We've been ranked 39th out of #150 in Europe's Leading Start-up Hubs by Financial Times, Statista, and Sifted We've been ranked 39th out of #150 in Europe's Leading Start-up Hubs by Financial Times, Statista, and Sifted
We've been ranked 39th out of #150 in Europe's Leading Start-up Hubs by Financial Times, Statista, and Sifted We've been ranked 39th out of #150 in Europe's Leading Start-up Hubs by Financial Times, Statista, and Sifted

Meet the team behind Rubik Hub

Team members

At Rubik Hub, we’re a team of curious minds who genuinely love what we do. We come from different backgrounds, but we’re all driven by the same mission: to support and inspire the next wave of entrepreneurs. Whether we’re brainstorming ideas, building connections, or rolling up our sleeves to get things done, we’re in it together — with heart, creativity, and a lot of coffee.

Meet The People Who Make It All Happen

Vlad Gliga is the driving force behind Rubik Hub. After gaining valuable professional and personal experiences abroad, Vlad returned to his hometown with a bold idea: to build a thriving startup community from the ground up.
His clear vision and unwavering mission, combined with his persuasive optimism and willingness to face harsh realities, have attracted a team of overachievers who share his values and dedication.
Vlad’s superpower—foresight mastery—enables him to see the potential in every opportunity, and he’s determined to put Romania on the global startup ecosystem map.

Vlad Gliga

CEO

SUPERPOWER:

FORESIGHT

Simona Popa is an entrepreneur with a deep passion for people, education, and pushing boundaries. With nearly a decade of experience in the UK, Simona returned to Romania driven by a mission to support and empower startups through our startup journey. Her superpower—relentless curiosity—fuels her drive to challenge the status quo and explore new possibilities, all while secretly dreaming of transforming the educational system.

Simona Popa

Rubik Scale Program Manager

SUPERPOWER:

Curiosity
Cristiana Pruna brings three years of diverse marketing experience, spanning corporate, NGO, and local business landscapes. Her journey began with high school volunteering, where she discovered her passion for marketing—a passion that has only grown stronger. With a focus on brand management, brand building, and graphic design, Cristiana thrives on challenges and sees every obstacle as a chance to learn and grow. Her superpower—unstoppable perseverance—drives her to achieve the seemingly impossible, making her an essential force in crafting and sustaining powerful brand stories.

Cristiana Prună

Marketing Specialist

SUPERPOWER:

Perseverance
Robert Cotună brings over a decade of experience in the financial and banking sector, with a sharp focus on attracting foreign investments and bolstering the Romanian entrepreneurial ecosystem. Robert is the bridge between our startups and investors, both nationally and internationally. His superpower—analytical precision—enables him to spot the best opportunities and forge strategic partnerships that drive growth and success. With a keen eye for detail and a strategic mindset, Robert ensures that every connection he makes is a step toward innovation and impact.

Robert Cotună

Investment Manager

SUPERPOWER:

Analytical precision
Ella Asaftei is fueled by a passion for startups and a deep understanding of their growth potential. With a knack for analyzing and nurturing innovative startups, Ela thrives on hands-on mentoring, helping founders with a growth mindset and global vision turn their ideas into impactful solutions. Her experience in designing and implementing startup programs and events makes her the perfect fit as an Operations Manager. Ela’s superpower—master multitasking—enables her to seamlessly navigate multiple challenges with calm precision, always going the extra mile for the greater good.

Ela Asaftei

Operations Maestro

SUPERPOWER:

Multitasking

Elisabeta Năstase blends her rich experience in Human Resources with a passion for continuous learning and development. Armed with a PhD and guided by the philosophy of “give before you get,” Elisabeta dedicates herself to inspiring growth and nurturing a culture of mentorship within the startup community.

Her superpower—proactive vision—drives her to turn knowledge into action, always one step ahead in fostering a thriving environment for innovation. With creativity, time, and unwavering passion, Elisabeta helps shape the future of startups, making sure every lesson learned leads to real-world impact.

Elisabeta Năstase

Rubik Garage Growth Catalyst

SUPERPOWER:

proactivity

Florentina Ciobanu is the go-to expert for ensuring everything runs like clockwork. With a keen eye for detail and a natural talent for organization, Flori excels at keeping tasks on track and time-bound. 

Her superpower—balance—allows her to juggle multiple responsibilities with ease, ensuring that all activities flow smoothly and efficiently. Whether it’s the small details or the big picture, Flori’s balanced approach ensures that nothing is overlooked, making her the backbone of our operations.

Florentina Ciobanu

Operations and Financial Expert

SUPERPOWER:

balance
Alexandra Huțanu brings a 360° perspective to every project, drawing on over five years of diverse experience across B2B and B2C landscapes. From social media and graphic design to PPC and project management, Alexandra has worn many hats in the marketing world. Her curiosity and analytical spirit have even led her to pursue a Ph.D. in User Experience. With her superpower—sharp humor—Alexandra turns complex challenges into creative solutions, all while keeping things light and engaging.

Alexandra Huțanu

Marketing Manager

SUPERPOWER:

Humor

Ionuț Amariei leverages his biomedical engineering background and extensive healthcare experience to take a hands-on approach in shaping the Romanian startup ecosystem. As the coordinator of the RubikEDU educational entrepreneurial program, Ionuț is dedicated to guiding bright ideas through the critical stages of validation and transformation into scalable startups. His superpower—strategic vision—enables him to see the potential in every idea and craft a clear path forward, turning innovative concepts into successful ventures.

