Romania’s innovation. The government and organizations across the country are taking extra steps in boosting the country’s technological and research capabilities and announced, this month, the launch of three initiatives: Romanian Artificial Intelligence Hub (HRIA), FreeYa Mind Campus, and the EIT Community RIS Hub.
CEE Startup Ecosystem Grows 15.5x, Reaching 3,800 Companies

4 weeks ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

According to Dealroom’s latest report, CEE has 3,800 VC-backed startups, representing approximately 41% of Europe’s total 9,190 startups. The region has seen substantial growth compared to its incipient years, with 275+ scaleups and 38 startups valued at over €1 billion. Among these, 57 have reached unicorn status, with Poland (18), Estonia (14), and Ukraine (8) leading in numbers.
The Future of Fintech and What CEE Founders Need to Succeed

1 month ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

The fintech industry is evolving at lightning speed. Startups are bringing new payment solutions to market, banks are adopting fintech strategies, and the demand for seamless financial experiences is growing. But behind every great fintech innovation lies a major challenge: security, compliance, and scalability.
CEE’s High-Net-Worth Investors Are Turning to Private Equity, Technology, and ESG for Growth

1 month ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

Central and Eastern Europe is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation in wealth management. Once concentrated in operational businesses, the region’s growing number of High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) are now diversifying their investments beyond traditional assets, and becoming increasingly present in alternative transactions.
Venture Investment in Central and Eastern Europe Sees 56% Growth in 2024

2 months ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

Central and Eastern Europe ~ The 2024 edition of the Venture in Eastern Europe report by How to Web highlights a substantial increase in venture investment across the region. In 2024, venture deals totaled €3.89B, more than doubling the €1.85B reported in 2023. The inclusion of Turkey in this year’s report contributed €1B to the total. Excluding Turkey, the region still saw a 56% year-over-year increase in investment volume.
18 (And Counting) Events We Can’t Miss in 2025

2 months ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

Events take time, but they’re worth it. They’re where great conversations happen, unexpected ideas emerge, and those new connections turn into real opportunities—whether it’s a new client, investor, or future teammate. At The Recursive, events are a big part of how we engage with the community, stay on top of industry trends, and showcase our work. In fact, as you read this, someone from our team is probably planning their next trip.
12 Consumer, Education, or Gaming Startups with Slovak DNA

2 months ago | therecursive.com | Elena Ghinita

From AI assistant to new reading experience and even growth platform for games, the Slovak startups are in for the game. In collaboration with Zaka VC, a fund operating in both Bratislava and Prague, we embark on a mission to highlight Slovak startups—those already making an impact as well as those still in their early stages. This is the fifth article in our series, featuring 12 startups building consumer apps, education or gaming platforms.