Brașov joins the UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency- partnership led by PLAI, Iceberg Plus, CATTIA and Brașov City Hall
UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency arrives in Brașov: creative entrepreneurs can test new ideas in Piața Sfântul Ioan.
The project is initiated by the PLAI Cultural Center and supported by UniCredit Bank Romania. This year, in Brașov, it also benefits from the support of local partner Iceberg Plus and strategic partners CATTIA and the Brașov City Hall, aiming to support local entrepreneurs.
Throughout the summer of 2026, selected entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to test their ideas, products, or services in a space located in Piața Sfântul Ioan, one of the city’s central areas, offering visibility and direct access to the local community.
UniCredit Bank continues its mission to support entrepreneurs and the development of Romania’s creative and social ecosystem through the launch of the ninth edition of the “UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency” program — a support initiative dedicated to creative entrepreneurs testing and prototyping new ways of reaching wider audiences and building sustainable creative economy models.
“At UniCredit Bank, we believe in the power of community and collaboration. Through the UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency program, we continue to provide entrepreneurs with resources, space, and expertise to transform their ideas into remarkable and sustainable initiatives. Expanding the program to Brașov is a natural step in our mission to connect and support local entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country. We are confident that Brașov’s creative environment will continue to grow in a healthy way, bringing fresh inspiration and new energy!” - Anca Ungureanu, Director Identity & Communication, UniCredit Bank
A program bringing creative entrepreneurship into public space
Initially launched in Timișoara as part of the building.a.community platform, the “UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency” project was designed as a support program for creative and social entrepreneurs in the business consolidation stage. Over previous editions, the program expanded to cities such as Iași, Cluj-Napoca, and Oradea, supporting local initiatives in areas such as design, fashion, ceramics, gastronomy, culture, and education.
In Brașov, the program introduces a format adapted to the city: three consecutive residencies, each lasting approximately three weeks, in a central urban space that can temporarily become a place for testing, dialogue, and promotion for entrepreneurs.
The “UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency” offers entrepreneurs from the creative and social industries, with at least one year of activity, access to essential resources for strengthening and promoting their businesses in an environment that encourages collaboration and innovation.
Applications for the ninth edition of the program are now open, and interested entrepreneurs are invited to apply through the building.a.community platform.
Applications for the first residency are open until May 26, 2026, and interested entrepreneurs can apply for the chance to become residents of the program hosted this year in Piața Sfântul Ioan.
What are the benefits for the winner
For one month, the winner of the program will benefit from a subsidized and customizable space in the center of Brașov, with no rent or utility costs, designed as a place for meeting and dialogue with the public and the local community.
Additional benefits include:
• €1,000 budget for setting up and operating the space;
• Business evaluation by experts;
• Personalized consultancy worth €1,000 for three priority areas;
• Residency launch event;
• €500 promotion budget during the program.
“Through the UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency, we continue to build real contexts for collaboration between cities, entrepreneurs, communities, and the creative sector. We are happy to expand the project to Brașov and connect new ecosystems that share the same vision: sustainable development through creativity and engagement.”
— Norbert Tako, President, PLAI Cultural Center
Program calendar in Brașov
The call for the first selection stage launches on May 13, 2026, and the application form will remain open for two weeks, until May 26, 2026. The first winner will be announced on June 4, 2026. After a short preparation and setup period, the first residency will take place in Piața Sfântul Ioan between June 10–30, 2026.
For the following two residencies, the application form will reopen in stages: between June 10–23, 2026 for the second residency, scheduled for July 7–27, 2026, and between July 7–20, 2026 for the third residency, scheduled for August 3–23, 2026. The program will conclude by August 30, 2026.
By choosing Piața Sfântul Ioan as the hosting location, the Brașov edition aims to bring creative entrepreneurship closer to the public and transform the residency into a meeting point between private initiative, culture, community, and local administration.
“For CATTIA, managed by Iceberg+, involvement in the UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency comes naturally at a time when the center is increasingly opening towards entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs, and organizations interested in development and innovation. We want this Brașov infrastructure to function as a real space for incubation, collaboration, and know-how transfer, where ideas can be tested, connected with relevant resources, and transformed into sustainable models. Through this residency, Piața Sfântul Ioan becomes an extension of this mission: a place where creative entrepreneurs can engage directly with the public, validate their products or services, and contribute to the development of the local business ecosystem,” said Alexandra Hîncu, Head of Incubation & Programmes, CATTIA.
The winners will be selected through a process evaluating the relevance of the proposal, impact potential, sustainability of the idea, and the way the entrepreneur intends to use the residency period.