IonuÈ› Amariei

RubikEDU Program Manager

SUPERPOWER:

Curiosity
Dana Popa brings a wealth of marketing expertise and event management experience to the table. With a heart full of empathy and a passion for storytelling, Dana crafts narratives that resonate deeply, both online and in the community. Her superpower—empathy in action—drives her to create meaningful connections and contribute to causes that matter. As an active volunteer since high school, Dana’s kindness shines through in every project she touches, making her not just a marketer, but a storyteller who turns every challenge into an opportunity to create something unforgettable.

Dana Popa

Marketing Specialist

SUPERPOWER:

empathy
Cristina Grigore is a seasoned economist with a versatile skill set that spans financial expertise, business development, and client relations. She has a strong foundation in accounting, financial analysis, and traffic control. She is also deeply committed to mentoring startups and coordinating educational partnerships, reflecting her passion for business development. At Rubik Hub, she is currently part of the accelerator team. Outside of work, she is a loving advocate for nature and children. Her superpower—enthusiasm—makes her thrive on professional challenges.

Cristina Grigore

Rubik Scale Operations Expert

SUPERPOWER:

Enthusiasm
Ana-Maria Dăscălița brings a bright, positive energy wherever she goes and firmly believes that there’s a solution to every problem. With a deep passion for psychology and a genuine curiosity about human connection, she was drawn to Rubik Hub by the desire to help people support one another in meaningful ways. Always eager to step outside her comfort zone, Ana-Maria is excited to dive into the startup world and keep learning as she goes. Her superpower—active listening—makes her a great community builder.

Ana-Maria Dăscălița

Community Builder

SUPERPOWER:

Active listening

Dan Martinaș is the backbone of our operations, drawing on a decade of international experience in hospitality and building management. With his superpower—problem-solving—Dan ensures our Hub functions flawlessly every day.
He’s the go-to person for keeping everything in perfect order, from the daily management of our space to the seamless execution of our standout events. Dan’s dedication to excellence ensures that everything runs smoothly, making him the hero behind the scenes who keeps our Hub thriving.

Dan MartinaÈ™

Hub Admin

SUPERPOWER:

Problem solving
Raluca Alexandrescu is a seasoned lifestyle entrepreneur with a deep passion for sustainable business strategies. With her superpower—laser focus—Raluca is dedicated to helping aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs transform their conscious ideas into scalable startups. As part of the Rubik Start team, she channels her energy into guiding and elevating entrepreneurs, ensuring they stay on track and achieve their goals.

Raluca Alexandrescu

Rubik Start Community Builder

SUPERPOWER:

Laser focus
Raluca Alexandrescu is a seasoned lifestyle entrepreneur with a deep passion for sustainable business strategies. With her superpower—laser focus—Raluca is dedicated to helping aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs transform their conscious ideas into scalable startups. As part of the Rubik Start team, she channels her energy into guiding and elevating entrepreneurs, ensuring they stay on track and achieve their goals.

Ioana Cerescu

Rubik Start Community Builder

SUPERPOWER:

Clarity

Cătălina Gandiceanu connects people and ideas like pieces of a puzzle, turning plans into meaningful results. With experience in project management, youth work, strategic partnerships, and fundraising, she brings structure and momentum to every initiative. Her work is guided by empathy and built on a belief that real impact happens when collaboration meets intention.

Cătălina Gândiceanu

Startup Support

SUPERPOWER:

Grounded Empathy
Adina Simionescu brings a wealth of experience from the banking sector and EU-financed projects to the Rubik Hub team. Since December 2019, she has been at the helm of ROStartup, now an independent organization in Romania that represents and brings together the national startup ecosystem. Adina’s superpower—pragmatism—ensures that every step taken is grounded in reality and driven by clear, actionable goals.

Adina Simionescu

ROStartup Executive Director

SUPERPOWER:

Pragmatism

Ana Zamă is a people-focused visionary who believes in the transformative power of organization, knowledge, and kindness. With extensive experience in customer relations and business development both in Romania and abroad, Ana is dedicated to fostering collaboration within our community. Her superpower—master organization—enables her to build and sustain strong, impactful connections, all while driving progress and creating lasting change in society.

Ana Zamă

ROStartup Community Architect

SUPERPOWER:

Organizing
Valentin Țoc brings his extensive experience as the Rubik Garage Program Manager to the forefront, working closely with early-stage founders and teams to sharpen their focus and guide them on their startup journey. Passionate about designing and building educational experiences, Valentin excels in crafting programs that range from 1-day bootcamps to 6-month accelerators, both online and offline. His expertise extends to delivering impactful workshops on topics like Team Building, Mission & Vision, Pitching, Lean & Business Model Canvas, and more. With a background in launching and coordinating youth and volunteering projects through various NGOs, Valentin’s superpower—creative genius—drives him to create transformative learning experiences that leave a positive impact.

Valentin Èšoc

Rubik Garage Program Manager

SUPERPOWER:

Creativity
Georgiana Vieru brings boundless enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the Rubik Hub team. Eager to dive into the startup mindset, Georgiana has a natural talent for gathering like-minded, well-intentioned people and inspiring them to contribute to a greater cause. Her superpower—unyielding optimism—drives her to see the best in every situation and motivates those around her to aim higher. She has a special passion for personal development.

Georgiana Vieru

RubikEDU Community Architect

SUPERPOWER:

Optimism

Want to join our team of startup enthusiasts?

We’re not hiring at the moment, but we’d still love to hear from
you! Drop us a line at — we’re always open to connecting with passionate people.