The first Moldovan nominated for “Forbes Under 30” in the HealthTech category is the winner of Startup World Cup Moldova 2025
The boldest ideas, the brightest minds, and the most ambitious visions came together at Moldova Startup Summit 2025. Out of dozens of teams competing in the Startup World Cup Moldova National Pitching Competition, only 10 made it to the grand finale. On the competition stage, Gleb Babii, a 25-year-old Moldovan entrepreneur and the founder & CEO of Aspect Health, truly stood out.
His startup, a revolutionary healthtech solution, aims to transform how we approach women’s health. Gleb will now represent Moldova on the global stage at the Startup World Cup in San Francisco, where he will pitch in front of top-tier investors and innovation leaders for a chance to win the $1,000,000 grand prize. And that’s not all: Gleb Babii has made history by becoming the youngest Moldovan ever nominated to the prestigious Forbes Under 30 list – and the first ever in the Healthcare category.
Gleb Babii, Founder & CEO, Aspect Health: “When you’re just starting out, you don’t have much capital to spend on visibility, and events like these provide exactly the exposure you need. For me, it’s even more meaningful that this opportunity is happening right here in Moldova. Founders from our region often struggle to reach international investors — I know that firsthand. That’s why I’m incredibly grateful to connect with key players in the industry and to represent Moldova on the main stage in San Francisco.”
Aspect Health is a startup focused on women’s hormonal health, founded just a few years ago. By combining cutting-edge wearable tech with artificial intelligence and personalized coaching, the startup offers customized health programs for women. Their wearable devices provide real-time, personalized data, helping users understand and manage hormonal imbalances more effectively.
Gleb Babii, Founder & CEO, Aspect Health: “Our AI model delivers precise, personalized recommendations around nutrition, sleep, and lifestyle habits, tailored to each individual’s needs and conditions. Aspect Health supports women in reaching their health goals — whether it’s balancing hormones, losing weight, reducing acne, or improving fertility. We’re currently operating in the U.S., where we’ve seen incredible growth — from $300,000 to over $3 million in revenue in just 10 months.”
10 Startups, One Vision: Innovating for a Better Future
The 10 startup finalists showcased groundbreaking solutions in fields ranging from healthcare and coaching to music. Each team addressed real-world problems with fresh, forward-thinking approaches. With support from mentors and insights gained during the “Investors Pitching” session, these startups not only built confidence but clarified their growth strategies and unlocked new opportunities for funding and collaboration.
Ana Valiuli, representative of SONR – a startup with two tech products sold in 65 countries: “These competitions are incredibly important. First, they allow you to connect with people who share your mindset, and second, they give you a chance to pitch directly to investors and show them what you’re building and how. But most importantly, they inspire others who haven’t yet launched a startup to believe it’s possible. A startup born in Moldova doesn’t stop here. We’ve already proven that we can go further — and we will.”
The jury included international tech experts and seasoned investors who are passionate
about the future of startups in the region.
Irina Mishka, Jury Member, Investment Manager at 4K Investment: “I believe the appetite of international investors for smaller countries like Moldova — and this region of Europe — has grown significantly in recent years. We’re seeing more and more talent that has matured through exposure to large companies and is now launching its own startups. This dynamic has helped develop regional talent, and investors are recognizing the opportunity — highly innovative, globally scalable products, built with lower costs and greater flexibility.”
Moldova Startup Summit: A Real Launchpad for Global Ambitions
The support provided through the Moldova Startup Summit opens real doors for
founders: access to international startup hubs, exclusive mentorship sessions with top
industry experts, and the chance to stand out in front of global investors. This summit isn’t
just an event — it’s a launchpad for startups with bold ambitions and long-term growth
potential.
Olga Melniciuc, CEO, Startup Moldova Foundation: “The impact of this summit is huge. Some may think these events are just for showcasing results, but for us, it’s much more than that. Yes, we’re showing what we’ve accomplished in the past year — and we have every reason to be proud: more partners engaged, more startups, more jobs created, and founders who are now talking numbers, not just ideas. This summit proves that our ecosystem has enormous potential. It’s not just a success for Startup Moldova — it’s a collective achievement shared by the entire ecosystem: the organizations we work with, our corporate and institutional partners, and the investors who believe in Moldova. When they believe, we believe — and we have something real to show for it. I’m convinced next year we’ll go even further.”
The Moldova Startup Summit 2025 gathered over 1,200 participants, speakers, and investors from 30 countries, creating meaningful opportunities for networking, idea exchange, and inspiration. It brought together startup founders, entrepreneurs seeking funding, business professionals, investors, and tech enthusiasts eager to discover the latest global trends.
Organized With Support From: EU4Innovation East Project, funded by the European Union, co-funded by the French Government and implemented by Expertise France, EIT (European Institute of Innovation & Technology), Swedish Government, UMAEF, and Swiss Government via Helvetas and the OPTIM Project.
