Registration & Welcome Coffee

Intro: Welcome to InnVolve by Innobyte

• Cătălin Șomfălean
  Cătălin Șomfălean
  CEO @ Innobyte
  With over 17 years in Innobyte, Cătălin Șomfălean is the CEO of Innobyte, leading the company through significant growth and development. His expertise includes sales, management, and team leadership. He holds a miniMBA and a Law degree and is a certified Commerce Management Expert. Cătălin is also an investor and advisor, dedicated to driving Innobyte's success in the tech industry.
• Cătălin Bordei
  Cătălin Bordei
  Managing Partner @ Innobyte
  As a certified Commerce Management Expert (CMX), Cătălin is the Chief Operations Officer and Managing Partner of INNOBYTE, part of the LIH group (symbol LIH). With 17+ years in IT, he oversees all operations, including software development, HR, finance, sales, and marketing. Cătălin holds a miniMBA, a Master's in Financial Management, and a Bachelor's in Marketing, his expertise spaning eCommerce, IT consultancy, software development, digital marketing, product management, and project management.

Thrive on challenges: Lessons for entrepreneurs and managers

• Florin Ilie
  Florin Ilie
  Deputy CEO & Head of Wholesale Banking @ ING Romania
  Florin Ilie is the Deputy CEO and Head of Wholesale Banking at ING Romania, with over 15 years at ING in various strategic roles across Retail, Mid-Corporate, and Wholesale Banking. He has led financial market sales across Central and Eastern Europe and now focuses on enhancing client relationships and market leadership in Romania. Additionally, Florin is a professor at the Bucharest International School of Management, where he applies his industry experience to academic teaching, bridging theory with practice in the financial sector.

Get involved in building a mature e-commerce landscape

• Cătălin Bordei
  Cătălin Bordei
  Managing Partner @ Innobyte
  As a certified Commerce Management Expert (CMX), Cătălin is the Chief Operations Officer and Managing Partner of INNOBYTE, part of the LIH group (symbol LIH). With 17+ years in IT, he oversees all operations, including software development, HR, finance, sales, and marketing. Cătălin holds a miniMBA, a Master's in Financial Management, and a Bachelor's in Marketing, his expertise spaning eCommerce, IT consultancy, software development, digital marketing, product management, and project management.
• Armand Iliescu
  Armand Iliescu
  Project Manager @ ecomTEAM.ro / Wall-street.ro
  Armand Iliescu joined Wall-street.ro in 2016, covering FinTech and Finance. As Head of Growth at Future Banking, he launched FinTech Friday, co-hosted the Future Banking podcast, and helped create Romania's first FinTech Map. Since 2020, he has managed ecomTEAM, a leading e-commerce conference, and launched additional projects highlighting key industry trends.
• Valentina Cristea
  Valentina Cristea
  IT Business Partner E-commerce & Loyalty @ Auchan Retail Romania
  Valentina Cristea is a seasoned professional in Tech Management with a robust background in engineering and IT. Since 2017, she has excelled in various roles, and since 2022, she has been serving as an IT Business Partner at Auchan Retail Romania. Passionate about E-commerce and Marketing, Valentina leverages her strategic insights and technical expertise to lead a team of business analysts, driving digital transformation and optimizing customer experiences to deliver exceptional business outcomes.
• Mihai Pătrașcu
  Mihai Pătrașcu
  CEO @ Evomag
  Mihai Pătrașcu is one of Romania's most renowned entrepreneurs. A graduate of the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, he founded evoMAG in 2005 at the age of 22. Nineteen years into his entrepreneurial journey, evoMAG has become one of the leading companies in Romania's e-commerce industry, generating over 42 million euros in revenue and selling hundreds of thousands of products across IT&C, home appliances, sports & fitness (including scooters and accessories), and home & garden categories. In 2022, evoMAG secured a 2-million-euro investment from Catalyst Romania, one of the country's top tech-focused venture capital firms, to support its accelerated growth plans. Mihai pursued an MBA in Business Administration and Management at the Maastricht School of Management between 2014 and 2016. His motto is: "Work hard, play hard." He describes himself as a workaholic, eCommerce enthusiast, open-minded, and approachable to anyone.
• Laura Sărdescu
  Laura Sărdescu
  Co-Founder & CEO @ NeaKaisa.ro
  Laura Sardescu , co-founder & CEO of  Neakaisa.ro , has become an entrepreneur in 2014, at 23 years old. As an ecommerce enthusiast, a niche constantly evolving, she is curious about AI and the future of technology.    Launching an ecommerce and managing the challenges that come alongside growth became her full time job for the past 9 years. She believes that any company has two irreplaceable assets and constantly works towards consolidating both - the values of the company and the people who work alongside her to continue the story.   She holds two bachelor degrees in European Cultural Studies, Journalism and Public Relations and since 2023 she is vice-president of ARMO - Romanian E-commerce Association.
• Victor Răcariu
  Victor Răcariu
  Operating Partner @ Mozaik Investments
  Victor Răcariu is the Operating Partner at Mozaik Investments, one of the leading Private Equity Firms in Romania. As an Operating Partner he manages the day to day activity of the portfolio companies composed of Untold, Stradale, Pago. Before moving to the investment space he launched and managed Glovo in Southeast Europe for 5 years, a company that started from 0 in 2018 reaching 800 MIL EUR GMV in 2023. After doing 7 M&A in the region and growing a team of 500 professionals he decided to leave and take some personal time off. Other notable experiences were FashionDays and the successful merger with eMAG.

