Transylvania Angels Network

Year in review and goals for next year

As we have just closed this year’s activity we thought about creating this article of overview about T.A.N. in 2020.  To begin with, T.A.N. (Transylvania Angels Network) kicked off in 2018 with the aim to create a local network of investors and facilitate deals between angel investors and early stage startups; while each member is deciding participation in funding rounds individually.

The goals for T.A.N. are to connect angel investors with startups (for funding and business support), to educate business people into angel investing and to provide startup mentoring, business opportunities for the members of the network, access to potential business opportunities and investment (for investors). In total we had so far 18 meetups with around 200 participants in total, while 40 Romanian startups pitched for investment and feedback, from which 10 of them received investment from our 30 active members. 

Regarding the investments facilitated so far, T.A.N. members have participated in 10 pre-seed investment rounds totaling around €350K:

1. Telios (March 2020) – a telemedicine startup founded by Philip Choban, which gives the customers immediate and direct access to experienced doctors and other healthcare professionals. People save time by avoiding the issues prevalent with accessing traditional medical care, some of which are, synchronizing appointments with their schedules, wasting time in traffic or waiting room delays.

2. Tully (April 2020) – co-founded by Adina Rus, Marius Rus, Florin Lazăr and Victor Paul Barna, this is a wearable device helping children learn how to control themselves and cope with emotional flares and diminished attention problems. Their initial focus is on the hyperactivity aspect, where Tully’s biofeedback and analytic algorithms can make an important difference in the child’s emotional and behavioral balance and allow them to reach their full academic potential.

3. AiVA (July 2020) – a deep-tech startup based in Cluj-Napoca focused on creating A.I. solutions that help clients monetize their CCTV infrastructure by unlocking data that is collected but never used (founded by Pushkar Chatterji).

4. Cyscale (September 2020) – founded by Ovidiu Cical, Cyscale is a cybersecurity solution that empowers companies to gain real-time visibility and control over cloud environments, assets, and sensitive data so that they can secure and embrace their digital future.

5. ThinkOut (October 2020) is a startup from Iași, founded by Cristi Bârlădeanu, providing a smart tool for SME owners and managers so they can make business decisions easily, based on the cash flow input. 

6. iFactor (November 2020) – B2B platform that brings together SMEs that need liquidity and investors (banks, funds, institutional and private individual investors) with the intention to provide liquidity to the SMEs through buying their outstanding invoices (founded by Cosmin Curticăpean).

7. OncoChain (November 2020) – co-founded by Mădălin Mărgan and Roxana Mărgan, the startup aims to improve the quality of medical care for oncologic patients by creating a framework to facilitate the provision of patient-centered health services. 

8. In November, after a group call with  Plant an App’s founder, a few of our members contributed to their crowdfunding campaign on Republic.  PlanAnApp is low-code cloud-based platform, founded by Bogdan Lițescu, for the rapid development and deployment of different kinds of web applications. 

9. Nifty Learning – provides a complete end to end software solution to organise training sessions, optimise class scheduling, track training budgets, manage administrative tasks and increase overall performance of the training department (led by Letiția Stefan). We’ve been in contact with the Nifty Learning team since 2018 and we’ve seen their startups’ evolution, surmounting challenges and persevering in achieving their goals.

10. In December 2020, T.A.N. contributed to How to Web’s Startup Spotlight 225K euro prize which was won by Cartloop – it helps merchants recover their abandoned carts and generate sales by texting customers in real-time. By using experts to engage with customers in real-time, Cartloop is bringing the in-store shopping experience online, creating a new marketing channel (co-founded by Andrei Negrău and Lisa Popovici).

 Florin Pop one of most active members says: 

“As a T.A.N. member and ambassador I focus on helping people that are willing to become angel investors. From my point of view considering that angel investing is probably one the highest risk exposure, I am aware how important it is for an early angel to have some guidelines, tools, and methods that T.A.N. can provide to them in this angel investing process. In an angel’s club, the new member will look and follow the most experienced members so there is also important the ethics and facilitating roles of those experienced members. When I started this activity a few years ago I hadn’t such an opportunity but now T.A.N is growing thanks to a good management team and it brings more and more value and benefits to its members.

Angel Investors are capable enough to support the companies they invest in several ways. Foremost, they can help in widening the startup network due to their strong connections with potential customers, traders, and financial institutions. Also the most active angel investors will become Board Advisors in the syndicated startup. So finally, it is not only about raising money, it is mainly about raising goodpartners and minds (being the most valuable assets of a startup) … and that’s why it calls smart money”

We’re glad to say that the past year has been fruitful also in strengthening the positioning and visibility of T.A.N. in the Romanian ecosystem and the developing connection with 15 other Romanian angel networks and VC Funds. From the 10 investments made, 9 of them were done together with other angel investors or networks.

“In the past year we accomplished more than was planned. This included creating a membership process, bringing together several of the other Romanian angel networks for learning and investing, hosting over 40 startups pitching to the group and then investing in 9 of them, as well as participating in many online events to continue helping young entrepreneurs and raising awareness of the Romanian startup ecosystem. Our aim for 2021 is to continue growing the T.A.N. network, reaching 100 members and 200 associates, continue collaboration efforts with other angel networks, inside and outside of Romania, and of course to facilitate new startup investments.” – says Emmett King, co-founder of T.A.N.

