The first week of the entrepreneurship course at TUM: a strong start inspired by the Berkeley method

At the Technical University of Moldova, the future of innovation is taking shape through a new edition, the second, of the Entrepreneurship course inspired by the famous Berkeley method, which started on February 3, 2025. Benefiting from the experience of international and local experts, students have the opportunity to enter the world of startups through a dynamic combination of theory and practice focused on critical thinking, collaboration and innovation.

The first week of the course was an intense one, full of inspiration and challenges, in which students learned how to identify real market problems and mastered interview techniques to validate their business ideas.

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Day 1: Startup culture and team building

The first day was dedicated to introducing the startup ecosystem and team building. Students participated in interactive sessions and learned to adopt the entrepreneurial mindset needed to transform ideas into successful businesses. A highlight of the day were the sessions held by two great strategists: Tanmay VIJAYWARGIYA, Strategy Consultant at Accenture, who provided valuable insight into startup culture and how to identify the most suitable team partners, as well as Emil CHICHIOI, founder of Bloomcoding, who shared essential lessons from his entrepreneurial experience.

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Day 2: Problem Identification – The Foundation of a Startup

The second day focused on identifying real market problems – a crucial step in building a successful startup. Traian CHIVRIGA, CEO of XY Partners, guided the students through the process of analyzing the market, identifying gaps, and evaluating existing solutions. This process is essential for developing relevant and scalable products and services.

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Day 3: Interview Techniques and Insight Validation

Day 3 was dedicated to user research and hypothesis validation. Students learned how to prepare interviews with potential customers, select the right respondents, and ask the right questions to gain valuable insights. Renowned experts, such as Gigi WANG, Industry Fellow & Professor at UC Berkeley, Tatiana COTLIUBA, CPO at Simpals, and Elena PAVLOSKAYA, Founder of Techdoor, provided students with a clear perspective on effective interviewing/questioning techniques and how to interpret and leverage the answers obtained to fine-tune their business ideas.

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Bearing the imprint of UC Berkeley, this course was developed with the support of Rick RASMUSSEN, Industry Fellow & Professor at UC Berkeley and member of the SCET team (Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology), the course is taught at UTM by a dedicated team of professionals, consisting of Associate Professor, Dr. Nina PUȚUNTEAN, Associate Professor, Dr. Rina ȚURCAN and Lecturer Cristina DIACONU. An essential role in organizing and carrying out the activities also belongs to Iuliana STEȚENCO, a 4th year student, FAF, FCIM. Winner of the first edition of the ICEBERG Bootcamp in Moldova, Iuliana had the opportunity to participate in a UC Berkeley Bootcamp, gaining experience in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

The current edition of the Entrepreneurship course at UTM confirms the growing interest in entrepreneurial education and the need for an applicative framework in which theory and practice blend perfectly. Students were challenged to think critically, collaborate effectively, and develop essential problem identification and validation skills – the crucial first step in building a successful startup. The next few weeks will be intense, as teams refine their ideas, develop business models, and test solutions in the market

The Technical University of Moldova continues to train the future innovators of the Republic of Moldova!