Meet Our Guest
Matei Dumitrescu is an impact-driven investor and entrepreneur, empowering startups through deep-tech innovation, scalable solutions, and two decades of venture-building experience.
In the evolving world of technology, some of the voices from this industry bridge deep-tech, venture capital, and also have an impact, such as the voice of Matei Dumitrescu. A veteran entrepreneur, investor, and startup accelerator leader, describing himself as not just a business angel but also an impact-focused one, a term used to describe more deeply on his personal and professional ethos.
"Impact in tech means creating tangible, positive changes in people’s lives, and doing it at scale," Matei explains. "Technology is the layer that makes meaningful solutions scalable, going far beyond traditional reach.”
With a career spanning over two decades, from leading Graal Soft, his custom software company, to driving growth as a Venture Partner at Fil Rouge Capital, and empowering founders through Commons Accel, Venture Accel, and MyidEA, Matei has crafted a playbook on how to make technology meaningful, scalable, and sustainable.
Building Beyond Ecosystems: Founder, Investor, and Educator
When asked how he balances wearing so many hats, Matei responded that it's not just a juggling act; it’s rather a synergy. “Each role complements the other. Building cutting-edge tools at Graal Soft keeps me sharp. That informs my investments and also shapes how I mentor startups through our accelerators. If I can’t build, I can’t teach or invest.”
It’s a refreshingly grounded approach in a world that is not often clouded by hype cycles and worn-out jargon.
From Fil Rouge Capital: Betting on the Bold
At Fil Rouge Capital, Matei is driven by only one principle: “It all starts with a crazy idea.". He also added, “I’m drawn to radical deep-tech innovations that transform entire industries. AI, transformative automation, sectoral disruption. I want to fund what sounds bold today but obvious tomorrow.”
He got deeper into the company owners, who are not just dreamers but also creators. His criteria? He looked deeper into domain expertise, laser-sharp vision, genuine passion, and coachability. This means that sometimes they must understand that impact is business.
“If you want to make an impact, you need to build a profitable, scalable business. That’s non-negotiable."
From Acceleration to Transformation: What Makes an Effective Program?
After a decade of creating and designing startup acceleration programs, Matei is quick to call out what separates the average from the best.
“Most accelerators offer workshops and a bit of networking. A great one goes deeper, it understands what each founder really needs, gives tailored mentorship, and connects them strategically with investors and corporate partners,” he mentions.
At Commons Accel, the focus is on early validation and guiding. However, Venture Accel supports growth-stage startups, which are in the process of scaling fast and smart. These programs raised over $50 million with the help of MyidEA, attracting more than 100 seasoned mentors.
He also helped a sustainable agri-tech founder evolve into a market leader with a measurable environmental impact and strong revenue that can help to back it up. Also mentioning that this was one of his proudest achievements.
Scaling Tech and Graal Soft
As the CEO of Graal Soft, Matei has watched the tech industry shift drastically. “When we started, it was about building software. Now, it’s about building intelligent systems. AI, cloud, automation, these are not trends; they’re now fundamental,” he said.
Graal Soft didn’t just go over the shift; it also anticipated it, investing in emerging technology and recreating and transforming into a consultancy-driven company that helps clients make decisions that are well thought out and documented, not just technical decisions. “The hype might be new to the public, but we’ve worked with AI, ML, and automation for over a decade.”
The Next Steps: Tech with Real Impact
Starting next, Matei is looking for massive potential in sectors where technology meets pressing human needs, think about the use of technology in fields such as healthcare, sustainable energy, circular economy models, and even next-gen agritech. Those fields are the ones that need a better understanding of the ways in which artificial intelligence can be integrated in order to make it more productive.
“These areas offer real opportunities to make the world better, and to build great businesses while doing it.”
Advice for the Next Generation
When thinking about the next generation, Matei has one important message that he wants to share with the next generation of entrepreneurs. “Don’t build until you truly understand your customer’s pain. That’s your foundation. Forget hype, real impact comes from solving real problems.”
He emphasises the need and importance for any entrepreneur to understand what their customers need and what the industry lacks in order to create and scale a product that is truly valuable.
Whether guiding founders through complex funding landscapes, building AI at a more technical level, or even rebranding the way a startup looks, Matei Dumitrescu continues to pursue and challenge the tech ecosystem forward. Yet, not just with noise but also with clarity, discipline, and impact. Always looking for a bold, crazy idea.
