Radu Georgescu and Gecad Ventures – Vision, Courage, and Lessons from a Life Dedicated to Entrepreneurship

Interview with Radu Georgescu, Founding Partner of Gecad Ventures – about vision, entrepreneurship, lessons from failure, and the power of enjoying every step toward success.

Radu Georgescu is the Founding Partner of Gecad Ventures, an investment fund dedicated to startups and innovative companies in the fields of technology, fintech, software, and the internet. Under his leadership, the fund has supported numerous technology companies in Central and Eastern Europe, achieving several successful exits.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in one sentence to make those who don’t know you curious?

Radu Georgescu: A happy man.

C&B: How did your entrepreneurial journey begin, and what were your first important lessons?

Radu Georgescu: My small decisions greatly affect others, so there’s a lot of responsibility that is otherwise hard to perceive so early on.

C&B: What has been the most difficult moment in your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?

Radu Georgescu: Entrepreneurship is full of difficult moments. It’s about a constant battle with challenges. Although only entrepreneurial successes are visible, success actually happens in less than 1% of cases. The rest is failure. And even in the case of success, it comes after years of hard work and difficult times. Entrepreneurship is what people call “an acquired taste.”

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?

Radu Georgescu: Yes, to be happy. A selfish dream, but it’s my dream. And I feel I’m fulfilling it, living it every day.

C&B: How did you look at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you have transformed since then?

Radu Georgescu: The same, thank you for asking.

C&B: If we met your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?

Radu Georgescu: Haha, you should ask them.

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve ever made that changed your trajectory?

Radu Georgescu: Not to get a job after university, but to start a company instead. Mind you, this was back in 1992.

C&B: How did you develop your leadership style or decision-making process? Was it natural or learned?

Radu Georgescu: Rather natural. I’ve never been in an executive role, so my leadership is more philosophical and cultural than operational.

C&B: Among the transactions you’ve made (RAV Antivirus, Avangate, Vector Watch, etc.), which one has influenced your professional journey the most, and why?

Radu Georgescu: Failures have helped and taught me the most; I’ve learned a great deal from each one. Successes are undoubtedly good, and each of the ones mentioned above (and others) has meant a lot. But the major influence comes from failures.

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what moments bring you the most satisfaction?

Radu Georgescu: Too personal a question, sorry—I’ll answer in a more general (but accurate) way: going back to my goal of being happy, the vast majority of things I do bring me satisfaction. If I come to the office, it’s because I enjoy it; if I go to a meeting, it’s the same. If I drive to Timișoara instead of flying, it’s because it gives me pleasure.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them every day?

Radu Georgescu: Enjoy the ride. Excuse the English, but I believe that doing things with pleasure, with a smile, without tension, with respect for what happens around you, with modesty but positive assertiveness—that’s the difference between success and failure.

C&B: What are the most important business lessons you’ve learned over the years?

Radu Georgescu: How much time do you have? If I had to focus on just one thing, I’d say that business execution ability is the most important. We already live in a world where technology is a commodity, and it’s crucial that the team can execute (extremely) fast and (extremely) well.

C&B: How do you see the evolution of the tech ecosystem in Romania over the next 10 years?

Radu Georgescu: The European tech ecosystem has grown a lot (sorry, I can’t really see Romania as separate from Europe) in the last 10–20 years. We’re slowly starting to have unicorns; we’re starting to reduce the gap with the US and China. I estimate that the gap will continue to shrink, and I’m betting on the accelerated growth of this ecosystem. Companies like SeedBlink, which consolidate investments both geographically and by stage (and in general, equity management for startups), make all the difference.

Radu Georgescu continues to inspire through authenticity, clarity, and the joy of building. With a strong vision for the future of technology and investment, he shows that entrepreneurship is not just about success but about balance, learning, and passion for what you do.