Just a few months after the official launch of the ICEBERG Bootcamp 2025, held in Chișinău between May 5–8, the Technical University of Moldova returned to the spotlight of entrepreneurial education, marking a new international success. The students who won the competition carried the name of UTM across the ocean, participating between August 18–22, 2025, in the prestigious Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship (BMoE) Bootcamp, organized by the University of California, Berkeley—one of the world’s leading centers for innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Participating in the BMoE Bootcamp confirms the talent and potential of our students. The Technical University of Moldova proves that it can offer not only education at European standards but also bridges to the world’s most important innovation hubs. We are proud of their achievements and firmly believe in the power of education to shape the future,” highlighted UTM Rector, Prof. Dr. Habil. Viorel Bostan, who congratulated the young participants for their courage, perseverance, and creativity.
In turn, Dr. Daniela Pojar, Vice-Rector for International Relations and Finance, emphasized that this international experience opens new perspectives for UTM students: “Opportunities like this create valuable connections with the global entrepreneurial environment and provide young people with the resources to turn innovative ideas into projects with real impact on society.”
The UTM team triumphed at the ICEBERG Bootcamp 2025, taking first prize with their innovative idea of hybrid wind-solar systems for clean energy, showing that talent and perseverance have no limits. The five students who brought this success to the international stage were: Andreea Grigoriu and Mihai Vrabie (Faculty of Mechanical, Industrial, and Transportation Engineering), Mihaela-Dorina Odainîi (Faculty of Economic Engineering and Business), Andrei Șarov (Faculty of Computers, Informatics, and Microelectronics), and Paul Filat (Faculty of Design). Alongside them was Iuliana Stețenco, a graduate of FCIM, mentor and assistant in the entrepreneurship course, and part of the organizing team of the Bootcamp in Chișinău.
We are proud to also mention another UTM student, Andrei Șarov from the Faculty of Computers, Informatics, and Microelectronics (FCIM), who achieved another remarkable milestone. Along with his international team, ReMotive, he was among the three winning teams of the same event. Their project proposed an innovation with major social impact: a smart device for the daily monitoring of stroke patients, aimed at supporting their rehabilitation process and making it more efficient and accessible.
Over the five days, UTM students worked side by side with participants from around the world, guided by renowned international mentors and experts such as Gigi Wang, Buddy Burke, Christyna Serrano, Andrew Laffoon, Jonathan Martinez, Cheryl Edison, Shomit Ghose, and Bailey Farren.
Under the coordination of Gigi Wang, a global leader in entrepreneurship and innovation and Industry Fellow at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology at UC Berkeley, the students explored key topics for entrepreneurial success: innovative mindset, leadership, user-centered design, idea validation, innovative business models, and pitching in front of investors.
This experience gave UTM students the opportunity to present their projects in front of entrepreneurs and investors from Silicon Valley, benefiting from valuable feedback and establishing connections that may open doors to future collaborations.
The success of the TerraVolt team is also owed to solid partnerships built on trust and shared vision. The Berkeley event was supported by UMAEF (Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund) and the University of California, Berkeley—key partners in promoting academic and entrepreneurial excellence.
Likewise, the ICEBERG Bootcamp program, which paved the way to Berkeley, stood out due to the dedicated efforts of professors Rina Țurcan, Nina Puțuntean, and Cristina Diaconu, who professionally coordinated the 2025 edition. Through their consistent guidance, they significantly contributed to shaping future leaders and entrepreneurs.
UTM also expresses deep gratitude to its partners and sponsors—UMAEF, OTP Bank, Mixbook, Tekwill—whose support made this experience truly transformative.
The impressive journey from Chișinău to Silicon Valley is clear proof that the big dreams of UTM students become reality when fueled by passion, quality mentorship, and strategic partnerships. UTM continues to show that through innovation, hard work, and strong collaborations, we can build a better future.
