Wow Lab’s business grew by over 70% last year, and the company is seeking funding for expansion

Wow Lab, a science education startup founded by entrepreneur Anca Tănăsescu, reported 660,000 lei (132,000 euros) in revenue in 2024, up 71% from 386,000 lei in 2023 and 20% above initial estimates.

For 2025, Wow Lab has budgeted a 27% increase in business and the attraction of funding to develop the business, including entering international markets.

“Wow Lab was selected in the list of ten start-ups by the SeedBlink and FOMO teams to pitch to investors, during the FOMO Fuel the Fire event, which will take place on May 24 at the Sala Palatului in Bucharest. Wow Lab’s objective is to attract an investment of 500,000 lei/ 100,000 euros to support the accelerated development of the business over the next two years. We see great potential for development both in the school area and in the corporate segment, as there is a real need, both from schools to bring the practical component to children’s education, and from companies. The latter want to get more involved in the area of ​​education, thus fulfilling the social responsibility objectives established at group level”, stated Anca Tănăsescu, founder of Wow Lab.

Investments in digitalization and new products The funds will be used for the development of new products, digitalization in order to streamline operations, the acquisition of teaching materials with a tech component, marketing and team development by attracting new colleagues with complementary skills. Wow Lab collaborates with private schools, a segment in which it estimates that, in the next five years, it will end up working with over 45% of the existing units at the gymnasium and primary level in Bucharest.

Collaborations are also targeted with private schools in cities where the private education market is more developed: Cluj, Constanța, Iași, Timișoara, Brașov and Ploiești. In the public school sector, where Wow Lab is contracted to support experiments, especially within the framework of the “Școala Altfel” and “Săptămâna Verde” programs, an accelerated growth rate is expected, estimating an annual doubling of the number of participants in the coming years. In the area of ​​corporate partnerships, Wow Lab conducted a pilot project in four cities across the country last year, working with approximately 1,000 children. This project will continue in 2025.

A fragmented market

The non-formal science education market in Romania is in its infancy and still fragmented, supported by isolated initiatives by NGOs, teachers or private companies. However, demand is growing amid a growing level of awareness among parents and the real need to fill the gaps left by the public education system. Thus, the market potential is very high and, in addition to the growing interest of parents, there is also an appetite from international STEM franchises to enter Romania.

In fact, Wow Lab has already been contacted by networks from Israel and Croatia for possible collaborations. There are over 4,500 state primary and secondary schools in Romania, with approximately 1.8 million students enrolled. Another important indicator is the accelerated development of private education.

Between 2015 and 2025, the number of private schools in Romania doubled, from 170 in 2011 to 330 in 2020. In Bucharest alone, eight new private school projects were launched last year, a clear signal of the growing demand for more efficient educational alternatives that are more adapted to current realities.

“We differentiate ourselves through an extensive team of real scientists, with complementary skills. We do not rely on show, but on clear explanations and direct experiments, through which each child actively participates, not just assists. Parents are aware of the shortcomings of the public education system and are looking for relevant, practical and future-oriented alternatives. They are willing to invest in complementary education, in order to better prepare their children for life and careers in the future,” added Anca Tănăsescu.

Wow Lab is the first science education company through experiments in Romania, and to date has had a total of over 26,000 students enrolled in courses nationwide. Focused on education through experiments, where all children receive materials and work on their own experiment, it does not organize demonstrations in the form of shows with actors and pre-established scenarios.

Wow Lab trainers are young Romanian and foreign scientists – students or graduates of chemistry, physics, biology, pharmacy, medicine.

The first Wow Lab science education workshops based on experiments took place in 2013. They were called “Fun with Reaction” and included physics and chemistry experiments. Wow Lab supports science workshops nationwide, both in urban and rural areas. Its clients include public and private schools, educational institutions, companies and private clients, such as: British Council, American International School of Bucharest, Cambridge School of Bucharest, International British School of Bucharest, Lycée Français Anna de Noailles, Verita International School, Spectrum School, King’s Oak School, Romanian-Finnish High School, etc.