Early Game Ventures

16/10/2026

🚀 📍 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼: Orbital Matter is taking us behind the scenes of its journey to space!

In the first episode of RIDE!’s 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘! series, Jakub Stojek, CEO, and Robert Ihnatisin, CTO of Orbital Matter, share the stories behind two space missions: the maiden flight of Ariane 6 in 2024 and Transporter-17 in 2026.

From launch preparations to overcoming the challenges of space missions, the episode offers a closer look at what it takes to bring 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 into orbit.

🎥 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄.



https://www.linkedin.com/posts/behind-the-ride-ep1-orbital-matter-ugcPost-7516426326241804288-yCCl/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAB7Hz8BCCz5jN7lFVeRmhUnMeUXlJCCyCg

It’s time to go behind the RIDE. In 2024 and 2026, we supported the space construction company Orbital Matter in their ride to space, once on Ariane 6 maiden launch and another on Transporter-17. In the first episode of our latest series, Behind The RIDE!, we explore the stories behind these two l...

15/10/2026

📢 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗨𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟮 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺

The team slide is not about proving that you are impressive in general.
It is about proving that you are the 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 for this specific startup.

In this 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗨𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 short, Cristian Munteanu, Managing Partner at Early Game Ventures, explains what investors actually need to understand from this slide.

A strong team slide should show:
• 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 for the problem you are solving
• 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 across the founding team
• 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 and evidence that the team can work together
• the ability to stay committed through the difficult years ahead

This is not the place for a wall of former employer logos or inflated titles.

Investors need to believe that the people on the slide know what they are doing, cover the capabilities the company needs, and have a real chance of succeeding together.

14/10/2026

📍 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼: Tryll is heading to WN Events in Yerevan on October 15–16! 🎮

Alex Riabov, Co-founder & CBO at Tryll, will join the roundtable 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜-𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼, exploring how AI is transforming game development, studio workflows and the skills teams need.

A relevant conversation as Tryll continues building technology that brings 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗜-𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀.

If you're attending, connect with Alex and the Tryll team!
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/on-october-15-16-tryll-will-be-at-wn-events-share-7515753508906827777-1Qzv/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAB7Hz8BCCz5jN7lFVeRmhUnMeUXlJCCyCg

On October 15-16, Tryll will be at WN Events in Yerevan, represented by one of our co-founders and CBO, Alex Riabov. For the past six months, Armenia has been home for Alex, so if you’d rather meet over coffee outside the venue, that works too. On Thursday, from 12:00 to 13:30, Alex is speaking at...

14/10/2026

📍 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼: The Cat Health Company featured in The Underbite.

🐈 In a recent interview, Alexandru Bacita, Co-founder & COO of The Cat Health Company, shares how the team is using 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀.

In less than two years, the company has advanced three drugs into clinical trials, built a pipeline of 11 additional preclinical candidates, and signed its first therapeutic licensing agreement.

An impressive pace of progress toward the team's broader ambition: 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀.

Read the interview below.👇
https://newsletter.theunderbite.co/p/the-biotech-company-trying-to-give-cats-more-than-nine-lives

The Cat Health Company is using machine learning to tackle age-related diseases in cats.

13/10/2026

📊 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺.

The recent Family Office Initiative, organized by Endeavor Romania and ROPEA, brought together entrepreneurs, investors and family offices to discuss how private capital can support the next generation of Romanian companies.

A few interesting figures from the presentations:

📈 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝟰𝟱𝟯.𝟳𝗠 raised by Romanian PE & VC funds in 2024–2025, representing 84% of total fundraising between 2019 and 2025.

📈 𝟰𝟭% of Romanian PE & VC fundraising in 2024–2025 came from family offices and private individuals.

📈 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝟲𝟲𝟮.𝟰𝗠 in PE & VC divestments at cost in 2025, the highest level on record.

For us at Early Game Ventures, these figures point to an important opportunity: 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀.

Romania has the entrepreneurial talent and a growing investment ecosystem. The next step is turning more of that capital into companies capable of competing globally.

Great discussions and valuable perspectives throughout the event. Thank you to Endeavor Romania and ROPEA for bringing the ecosystem together.

09/10/2026

🎙️ Alex Băraru, Co-founder of Kyndred, and Dan Călugăreanu, Partner at Early Game Ventures, joined Oana Osman on Profit.ro LIVE to discuss our recent €𝟱𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 in Kyndred and the opportunities ahead for AI startups.

Alex shared how Kyndred is building 𝗔𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, why the team chose to target the US market from day one, and what's next for the product.

Dan offered the investor's perspective: why EGV backed the founders at such an early stage, what makes Kyndred's approach different, and what it takes to build a technology company with global potential.

The conversation also covered the broader VC landscape, the challenges founders face in 𝗴𝗼-𝘁𝗼-𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, and where EGV sees opportunities for the next generation of startups.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄.👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHWLUDTiS_Q

08/10/2026

📢 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗨𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟮 – 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹
The business model slide is not where investors expect originality, it is where they expect clarity.

In this 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗨𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 short, Cristian Munteanu, Managing Partner at Early Game Ventures, explains why this is one of the most pragmatic slides in the deck.

It should answer the questions that matter most:
• 𝘄𝗵𝗼 pays
• 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 they pay
• 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 and 𝗵𝗼𝘄 they pay
• what the model means for 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
• what the main constraints of that model are

If it is subscription-based, say it. If it is transactional or usage-based, say it clearly.

This is the first slide where the deck really starts talking about money, and it should show that the founder understands the economics of the business.

Be direct. Be transparent. Know your model.

07/10/2026

🎙️ A great conversation on 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 at the Endeavor Romania Family Office Initiative.

Cristian Munteanu joined Marius Iordache and Laurențiu Bălașa, founders of Bible Chat, to share the perspective from both sides of the table: 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Thank you Endeavor Romania and ROPEA for bringing the conversation together.

06/10/2026

🇪🇺 Yesterday, Munteanu, Managing Partner at Early Game Ventures, joined the European Innovation Council event for deep tech startups and scaleups in Bucharest.

Cristian took part in the panel 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗜𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗖𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵, alongside investors and representatives of the European innovation ecosystem.

An engaging conversation on the Romanian tech startup ecosystem and the opportunities to further strengthen collaboration between VC investors and the EIC, helping ambitious companies access the capital and support they need to grow.

05/10/2026

Robert Ihnatisin, Co-founder of Orbital Matter, joined Marian Andrei (StirileProTV) to talk about the technology the team is developing to 𝟯𝗗 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲, overcoming one of the fundamental constraints of building for orbit: everything currently needs to fit inside a rocket.

A great conversation about what manufacturing directly in space could make possible. 🚀

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄. 👇

https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/ilikeit/ilikeit-un-roman-vrea-sa-revolutioneze-constructiile-in-spatiu-structuri-uriase-imprimate-3d-direct-la-sursa.html

iLikeIT. Un român vrea să revoluționeze construcțiile în spațiu: structuri uriașe imprimate 3D direct la sursă