Tech mogul Michael Koch, the founder and CEO of Catalyst Worldwide recently came to Bucharest, where the firm opened a new office and where it plans to create an East European Silicon Valley. Catalyst Worldwide, which produces complete software solutions for companies in Top Fortune 500, plans to recruit 250 specialists in Romania in the next two years. “Talent, resources and infrastructure are already present here, to create one of the most important centers of digital development in the world,” said Michael Koch (in picture) at the Bucharest conference. The group also plans to launch a Digital University in Bucharest, which will bring together the most innovative IT entrepreneurs in “an avantgardist digital ecosystem”. Bucharest is Catalyst Worldwide's second office as listed on its website, after the one in New York.

Koch, a pioneer of the digital production industry, launched Catalyst Worldwide in 2010, part of the Catalyst group, which also includes the Digital Catalyst Fund, an investment fund dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial ideas around the world, from California to Bucharest. In fact, the fund is based in Bucharest and was started by two Romanians – Emi Gal and Cristian Burci. The board that reviews the projects however comprises 10 people, the two founders, Michael Koch, Simon Bond – the CMO of BBDO & Proximity Worldwide, famous Romanian athlete and promoter Nadia Comaneci, Wharton School Professors Eric Clemons and Kartik Hosanagar, Matt Spiegel, the CEO of Tap.Me, Irina Pugna, professor at the Academy of Economic Studies from Bucharest, and Lance Neuhauser, CEO of The Echo System, the Return on Social Company.

Corina Chirileasa, corina@romania-insider.com

 (photo: Catalyst Worldwide)