Silvia Cărășel, (ex)Google, on how Romania grows with ”a little help from Google”

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.

Google supports startups through accelerator programs, partnerships with local organizations, grants, and access to tools such as Google Cloud credits.

"Romania grows through digitalization with a little help from Google", Silvia told us, reflecting Google’s role as a supportive partner in Romania’s journey towards digital transformation, underscoring collaboration between global tech leaders and local ecosystems for shared progress. 

For the team at Google Romania, key factors for the success of the local startup ecosystem include access to mentorship, a supportive community, digital education, and alignment with industry best practices.

"Having a growth mindset and thinking globally are key for startup founders if they want to scale their products successfully", says Silvia talking about the mindset entrepreneurs must adopt to navigate the challenges of scaling innovations, stressing continuous learning and global vision as essential ingredients for success in today’s competitive markets.

For Google, digitalization is critical for improving business efficiency, expanding market reach, and fostering innovation across various sectors.

We’ve covered Google’s initiatives that help foster startup growth and the trajectory of Google’s involvement in the Romanian economy and SMBs alongside Silvia Cărășel, ex-Marketing Manager for Google Romania, now a Fullbright Scholar in Business and AI, for the Romanian Startups: Roaring Tigers of Europe documentary.

• Silvia joined Google in January 2022, motivated by the prospect of contributing to the digitization efforts in Romania through community programs.
• The work of the team at Google Romania aims not only to assist businesses and students in adapting to digital realities but also to give back to the community.
• A symbiotic relationship exists where Google benefits from the growth of local businesses while providing essential support.

• Google Romania started its operations focusing on imparting digital marketing skills to individuals and SMBs.
• Various resources—including training programs, one-on-one consultations, and tools like Google Business Profile, Google Ads, and Google Analytics—are provided to aid local businesses in overcoming online challenges.
• Education is identified as a foundational pillar for fostering innovation among both SMBs and startups. The discussion highlights the necessity for digital skills to flourish in Romania’s evolving economy.

• The “Grow with Google” initiative has evolved over the last decade, moving from a focus on product promotion to comprehensive support for SMBs, startups, and students.
• Partnerships with local organizations, such as the National Confederation for Female Entrepreneurship, highlight Google’s commitment to supporting diversity in business.

"Startups really need community. They value meeting colleagues and exchanging ideas more than just attending talks", stated Silvia, revealing an important lesson about the fundamental human and collaborative aspect behind innovation. Beyond knowledge, the sense of belonging and peer support is crucial for startup founders navigating complex challenges. 

• Google’s initiatives demonstrate that collaboration between large corporations and local entities can substantially enhance the startup ecosystem. Coupling Google’s resources with local knowledge leads to innovative solutions.

• The initiatives have reached half a million individuals and trained over 10,000 SMBs, underscoring the trajectory of digital skills development within Romania.
• Collaborations with NGOs focus on pressing issues like online safety, evidenced by grants and training programs for teachers and students.

• Google plays a significant role in fostering startup growth within Romania by supporting accelerator programs and local events aimed at connecting entrepreneurs.
• Silvia emphasizes the strategic importance of startups in the Google ecosystem, noting that their success contributes to the overall growth of Google.

• The conversation reveals insights gained from working with startups, including the importance of community and shared experiences. The speaker notes the value of mentorship and networking as essential for startup founders.
• A strong emphasis is placed on the importance of organizational culture in startups and the need for founders to establish a positive work environment from the outset.

• The discussion ends with aspirations to continue building strong support systems for both startups and SMBs in Romania, aligning with Google’s broader mission to enable digital growth.
• Romania’s digital transformation is projected as a collective effort involving various stakeholders in the business ecosystem. Google’s ongoing commitment reinforces the notion that innovation and success are rooted in collaboration and sustainable practices.

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.