Coffee Break

Nurturing the local e-commerce industry in its formative years: One-to-one with Andreas Sansaro

• Andreas Sansano
  Andreas Sansano
  Former CIO Fashion Days @ vengo GmbH
  Andreas Sansano is a highly skilled professional with extensive experience in business development, sales, and engineering, particularly in the IT and telecommunications sectors. With a strong background in leading teams and managing complex projects, Andreas has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation, including former CIO at Fashion Days. His expertise includes working with cutting-edge technologies and building strategic partnerships to enhance business operations and deliver exceptional results.
• Armand Iliescu
  Armand Iliescu
  Project Manager @ ecomTEAM.ro / Wall-street.ro
  Armand Iliescu joined Wall-street.ro in 2016, covering FinTech and Finance. As Head of Growth at Future Banking, he launched FinTech Friday, co-hosted the Future Banking podcast, and helped create Romania's first FinTech Map. Since 2020, he has managed ecomTEAM, a leading e-commerce conference, and launched additional projects highlighting key industry trends.

Lunch

Light years ahead: One-to-one with Salim Ansari, former ESA Staff

• Dr. Salim Ansari
  Dr. Salim Ansari
  Former European Space Agency Staff @ University of Vienna
  A seasoned astrophysicist with an impressive career spanning 32 years at the European Space Agency. With a robust background in software development for data access and analysis of space missions, Dr. Ansari has made significant contributions to the field of astrophysics. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the establishment of the ViZieR Service at the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) and contributed extensively to the data analysis for the groundbreaking Gaia mission. His expertise and dedication have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the universe.
• Armand Iliescu
  Armand Iliescu
  Project Manager @ ecomTEAM.ro / Wall-street.ro
  Armand Iliescu joined Wall-street.ro in 2016, covering FinTech and Finance. As Head of Growth at Future Banking, he launched FinTech Friday, co-hosted the Future Banking podcast, and helped create Romania's first FinTech Map. Since 2020, he has managed ecomTEAM, a leading e-commerce conference, and launched additional projects highlighting key industry trends.

Our partners' success inspires us: Building together

• Cătălin Bordei
  Cătălin Bordei
  Managing Partner @ Innobyte
  As a certified Commerce Management Expert (CMX), Cătălin is the Chief Operations Officer and Managing Partner of INNOBYTE, part of the LIH group (symbol LIH). With 17+ years in IT, he oversees all operations, including software development, HR, finance, sales, and marketing. Cătălin holds a miniMBA, a Master's in Financial Management, and a Bachelor's in Marketing, his expertise spaning eCommerce, IT consultancy, software development, digital marketing, product management, and project management.
• Armand Iliescu
  Armand Iliescu
  Project Manager @ ecomTEAM.ro / Wall-street.ro
  Armand Iliescu joined Wall-street.ro in 2016, covering FinTech and Finance. As Head of Growth at Future Banking, he launched FinTech Friday, co-hosted the Future Banking podcast, and helped create Romania's first FinTech Map. Since 2020, he has managed ecomTEAM, a leading e-commerce conference, and launched additional projects highlighting key industry trends.
• Milena Gîț
  Milena Gîț
  South East Europe Area eCommerce Manager @ BAT
  Milena Git is a Senior Digital Marketing Manager with over 13 years of experience in eCommerce. She holds a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute, a Certification in Fashion and Luxury Management from Bocconi University, and a Certified Marketer Level 1 credential. Milena excels in eCommerce operations, focusing on UI/UX development, project management, and growth strategies. Currently, she oversees the online presence for BAT's THP, MoDi, and MO products in Romania, driving revenue growth and enhancing user experience through innovative multi-channel campaigns.

