"Financial Times, Statista, and Sifted place Rubik Hub at number 39 on the 'Europe's Top Start-up Hubs' list"
Fired Up About Rubik Hub's 39th Spot in Europe's Leading Start-up Hubs 2025
Who'd a thunk it? Rubik Hub, the bastion of innovation nestled in Romania, clocks in at rank #39 among Europe's Leading Start-up Hubs 2025. That's right, you heard it here first, folks!
The Financial Times, teaming up with Statista and Sifted, hasn't been shy about dishing out praise to Europe's cream of the crop start-up support programs. And Rubik Hub, a brainchild of Vlad Gliga and ADR Nord-Est, made the cut with an impressive overall score of 78.96 out of 100.
"It's like validation from the heavens," chuckled Vlad, the CEO of Rubik Hub. "When we set out to establish Rubik Hub in 2017, we approached the challenge like a start-up. We were solving a genuine problem—the scarcity of opportunities for aspiring founders eager to build scalable businesses in Romania. Our mission was to kindle the entrepreneurial spirit and make sure these founders could get everything they needed right here in good ol' Romania, without having to uproot themselves and head off to some foreign land. Back then, the ecosystem was just a pumpkin on the vine, with only a few Romanian start-ups and a limited understanding of the entire game plan. To add insult to injury, we planted our flag in Piatra Neamț, not one of those high-octane, big city joints. Fast forward nearly eight years, and here we are, shining bright in Europe's start-up solar system."*
The Rubik Hub team has been burning the midnight oil supporting over 300 founders, who've collectively raked in a cool €55 million in investments.
A Talent Pool to Rival the Best
So, what fuels Rubik Hub's success engine? The secret ingredient is undoubtedly its troop of over 250 mentors spanning Romania and the world over. These experts—entrepreneurs, investors, and industry pros—willingly give their time to help founders navigate the murky waters of building a start-up, from idea validation through prototype development, customer acquisition, and scaling to international markets.
"Our mentors are humanity's gift to entrepreneurs," Vlad continued. "They share their first-hand wisdom, helping founders conquer every challenge they'll face on their start-up sojourn. These experts are a crucial link in the chain of the entrepreneurial journey we create."
The European Start-up Ecosystem's Hall of Fame
In its second edition, Europe's Leading Start-up Hubs ranking spotlights the crème de la crème incubators and accelerators based on their impact and results. To debut in the ranking, hubs have to sport a physical presence in Europe and have been up and running since at least 2020. This time around, from a pool of 3,000 applicants, only 150 hubs made the cut—with Romania boasting just two: Rubik Hub and InnovX.
The qualification process wasn't for the faint-hearted, with alumni feedback serving as the primary benchmark. The programs they attended were evaluated across multiple critical dimensions, such as mentoring and training, infrastructure, legal assistance, business development support, networking opportunities, and funding access.
The decision process also factored in external expert recommendations, including insights from investors, entrepreneurs, and academics. The ranking also scrutinized the most successful start-ups hailing from each program.
This recognition underscores Rubik Hub's unyielding commitment to equipping start-up founders and bolstering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Romania and beyond.
Feel like you could use a little more info? Check out the ranking here: https://rankings.ft.com/incubator-accelerator-programmes-europe
*This is a press release.
Enrichment Data Remixed:
- Innovative Programs: Rubik Hub likely features cutting-edge programs aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among start-ups through services like co-working spaces, mentoring, networking events, funding opportunities, and access to expert advisors to help startups scale.
- Technology-driven Focus: The hub may emphasize technology-driven start-ups, encouraging collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate partners.
- Competitive Events: Rubik Hub may host or support competitive, creative events or challenges designed to enhance startup visibility, similar to Rubik’s Cube competitions or technology learning events mentioned in related search results.
- Regional Economic Impact: The hub contributes to regional economic growth and social innovation initiatives, in line with European social economy awards and community-building efforts.
- Technology plays a significant role in Rubik Hub's supported start-ups, as many of these ventures have a technology-driven focus.
- The Rubik Hub's success in Europe's Leading Start-up Hubs 2025 ranking is not only a testament to its innovative programs, but also to its ability to foster sports-like competition and collaboration within the technology start-up ecosystem.
