What a project to recover heat emitted by servers and transform it into energy, a project to qualify prosumer installers and another to build a complex sensor system to forecast air quality in cities have in common is the SCION program, dedicated to young entrepreneurs in Bulgaria and Romania, a project “accelerator” made with the support of Rezolv Energy.
During the session in Bucharest, we met Alastair Hammond, global CEO of Rezolv Energy, and Marian Pavel, country manager for Romania, who told us a little about the projects they have in Romania and Bulgaria. All the details about the investments can be found in the exclusive interview given by Marian Pavel to Energynomics Magazine, which will be launched this week.
Within SCION, Jennifer Boca, Chief Sustainability Officer at Rezolv Energy and Alastair Hammond, together with a mixed Romanian-Bulgarian jury, designated the winning projects, which were awarded 15,000, 10,000 and 5,000 euros respectively.
Thus, over the course of 10 weeks, the SCION team guided and coordinated an inaugural mentoring and planning program, which culminated in the SCION Accelerator Demo Day, an event held in Bucharest. The meeting was attended by young visionaries from Romania and Bulgaria, who develop solutions that bring improvements within the fields generically called CleanTech and NatureTech – ecosystem restoration, climate resilience and biodiversity protection.
“Being part of the Accelerator’s first program was an inspiring experience. The ten teams are developing solutions with the potential to transform the way we protect nature and respond to climate challenges. It has been a privilege to help refine these ideas and support them on their way to market,” said Jennifer Boca.
The SCION Accelerator is among the first initiatives launched under Rezolv Energy Shift, a new platform through which Rezolv Energy will invest in people and innovation to accelerate a just and inclusive energy transition in Southeastern Europe.
During Demo Day, the SCION Accelerator also announced the three winning teams. Bulgarian startup Nomadium Robotics, led by George Petrov, was named the overall winner for its innovative work in applying robotics to ecosystem restoration. Two Romanian startups, Proon Tech – which uses a new type of compost to retain moisture in the soil longer, and Solmag, an aggregator for prosumers – were recognized among the top teams for their innovative solutions that advance clean technology and environmental impact in the region. A special distinction was also given for the use of AI, received by Romanian startup alt.real.
“For us, SCION Accelerator was more than a program — it was a turning point. The support we received from SCION and Rezolv Energy helped us strengthen our mission and believe even more deeply in the role that robotics can play in restoring nature. We leave more confident, more connected, and ready to build something truly meaningful,” said George Petrov, founder of Nomadium Robotics, the first-prize winning startup.
Demo Day marks the end of the first edition of SCION Accelerator, but also the beginning of a long-term collaboration with the participating teams, who will continue to receive support as they transform their ideas into solutions with real impact.