Coffee Break

Involved in business growth: how to maximize your potential

• Cătălin Șomfălean
  Cătălin Șomfălean
  CEO @ Innobyte
  With over 17 years in Innobyte, Cătălin Șomfălean is the CEO of Innobyte, leading the company through significant growth and development. His expertise includes sales, management, and team leadership. He holds a miniMBA and a Law degree and is a certified Commerce Management Expert. Cătălin is also an investor and advisor, dedicated to driving Innobyte's success in the tech industry.
• Chef Cezar Munteanu
  Chef Cezar Munteanu
  Professional Chef Gastrosopher @ Chef Atelier by Cezar Munteanu
  Chef Cezar Munteanu is an internationally renowned culinary professional with extensive experience in diverse cuisines. He speaks five languages and has held prominent positions, including Head Chef at the Romanian Embassy in the USA and Italy. Chef Cezar is the owner of a consulting firm, a senior lecturer, and an advocate for healthy living. His philosophy centers on innovation, cultural exploration, and the joy of food, reflecting a lifelong dedication to culinary arts.
• Marius Ghenea
  Marius Ghenea
  Managing Partner @ Catalyst Romania
  Investor of the Year in Romania with Catalyst Romania Fund two years in a row, Marius Ghenea is also one of the few entrepreneurs that has switched many hats during his +30 years of business activity, from being an investee to being an investor, from fundraising for his own company to searching for the most promising start-ups in the CEE region to provide equity investments in the range of million Euros as a Business Angel or as an professional investor. He has led many successful investments and exits, like Smartbill being sold to Visma, VectorWatch being sold to FitBit and GreenHorseGames being sold to Tencent Miniclip.  
• Cristina Popa
  Cristina Popa
  Managing Director @ DPD Dynamic Parcel Distribution S.A.
  Cristina Popa brings over 20 years of experience in e-commerce-driven businesses across various industries, including travel, fashion, retail, and courier services. In 2010, she joined Fashion Days, playing a key role in establishing the company as the leading online fashion market in Eastern Europe. She held the positions of CEO for Fashion Days Romania and Deputy CEO of the Fashion Days Group until 2017. From 2018 to 2022, she served as a Board Member and E-commerce Director at Noriel, Romania's largest toy retailer. Since 2022, Cristina has been focused on crafting e-commerce, omnichannel, and user experience strategies for businesses both in Romania and internationally. She is currently the Managing Partner at DPD Romania, where she is dedicated to expanding the business and connecting Romanian brands with customers across Europe.
• Armand Iliescu
  Armand Iliescu
  Project Manager @ ecomTEAM.ro / Wall-street.ro
  Armand Iliescu joined Wall-street.ro in 2016, covering FinTech and Finance. As Head of Growth at Future Banking, he launched FinTech Friday, co-hosted the Future Banking podcast, and helped create Romania's first FinTech Map. Since 2020, he has managed ecomTEAM, a leading e-commerce conference, and launched additional projects highlighting key industry trends.
• Ovidiu Ghiman
  Ovidiu Ghiman
  Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder @ Rōnin
  Ovidiu Ghiman is a prominent figure in Romanian business, known for his impactful work in technology and alternative finance. As former B2B Director at Telekom România, he led innovative strategies that significantly enhanced customer engagement and technology solutions. In 2021, he co-founded Ronin, a crowdfunding platform that democratizes investments for startups. Currently, Ghiman serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Metaminds, where he applies his expertise in corporate governance and financing to drive business growth.

Entering new chapters: Our vision for the future

• Cătălin Chiș
  Cătălin Chiș
  CEO @ Life is Hard
  Cătălin Chiș is the CEO of LIFE IS HARD, the first Romanian software company listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), AeRo market, Premium segment, and part of the BET AeRO index since 2021. An entrepreneur from Cluj with over 21 years of experience in business development, Cătălin Chiș has a strong technological background and is recognized as one of the most active investors in Romania's IT industry. His career began in 2000 when he founded Active Power Solutions (APS), which later became a growth engine for LIFE IS HARD. Under his leadership, LIFE IS HARD has grown significantly, acquiring stakes in complementary companies such as Innobyte Solutions (e-commerce) and Performia Finance (financial services) and founding LIH Ventures, an innovation arm in the insurance sector. Cătălin believes in the power of marketing to transform organizations, and in 2016 he became the majority shareholder of Graffiti PR, now known as GRF+. His community involvement is also remarkable, as he is the founder and president of the PEDITEL Foundation. As the leader of LIFE IS HARD, Cătălin Chiș continues to inspire and actively contribute to the development of the business environment in Romania, being a constant presence at entrepreneurship events where he shares his vast experience and vision for the future

Networking on the terrace

InnoVersary - 18 ani de Innobyte