Goals for 2021

Based on the progress done in the past year, we have the following aims for 2021

– Evaluate 300 startups from Romania
– Invest in 20 startups
– Grow to 100 members in the network

“As the goals say, the following year will be focused on a steady growth. As well, we aim to increase the collaboration with the local organisations in Cluj with all investment organisations in Romania and to connect with VC funds and BANs in Europe. Being a project of the Cluj Startups non-profit gives us the chance to plug in to the local ecosystem and support also in mentoring, connections and programs“– added Mircea Vadan, board member in T.A.N. and Cluj Startups

For membership

Being a part of our network comes with the benefits like: 
– being informed on the startup ecosystem
– startup scouting and monitoring
– networking and connections
– education on startup investment topics
– support in the startup investment process.

For more details on membership benefits and processes please fill in the form featured on our website and we will come back to you to set a call/meeting. 

For startups

Also you have the opportunity to present your startup so if you want to get in touch for pitching to our members, please fill in the form on our website. We’re welcoming startups which are launched or close to launch and which are looking for pre-seed or seed. Our investment tickets can vary depending on the startups and members’ interest, from 5K to 100K euro.

The process that we have set up for startups (it can take between one and three months)

Step 1 – Get in touch by filling the form
Step 2 – Validate fit and interest from our side
Step 3 – Present to members of T.A.N. in a meetup or in a separate call
Step 4 – Come back with list of interested members
Step 5 – Proceed with syndication from the committed members or together with other investors

For any questions or details, email us at management at taninvest dot ro

Cartloop – winning startup of Startup Spotlight 2020

40 startups from Romania, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia and Lithuania selected this year to participate in the Startup Spotlight 2020 program and competition organized by How to Web.

Among the 10 startups that presented their products in the Startup Spotlight final on December 4, Cartloop is the startup that convinced the Startup Spotlight 2020 jury formed by Monica Obogeanu (Orange Romania), René Schöb (KPMG Romania), Ionuț Stanimir (Banca Comercială Română), Dan Oros (Google), Andrei Dudoiu (SeedBlink), Mălin Ștefănescu (TechAngels), Dan Mihăescu (GapMinder VC), Andrei Pitiș (Simple Capital), Emmett King (Transylvania Angels Network), Raluca Panțiru (Fitbit ), Sergiu Pop (Microsoft Romania), Mihai Frențiu (Tech ‘n Trade), Bogdan Axinia (eMAG), Laura Ștefan (Mastercard Romania), Alexandra Marcu (2Checkout, now Verifone), Marian Dinu (DLA Piper Romania). Also, Teleport and Plant an App won the 2nd and 3rd places.

Cartloop is an eCommerce startup that helps stores optimize their sales and customer relationship through text messaging, and this time they “went home” with the investment prize of 225,000 euros. 

The 225,000-euro prize is offered by a group of local investors: SeedBlink equity crowdfunding platform, TechAngels angel investor network, Gapminder VC investment fund, Simple Capital private investment vehicle and us, Transylvania Angels Network investor network. The amount represents a contribution to a future investment in the winning startup, in the form of a convertible note.

The Cartloop platform was launched by Andrei Negrău and Lisa Popovici, in April of this year, with the intention of bringing the online experience closer to that of a physical store. Since its launch, Cartloop has generated $400,000 in revenue for customers.


For more details please see here

Oncochain, an oncology research platform, targets EUR 350,000 in equity crowdfunding

Oncochain, a data collection and analysis platform for oncology research, aims to raise 200,000 euros through equity crowdfunding on SeedBlink, the largest platform dedicated to technology startups in Southeast Europe. The total value of the financing is 350,000 euros, the round being led by the Cleverage VC investment fund. The listing takes place tomorrow, October 13, at 10 AM.

Oncochain is a startup launched in Timișoara at the beginning of 2019 by the couple Mădălin Margan (32 years old) and Roxana Margan (32 years old), both being doctors specialized in obstetrics-gynecology. Data collected from daily clinical practice are provided to oncology health professionals, research institutes, and pharmaceutical companies in the form of statistical analyzes. The statistics are anonymous and aims to generate information that can guide research and increase the quality of medical services.

The total round of financing is worth 350,000 euros, of which 200,000 euros are targeted through equity crowdfunding on SeedBlink, and 100,000 are invested by the digital health fund Cleverage Venture Capital. For completing this financing round there is also significant interest in investing from the business angels Growceanu and us, Transilvania Angels Network.

Since its launch, Oncochain has received investments of approximately € 80,000: the investment of the co-founders, European funds, grants from companies and a business angel.

For more details please see here

Startups selected for Startup Spotlight Online 2020

Transylvania Angels Network contributes to the prize of this year’s Startup Spotlight program organised by How to Web conference.

Launched in 2011, the Startup Spotlight program was held annually at the How to Web conference. This year’s move to the online environment of the program will increase the value of the experience of the 40 participating startups, which now have two months to schedule private meetings with over 70 experts and investors from the program.

