Rockstart, a multi-vertical startup accelerator with locations in Amsterdam and Nijmegen, has opened applications for its new Launchtrack program aimed at early-stage startups in Eastern Europe. The equity-free program will run from March 31 to June 2 in Chișinău, Moldova, where founders will validate their ideas, find a problem-solution fit, and get ready for taking their projects to the next level.
Vibrant ecosystem and local partners
Describing the reasons for choosing Molvoda as the place for its new program, Rockstart cited a rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, as well as the country’s location near the edge of the EU. It’s not only easy to reach from the Eastern European and Central Asian countries, but also has less strict visa requirements for non-EU countries’ residents. On the ground, Rockstart partnered with Tekwill, an organization busy building up the local entrepreneurial ecosystem that has a 4,000m² hub for startups in Chișinău. The program is also supported by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) within the “Moldova ICT Excellence Center Project.”