## 1 Introduction  
Innovation ecosystems are fundamental to fostering economic growth, entrepreneurship, and societal progress. Initiatives such as business incubators, hackathons, and in-person meetups have been widely deployed. However, the current environment remains fragmented and insufficiently integrated. Many innovators, particularly those in remote or under-represented regions, lack consistent pathways to engage with expert networks, secure financial resources, or access high-quality mentorship. As a result, valuable ideas often fail to mature into robust, market-ready solutions. A common challenge faced by university students with innovative ideas and creative young people in general is the lack of access to experienced mentors. These mentors can help transform technical concepts into viable startups. For example, a group of students from a university's AI research lab developed an advanced machine-learning model for fraud detection. They struggled to commercialize it due to their limited knowledge of market strategies, customer acquisition, and funding opportunities. They attended hackathons and online entrepreneurship courses but still lacked structured guidance. They needed more support in refining their business model, pitching to investors, and securing industry partnerships. Similarly, another team developing a blockchain-based credential verification system found it difficult to connect with legal and compliance experts. They faced challenges navigating regulatory requirements, which slowed their progress. These cases highlight the gap between technical innovation and the business ecosystem. They clearly demonstrate the need for our proposed solution to bridge this divide. There are existing approaches, most notably incubators, that offer structured environments that combine operational infrastructure, investor connections, and curated mentorship. While these models are effective for certain use cases, they are frequently constrained by geographic accessibility, limited participant capacity, and rigid program schedules. Similarly, hackathons and physical meetups encourage rapid prototyping and peer interaction but typically occur as isolated, time-bounded events, leaving little room for sustained iterative development or long-term support mechanisms. These shortcomings are exacerbated by the logistical and financial barriers that prevent broader participation. Existing platforms for fostering innovation and dedicated startup accelerators, like RubikHub ([[https://rubikhub.ro/](https://rubikhub.ro/)]([https://rubikhub.ro/](https://rubikhub.ro/)) accessed on 23 January 2025), ROTSA ([[https://rotsa.ro/en/homepage-en/](https://rotsa.ro/en/homepage-en/)]([https://rotsa.ro/en/homepage-en/](https://rotsa.ro/en/homepage-en/)) accessed on 23 January 2025), Techcelerator ([[https://techcelerator.co/](https://techcelerator.co/)]([https://techcelerator.co/](https://techcelerator.co/)) accessed on 23 January 2025), 100%Open ([[https://www.100](https://www.100) open.com/]([https://www.100](https://www.100) open.com/) accessed on 23 January 2025), EdisonOpen ([[https://www.edison.it/en/open-innovation](https://www.edison.it/en/open-innovation)]([https://www.edison.it/en/open-innovation](https://www.edison.it/en/open-innovation)) accessed on 23 January 2025), NineSigma ([[https://www.ninesigma.com/](https://www.ninesigma.com/)]([https://www.ninesigma.com/](https://www.ninesigma.com/)) accessed on 23 January 2025), or Y Combinator ([[https://www.ycombinator.com/](https://www.ycombinator.com/)]([https://www.ycombinator.com/](https://www.ycombinator.com/)) accessed on 23 January 2025), offer valuable opportunities for connecting innovators with potential mentors, investors, and collaborators. These platforms often provide tools for networking, funding, and showcasing business ideas. These platforms can provide initial networking opportunities and exposure to potential investors. However, the depth and sustainability of these relationships can be inconsistent.