Start-up Mindset – workshop delivered by Erika (Adriana) Țiplea and Sandu Băbășan as part of the i-Lab incubation program (October 28, 2025)

On October 28, 2025, the i-Lab community opened the series of workshops dedicated to shaping future entrepreneurs with Module 1: Start-up Mindset, an interactive session focused on developing the entrepreneurial mindset, turning failure into growth, and understanding the importance of mindset in the entrepreneurial journey.

The special guests of the session were Erika (Adriana) Țiplea, Manager of Botanical Bar Events, and Sandu Băbășan, a tech entrepreneur and investor from Cluj-Napoca, known for his active involvement in the Romanian start-up ecosystem.

With over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Erika Țiplea shared with participants her professional journey — from managing teams at major festivals across the country to launching her own event concept. Today, through Botanical Bar Events, she demonstrates how passion, perseverance, and courage can turn an idea into an authentic brand. Erika also emphasized the importance of balancing creativity with financial discipline, drawing on her four years of experience in accounting and business consulting.

Sandu Băbășan, co-founder of MindMagnet and Blugento, inspired participants with concrete examples from his entrepreneurial journey — from his early initiatives in e-commerce to innovative projects in areas such as AI, green energy, and ESG. In his talk, Sandu highlighted the value of failure as a source of learning and the importance of a growth-oriented mindset, both essential elements in building a successful start-up.

The workshop provided a dynamic learning environment where students were challenged to define their own entrepreneurial “why,” explore how strategic thinking and resilience can turn ideas into action, and discover how to navigate the challenges of starting out on their entrepreneurial journey.