Asternova Centru is an €8.061 million regional venture capital fund for pre-seed and Seed startups in Alba, Brașov, Covasna, Harghita, Mureș and Sibiu. We invest €50,000–€350,000 and target a portfolio of 40 companies.
The fund was officially launched on 30 September 2026 in Brașov. €7.058 million of the total capital is public capital provided through the Centru Regional Development Agency (ADR Centru) under the Central Regional Programme 2021–2027. The structure also includes private contribution.
Asternova Centru is managed by Aster Capital Partners and developed together with Iceberg+ and Venture Booster.
We invest early
Asternova Centru enters at the stage where a company is beginning to show that the product can work in the market while many assumptions still need to be tested.
We look for teams with a functional product or validated prototype, first users or customers and a market large enough to support growth beyond a strictly local context.
Tickets of €50,000–€350,000 are designed for early institutional capital, when funding can support product, team, commercial validation and preparation for the next round.
For founders: access closer to the region
Our mandate covers all six counties of Central Romania. We actively source across Alba, Brașov, Covasna, Harghita, Mureș and Sibiu and do not concentrate dealflow in one city.
We want to meet teams early, understand what they are trying to prove and explain the selection process clearly, from the first conversation through due diligence and the investment decision.
For investors: earlier access to dealflow
Asternova Centru invests at pre-seed and Seed. That means we see companies at a stage where angels, other early-stage funds and investors that may enter at Seed or Series A can become relevant at different points.
If you invest in early-stage technology in Romania or CEE, we want to understand the sectors and stages you follow. Good fund relationships start before a specific round appears.
Who manages Asternova Centru?
Aster Capital Partners is the fund manager and manages the investment process. Aster is an AIFM authorised by the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers since 2002.
Iceberg+ contributes regional presence, ecosystem relationships and opportunity identification, while Venture Booster contributes sourcing, acceleration and company support.
Investment decisions follow the fund’s formal process, based on analysis, data and due diligence.
Silvia Ursu - General Partner leads the fund’s investment strategy and ecosystem development, working with founders over the long term, from evaluating investment opportunities through the stages of growth that follow.
Dan Avram - Venture Partner contributes to due diligence and post-investment company development. He brings over 25 years of experience in scaling systems and teams, improving productivity and driving efficiency through artificial intelligence.
Paul Ștefănuț - Acceleration Expert works with founders throughout the acceleration process, helping companies prepare for their next stage of growth.
Jean-Marc Bally - Managing Partner at Aster Capital and President of the Investment Committee brings an international venture capital perspective and leads the committee’s work.
For founders
Pre-seed or Seed startup in Central Romania? Send us your deck.
For investors
Following early-stage dealflow in Romania or CEE? Tell us what you are looking for and let’s get to know each other.