Ciprian Stănescu, Social Innovation Solutions: ”Everyone will have an impact component”

The documentary "Romanian Startups: Roaring Tigers of Europe", made by the start-up.ro team, spans across 33 years of history, from the first entrepreneurs in the transitional years to the initial technology company transactions that brought Romania into the international spotlight.

Romanian Startups: Roaring Tigers of Europe - The Extended Series will present the people who built the Romanian ecosystem and who discussed with the VideoCorp and start-up.ro team for this documentary. In this series you will find the extensive interviews and find out the stories of those who built entrepreneurship in Romania.

”I think now we're in the impact era in which these social impact businesses or businesses with a social impact, which are two different things, are beginning to show that you can actually really have a resentment on investment that is measurable, clear, defined, or bigger than traditional businesses. So there is, we have the proof, we have the use cases, and we have the people that say, I don't just want to sell detergent to make money or stocks or IT services. I want to make what I make also to have an impact. Everyone will actually have an impact component”, says Ciprian Stănescu.

Ciprian Stănescu came to be involved in the sustainability world by chance, but he became a leading voice in the field. As well as his team at SIS and the various programs they conceived, started and are involved in, Ciprian is a reference now if you want to build in impact startup or to get close to the network of people that build for a better tomorrow.

The incubators & transformation programs that SIS is coordinating are supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs and youth in Central and Eastern Europe to develop tech & non-tech solutions, to understand sustainable business-making practices and to receive investment, mentorship, and a strong network for the future. 

We’ve discussed at length with Ciprian about the concept of impact startups, impact investment, the role of the government in supporting business ecosystems and how to build having in mind the global good and that of the future generations for the Romanian Startups: Roaring Tigers of Europe documentary.

• Ciprian’s career in the field of sustainability began unexpectedly with a position at the Aspen Institute in Romania in 2007, after studying abroad.
• He emphasizes the importance of having a plan but admits that his early career decisions were mostly accidental.
• During his time at the Aspen Institute, he experienced significant growth, both professionally and personally, which included taking a break for family before returning to engage in new ventures like Ashoka and Social Innovation Solutions.
• After the birth of his daughter and taking a break, he co-founded the Romanian office of Ashoka, which provided significant insights into social impact ventures and global networks of change-makers.
• Upon returning to Romania in 2007, Ciprian says he found the country hopeful, with new opportunities emerging, especially with Romania’s entry into the European Union.
• Over the years, he noticed fluctuations in optimism and development but observed an early startup ecosystem beginning to form.
• This period also saw the establishment of the Bucharest hub of the Global Shapers community, aiming to empower young leaders to implement solutions with global potential.
• Ciprian describes the challenges facing young people globally, that include skepticism from older generations, lack of cooperation skills, and limited ambitions, which also affect the startup scene in Romania.

• Despite these challenges, he believes ambitions among youth need to grow beyond local confines, particularly in Romania's startup scene, where ambitions tend to remain small.
• He stresses the need for education and cooperation to nurture larger entrepreneurial ambitions in Eastern European contexts.
• Social Innovation Solutions was founded to promote innovation in business and social contexts, evolving to focus on educating startups about sustainability and future preparedness.
• The organization expanded rapidly, emphasizing the importance of embedding sustainability into business models, akin to digitalization transitions in the past.

• Ciprian explains the concepts of social impact startups versus traditional startups. Historically seen as niche, social impact businesses are now proving to have measurable returns on investment often exceeding traditional ventures, suggesting a shift towards integrating social and environmental impacts in all business models.
• The distinction between social impact startups and traditional startups is becoming less relevant, as more companies integrate social and environmental considerations into their operations.
• The ecosystem for social impact startups in Romania is emerging, with increased investment challenges, yet stronger interest from younger generations.
• These startups now must prove their sustainability and social impact due to pressures from investors, consumers, and regulations.
• He also spoke of the role of governments and local authorities in supporting business ecosystems, particularly startups, highlighting the need for stable leadership and professional guidance.
• Ciprian also explored the idea of Romania's positioning in the regional business landscape, noting its potential as a 'big sister' but not yet a primary destination for investments.
• Looking to the future, Ciprian is cautiously optimistic about Romania's trajectory, emphasizing the impact of upcoming elections on the country’s direction.
• He encourages a focus on under-promising and over-delivering to improve perceptions of Romania at a European and global level.
• The future of Romania's business ecosystem will depend significantly on geopolitical dynamics, market adaptability, and fostering ecosystems that retain local talent.

Roaring Tigers of Europe is a production by start-up.ro and Videocorp, part of the Romanian publishing company InternetCorp, active for almost 20 years on the market. The documentary was made with the support of partners BCR, Orange, and 2Performant. Community partners included Guran Consulting Global, How to Web, Launch, Impact Hub Bucharest, Flaviu Simihaian, Rubik Hub, SoftServe, and the Romanian-American University.