Courage
Innovation
Validation
Impact
Experimentation
Inclusion
About
FIX Cluj – the bold space for young Romanians to innovate and create change.
Fix Cluj is the entrepreneurial education, innovation, and experimentation program dedicated to young people aged 16 to 26 who live, study, or work in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Its purpose is to provide a supportive learning environment, allowing participants to harness their skills and abilities in social innovation and entrepreneurship, and to develop viable business ideas.
Our Vision
We believe in a future shaped by young people — bold, creative, and unafraid to challenge the status quo.
Our vision is to build the most inclusive and dynamic innovation ecosystem in Romania, where every young person aged 16–26 feels empowered to experiment, prototype, and drive meaningful change.
Through co-designed processes, open support structures, and risk-free learning environments, we aim to transform Cluj-Napoca into a European model for youth-led innovation. This is not just a program — it’s a civic commitment to trusting young people with the power to imagine and build better futures.
Roadmap
FIX Cluj roadmap
The Fix Cluj program follows a structured journey designed to guide young participants from recruitment to post-program support. It begins with a recruitment phase that includes awareness campaigns, info sessions, and application screening, followed by participant selection and onboarding.
Program Structure
Program Structure
The program begins with a learning stage that includes workshops on entrepreneurship, design thinking, market research, and business model development etc., after which participants move into ideation and prototyping, working closely with mentors to test and refine their ideas.
The program continues with business development activities such as financial planning, go-to-market strategies, branding, and pitch preparation. Along the program there are two Demo Days where participants present their projects to a jury, receive feedback, and can qualify for further opportunities. Afterward, alumni gain access to a supportive community, mentorship, and optional incubation or funding pathways.
Ready to Apply?
Who can apply
The FIX program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, professionals, or individuals who are passionate about social innovation.
The Academy - works as a Pre-incubator and it is ideal for:
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Students or working professionals with ideas or expertise
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Individuals who have an interest in the start-up world
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Early-stage founders looking for guidance and resources
The Incubator is open to:
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Teams aged 16 to 26 who live or study or work in Cluj-Napoca
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Potential early stage business or startup looking for funding to develop the business
Call For Intent
Experts & Mentors
We invite experienced entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and professionals to submit their expression of interest to join the FIX program as mentors. FIX Cluj seeks individuals capable of guiding young teams in developing innovative and socially impactful solutions.
By joining our pool of mentors, you will support participants throughout their learning and incubation journeys, offering expertise in areas such as entrepreneurship, business development, prototyping, and strategy.
We continuously maintain a reserve list of qualified mentors and experts, and welcome submissions at any time from those committed to contributing to youth-driven innovation. Individuals and ecosystem actors who are interested in supporting the next generation of founders are encouraged to express their interest and connect with us.
Funding
Funding
The program is supported through a mix of resources, including significant contributions from the Cluj-Napoca Municipality, sponsorships from local companies, and a grant from Fondation Botnar. Yearly, the program manages up to €825,000 to support up to 40 teams.
Unique Feature of the Innovation and Experiment Fund
A specific and unique element of the Fund is the annual co-design process, where the logic and structure of the program are redesigned based on data gathered from the ecosystem and the young participants from the previous editions.
The co-design approach and adaptive structure make Cluj Innovation and Experiment Fund the most agile entrepreneurial learning program and the largest early-stage incubation platform for youth in Romania..
Partners & Sponsors
The Power Behind CIEF
A Community Committed to Youth Innovation
At the heart of the Cluj Innovation and Experiment Fund lies a bold belief: that young people have the power to shape the future — if we build the right ecosystem around them.
CIEF is proudly powered by a unique coalition of public leadership, international vision, and local business involvement — a model of collaboration that reflects the spirit of Cluj-Napoca itself.
The Cluj-Napoca Municipality and Local Council stand at the core of this initiative. They don’t just fund the program — they champion it. By placing youth innovation at the center of the city’s development agenda, they’ve created a local precedent: public institutions that trust young people with real responsibility and real tools to build change.
On the international level, Fondation Botnar plays a transformative role. Their strategic support enables the program’s most unique feature: the annual co-design process. Thanks to their grant, every edition of FIX is reshaped and reimagined based on the data, voices, and experiences of the very people it serves — the youth of Cluj.
Then, there’s the vibrant layer of private partners, a proof of the local business community’s belief in youth-driven innovation. They bring more than funding — they bring the support foundation of the program to connect the young innovators with the real economy - being the first private partners to bet on the potential of our future new economy - based on knowledge and innovation.
Voices from the community
“It was a change on a personal level, so I started to become involved in many more initiatives, including going to networking events and getting involved in many more community-type events.”.
Past Participant
“a starting point for the professional part because you meet all kinds of people, you exchange ideas with them and, at a certain moment, all this comes back like a boomerang in your life and it's a qualitative leap.”
Past Participant
Inside the program
Phase 1: Pre-incubator
07 May – 11 June 2024
Online content and challenges will guide you through the essentials of the startup journey, including:
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Understanding the key principles of starting a startup
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Defining and validating the problem your business aims to solve
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Developing and validating the solution
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Designing your business model
At the end of Phase 1, you’ll attend the FIX Bootcamp where you can form your team and begin working on your initial pitch. If selected, you’ll receive an invitation to join Phase 2 and an initial financial support of € 3.000/team.
Phase 2: Incubator - Part 1
23 Sept – 17 Nov 2024
A 2-month tailored journey filled with online training, mentorship sessions, and financial support of € 12.000/team.
Here are a few topics your team will cover:
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How to build your team
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Business model
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How to validate the solution
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Competition Research
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Market size analysis
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The basics of legal
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Financing for early start-ups
At the end of this stage, your team will put all the knowledge into action during a Demo Day event by preparing a pitch and presenting the solution. 10 teams will receive the financial support and will be selected for the next stage.
Phase 2: Incubator - Part 2
2 Dec 2024 – 23 March 2025
2 months of custom-designed learning, mentorship sessions, meetings with subject matter experts, and financial support of € 35.000/team.
Here are a few topics your team will cover:
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Project management
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Business model
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Marketing and PR
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Market entry strategy
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Legal, financing, and funding your startup
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Creation of minimum viable products
At the end of this stage, your team will showcase the evolution of your start-up during a Demo Day event by preparing a pitch and presenting the solution. The 4 winners of this edition will be announced at the FIX Awards Gala and receive financial support.
Let’s Talk
Are you interested in the FIX Cluj program?