Over the past few years, Moldova’s startup ecosystem has grown from a small community into a dynamic network. According to Startup Moldova, there are now over 250 Moldovan startups, mostly at pre-seed and seed stages. In 2024, they raised around $7.9 million in equity funding. As Startup Moldova CEO Olga Melniciuc notes, “Startup is no longer a buzzword. It’s a concept drawing people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Through the screen of a video call, I watch Xenia and Nicu interact with such genuine joy, laughing, joking, and sharing inside jokes, that it’s clear they’re not just business partners but close friends. It’s hard not to be in awe of the energy they radiate, a kind of connection that feels rare, especially in a journey as intense and uncertain as building a company. I'm trying to understand what made the difference for them. What traits turned this into a success story without a prestigious degree or powerful connections. With a radiant look in their eyes, they both give me the same list of factors: strong discipline, strict work ethic, the ability to juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. And lastly, the knack for finding resources even when none seem available.

“My mother always had side jobs, mural painting in homes or kindergartens, all sorts of crafts she tried to monetize,” says Xenia. She never had free time, always on the go. “That inspired me and gave me values that later helped grow Planable,” Xenia is convinced. She learnt to be resourceful, more creative, build big out of nothing, and be frugal. Following in her mother’s footsteps, in her free time, Xenia renovates an interwar villa in Bucharest, determined to return it to its former glory.