In September 2026, the Iceberg+ & Asternova team was in London for the UK–Poland Life Sciences Summit, together with Romanian startups WakeZ and Rayscape. For Asternova Vest, the objective was clear: build relationships with investors and partners who may become relevant to companies from our region.
The Summit took place on 15–16 September and brought together investors, life sciences leaders, companies, researchers and organisations from the UK and Central and Eastern Europe. WakeZ and Rayscape pitched on stage, while Ionuț Țața joined the pitch competition jury.
The Iceberg+ & Asternova delegation included Ionuț Țața, Ioana Ștefănuț, Phillip Deutsch and Simona Popa.
Why London matters to a regional fund
Asternova Vest invests in Timiș, Arad, Hunedoara and Caraș-Severin. A company’s markets, customers, partners and future investors can be anywhere in Europe or further abroad.
In deep tech startups international relationships can influence access to capital, validation, regulatory expertise, commercial partners and new markets. They take time to develop. We prefer to have those relationships before a founder urgently needs an introduction.
What this means for founders
If we invest in a company from Western Romania and it starts expanding, we want to be able to open relevant conversations: with a specialised fund, a commercial partner, an operator or an organisation that understands the target market.
Seeing WakeZ and Rayscape pitch in London was a practical example of the connections we want to create more often: Romanian companies presented directly to people who may contribute to their next stage.
What this means for investors
For an investor in London, Paris or Warsaw, companies from Western Romania may remain outside the radar until late in their development. Asternova Vest can shorten that distance through regional sourcing and direct relationships with international capital.
If your thesis includes life sciences, healthtech or other CEE technology verticals, we want to understand what you follow and where you invest.
From here
We invest regionally and work internationally. When a company needs its next relationship, we want the first introduction to start from a network that already exists.
For founders
Technology company in Western Romania at Seed or Series A? Send us your deck.
For investors
Following technology or life sciences opportunities in CEE? Talk to us and let’s compare theses and dealflow.