Eight tech stars from Moldova shine at TechCrunch in San Francisco

There was a hidden gem at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 week - the Moldova pavilion. Its colourful emblem - a "tree of life" decorated with deep symbols of connections, wine and more - attracted curious visitors who wanted to learn more.

Moldova's mission: to present eight of the brightest and most promising startups on the world stage. Alongside the noisy pavilions of technology giants and innovative powers, Moldova was ready to make itself known.

Moldova's presence at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 highlights its ability to nurture and export technological talent and ideas. Innovative solutions in education, finance, event management, mental health, website development, virtual reality and cybersecurity - these startups have the potential to make a significant impact on the global technology landscape:

• Index - a global network of world-class software developers
• Langly Inc. - a unique platform for learning English
• Fagura.com. - peer-to-peer lending platform
• Unde.io. - a platform designed for event management
• Selftalk - an app with therapeutic self-injunctions for mental wellbeing
• Brizy - convenient website builder
• Viar.live. - A platform that simplifies visualisation in the real estate industry
• Pinky CyberSafe - Equipping SMEs with tools and resources to mitigate key cybersecurity risks.

Is Moldova the new hotspot for technology of the future? With its strategic location, multilingual society, rich cultural diversity, unique 7 per cent tax incentives for IT companies and growing number of skilled IT professionals, it is certainly poised for rapid growth. Moldova's vibrant startup ecosystem includes more than 60 investable startups in sectors such as fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, agri-tech and others.

With the support of organisations such as Technovator and the Future Technologies in Moldova Project - Innovate Moldova, funded by USAID, Sweden, the UK and the Western NIS Enterprise Fund, Moldova is creating a thriving technology landscape ready to shine on the world stage.

The journey of startups from Moldova to San Francisco was an important chapter in the seven-year endeavour to develop the country's startup ecosystem. The exceptional talents of these eight startups presented at TechCrunch Disrupt were undeniable and firmly positioned Moldova in the global technology field. From forging key connections with tech giants such as Meta and Apple to immersing themselves in Silicon Valley innovation, it was a collective effort that rekindled the drive for innovation in Moldova's entrepreneurial scene.

Against the backdrop of Silicon Valley, the pitches by Moldovan startups at TechCrunch Disrupt demonstrated undeniable talent and ambition, marking a significant step for Moldova on the global tech landscape. We are extremely grateful to the visionaries fostering the local startup ecosystem, as Moldova stands on the threshold of scaling from notable hundreds to thousands of companies in the future.

Moldova's technology story continues to evolve, and it is clear that the journey is far from over. As the first generation to sow the seeds in San Francisco, Moldova is hoping for great results not only for its startups, but for the entire tech ecosystem. The potential is huge and the world is taking notice of Moldova's hidden technological wonders.

This is the story of Moldova's technological transformation, and it is just beginning.