BR Awards Gala 2017: Let’s meet the finalists for the Best Start-up Supporter award | The story of last year’s winner

As the 12th edition of Business Review Awards Gala, BR magazine’s flagship event that recognizes the outstanding achievements of the business community, will take place on February 27, we want to put the spotlight on the 10 categories and finalists that were selected by the independent jury for their exceptional activity in 2016.

For BR Awards 2017, the jury looked at over 100 nominees and selected 43 companies, entrepreneurs and executives that will compete for a trophy.

Learn how to book your place at the Gala

The Best Start-up Supporter category awards companies that have undertaken projects meant to support the activity and development of start-ups by providing access to resources and services that promote their growth.

The story of BT – the winner of the previous edition

Last year, Banca Transilvania was awarded for its “BT Club – Clubul Intreprinzatorului Roman” program – the initiative that aims to promote entrepreneurship in Romania. The lender has continued last year to organize workshops and seminars in the field of financial education. In the same time, the BT became the second biggest lender on the local maket, based on assets value.

In 2016, BT granted 16,000 new loans in the SMEs sector.

The finalists were selected by an independent jury based on the following criteria:

To what extent does the project/service support the activity of start-ups. The added value for the entrepreneur

Number of start-ups/ individuals supported

Resources and strategy employed to support start-up activity (infrastructure, consultancy services)

The easiness to access the solution/service/product for start-ups

The finalists of this category are:

Bucharest Stock Excange for AeRO market

Chivas Regal for The Venture challenge

Impact Hub & ING Bank for Startarium

Spherik Accelerator for Accelerator Program

Tech Lounge for Innovation Labs

The jurors of BR Awards 2017

Anca Rarau – Marketing Director, BCR
Cosmin Alexandru – Transformation Partner, Wanted Transformation/Entrepreneurship Academy
Istvan Kocsolade – Manager, Accenture Management Consulting
Joshua Burke – Commercial Attaché & Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, US Embassy Bucharest
Marius Ghenea – Investment Director, 3TS Capital
Matteo Patrone – Director for Romania, EBRD
Oana Bulexa – Managing Director, The Practice
Oana Craioveanu – CoFounder, Impact Hub
Silviu Stoica – Partner, Popovici Nitu Stoica si Asociatii
Sotiris Chatzidakis – Executive Vice President, CEO Clubs