This year, the selected startups are from Romania, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. The 40 startups are Acertivo, Agora Robotics, Alkubot, ATLAS, bedrock.farm, Breed XY, CardioMedive, Cartloop, CBNagro.tech, CorrectNetworks, Cyscale, Ecotree, Forefront Supply Chain, GoTeleport, Hedge Lab, IziBac, Jeff App, LEDD, Licenseware, matchpoint., Medicai,  OGOR, Oraroo, Parking Spotter, Plant an App, Pluria, PriceFlux, Rungutan, SanoPass, Scan & Eggs, SensiX, Sharewell, StartGDPR, SWIP.WORK, Tailent, Teamway.eco, TokWise, Umni.co, VOXI KIDS, Webcube.

Startup Spotlight is the most popular competition from Romania for early stage startups. This year, the online program starts on October 5 and ends on December 4 with a private pitching event in which a jury of experts and investors will choose the best startup of the program that will receive an investment prize worth €225,000.

The award is syndicated by a group of local investors: Seedblink equity crowdfunding platform, TechAngels Romania angel investors network, Gapminder Venture Partners investment fund, Simple Capital private investment vehicle and us, Transylvania Angels Network investors network. The amount is offered as a contribution to a future investment in the startup, in the form of a convertible note.

For more details please see here 

Stressless, ADHD monitoring device, gets over €100,000 in financing from angel investors and EIT Health

Cluj-based Stressless, developers of TULLY, a wearable emotional monitoring and control device for children diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) announced the closing of the first angel funding round of €45,000 from a group of tech angels investors, including Dragos Nicolaescu (founder of Tech Startup School), Niculae Dinca and Emmett King (Co-founder of Transylvania Angels Network, Cluj).

The funding adds to an €75,000 EIT Health – RIS InnoStars grant, in which Stressless collaborates with the Faculty of Psychology of Babeș-Bolyai University from Cluj-Napoca and FreshBlood (the EIT Health RIS hub for Romania), and will be used to further development and large scale testing of the device and for a crowdfunding campaign launch towards the end of the year.

TULLY is a wearable device monitoring physiological indicators, helping children with ADHD and their therapists by providing external input for stress and agitation awareness, and by improving the therapist’s visibility on his patient’s emotional evolution and therapy efficiency. Hyperactivity in ADHD is linked to intellectual challenge and mental strain and manifests mostly during school lessons. The intellectual challenge increases the children’s stress until an emotional flare episode. This can happen multiple times a day, interrupting classes and leading to the children’s marginalization, with severe effects on their development. 

“Knowing the team for some time, it’s not hard to appreciate the dedication and passion that they invest in helping children, parents and last but not least, doctors who use the TULLY app. In addition, the financing of this startup is an excellent example of communication and inter-organizational support, which brought together various members of the Romanian startup ecosystem, including: Transilvania Angels Network, TechAngels, Cluj Startups, FreshBlood, Babeș-Bolyai University and EIT Health”, said Emmett King, co-founder of Transilvania Angels Network and one of the investors.

For more details please see here

Telios, closes an investment round of $200,000 from angel networks

Telios, one of the pioneers of telemedicine in Romania, announced today it has closed an investment round of $ 200,000, including follow-on participation from existing investors. This 2nd round has been syndicated by us, Transylvania Angels Network in Cluj-Napoca, with involvement from other angel networks including Growceanu in Timisoara and TechAngels Romania in Bucharest, through Smart Impact Capital.

Importantly, this is the first time that 3 of the largest angel networks in Romania are joining forces in a common investment: us together with Spherik Accelerator’s investment fund and 2 foreign investors (an investment fund from Netherlands and a private investor from Belgium).

Telios services are covering a large and very diverse number of patients, from white-collar managers to blue-collar workers, who all need protection from COVID-19 and healthcare services delivered remotely in order to keep the economy going during the current crisis. The funding received will be used for expanding awareness of telemedicine in Romania, strengthening the market position, increasing the medical staff and enhancing the abilities of the platform.

By using Telios, private companies and insurers can provide employees and insured patients, together with their families, 24/7 access to leading-edge telemedicine services provided by a dedicated team of doctors and nurses. Instead of waiting for days for a traditional doctor’s visit, patients can now jump into a doctor’s visit by phone or online with the most suitable specialist for their healthcare needs within minutes without being exposed to contact with other patients.

“I am glad to be part of Telios and to contribute as an investor and advisor in both investment rounds. It was a challenging opportunity for me to contribute to this project, together with valuable founders and stakeholders, in order to build something innovative and very necessary in our healthcare environment. Being a pioneer in our market Telios brings through its founders, a wealth of American experience in the field of telehealth. Teaching our local healthcare system how to benefit from reducing visits to clinics, as well as other benefits; saving time and costs for people and companies, and introducing an important new service of obtaining second opinions. All these provide a good foundation for a high growth in the coming months and years.” said Florin Pop, Transylvania Angels Network’s Lead Investor and Founding Investor of Telios.


For more details please see here