Andrei Costescu

Experience

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  Independent Software Projects

  Jul 2005 - Sept 2006

  Student Entrepreneur

  Started building real-world software projects while still a student, driven by a clear goal: to become a software entrepreneur.• Designed and developed web tools and apps for local clients in education, tourism, e-commerce & construction• Self-taught and hands-on, combining academic learning with applied client work• Collaborated with peers and colleagues — forming early teams to take on increasingly complex projects• Gained essential skills in client communication, scoping, and delivery — all under real-world constraints🔹 Why it matters: This was the beginning — a time of learning by doing, and of turning ambition into action. It set the tone for everything that followed: team collaboration, fast learning, and building with purpose. Show less

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  Welle - Wireless Networks

  Sept 2006 - Oct 2007

  Founder & CTO

  Designed a reliable wireless hotspot system for public venues — including secure access management, prepaid cards, and infrastructure that “just worked.”• Developed full-stack infrastructure and access protocols for venue-based WiFi• Deployed systems in high-traffic public areas, early co-working spaces, and cafes• Led all aspects of development — from network architecture to hardware/software integration• Built user-friendly access flows and management tools for non-technical venue staff🔹 Why it matters: In 2006–2007, laptops were just starting to ship with built-in WiFi, and public internet access was still rare and unreliable. Welle was my first full startup experience — a scrappy, end-to-end product where I learned how to ship tech that solved real problems. It was also when I first understood that building great products requires more than code: sales, storytelling, and customer empathy are just as critical. That lesson shaped the rest of my journey. Show less

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  Welle - Software Solutions

  Oct 2007 - May 2010

  Founder & CEO

  Built and led a custom B2B software company focused on creating high-impact digital tools tailored to real business workflows.• Delivered CRMs, ERPs, document management systems, booking platforms, and e-commerce solutions for medium and large clients• Led cross-functional teams from concept to deployment, bridging business goals and user needs• Designed and shipped educational tech platforms used across national and international programs• Integrated user-centric design and early agile practices — principles that later shaped mReady’s product-first culture🔹 Why it matters: Welle taught me how to design software that solves real operational problems — not just build features. It gave me hands-on experience shipping across diverse industries, from energy to education, and helped solidify my product-first mindset. Show less

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  ICartApp.com

  Sept 2009 - May 2010

  Co-Founder & Tech Lead

  Pioneering mobile shopping app using social and geolocation features.• Built one of the region’s first mobile commerce platforms, featuring 350K+ geo-tagged stores• Delivered app-like UX through early HTML5 tech• Designed a behavioral and social recommendation engine• Focused on product-first discovery rather than location-only filters🔹 Why it matters: Although it didn’t achieve commercial success, iCart was nearly acquired by a major tech company — giving me my first taste of due diligence, product valuation, and serious external interest in something we built. It was the moment I realized that thoughtful execution and user-focused design could attract serious interest, even at an early stage. Show less

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  MemoSMS

  Jul 2010 - Aug 2011

  Co-founder & CEO

  Built an innovative mobile marketing platform tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses — especially in restaurant and medical sectors.• Provided SMS-based marketing tools for direct engagement, retention, and campaign-driven communication• Introduced QR code campaigns — among the first in Romania — bridging physical materials with mobile interaction• Enabled SMBs to adopt mobile marketing well before it became a mainstream channel• Focused entirely on this product — no custom work, no safety net — building under real pressure🔹 Why it matters: memoSMS was an early proof that mobile could empower small businesses. But even more importantly, it was a crash course in startup reality: learning, unlearning, and relearning at breakneck speed. With no fallback plan, I dove deep into everything from product development to sales and fundraising — and discovered what it really means to build under uncertainty. Show less

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  Superlege by AvocatNet

  Nov 2010 - Jun 2012

  Team Leader

  Built one of the first user-centric legal tech platforms in Romania, with advanced AI-driven indexing before legal AI was even a category.• Created a searchable, user-friendly interface for Romania’s complete legislative database (from 1849 to present)• Competed with legacy players by using intelligent backend tech to reduce the content and accuracy gap in record time• Focused on democratizing access to legislation through technology🔹 Why it matters: Showed how AI and thoughtful UX can radically improve access to complex data — a lesson I now apply to AI adoption in corporate workflows. Show less

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  Kangur.ro

  Apr 2011 - Feb 2012

  Co-founder & Product Manager

  Launched a social deal aggregator platform that personalized local shopping offers using early behavioral and social data.• Aggregated offers from 30+ Romanian group-buying sites into a single, user-customized feed• Built personalization algorithms based on user preferences and social circle buying behavior• Designed a mobile-first experience to deliver real-time offers via app and email• Reached ~10K monthly active users organically, despite being a side project🔹 Why it matters: Kangur started as a byproduct of memoSMS lead generation work — but quickly evolved into a stand-alone B2C product. It was an unexpected lesson in spotting and spinning out adjacent opportunities, working with behavioral data at scale, and iterating fast without over-investing. The experience gave me hands-on insight into early product-led growth and lightweight user acquisition. Show less

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  MReady

  Sept 2011 - Apr 2025

  Founder & CEO

  Built and scaled mReady into one of Romania’s most respected B2B mobile development companies — known for its product-first mindset, long-term client partnerships, and deep cultural resilience.• Grew the company from scratch to a 30+ person team across engineering, product, design, and operations• Led mReady through a strategic merger after over a decade of profitable growth• Delivered 200+ products across industries like utilities, energy, fintech, mobility, healthtech, and media• Supported millions of monthly active users across client platforms and applications• Recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 for helping Romanian businesses become mobile-ready in a time of rapid tech adoption• Worked hands-on with hundreds of clients — from fast-growing startups to large enterprises — aligning product strategy with real-world business goals• Helped multiple startups achieve product-market fit and raise follow-on rounds• Personally mentored dozens of early-stage founders with honest feedback, MVP guidance, and business validation tactics• Cultivated a high-trust, high-autonomy culture rooted in clarity, excellence, and mutual respect• Most business came through referrals and returning clients — a testament to team quality and client satisfaction🔹 Why it matters: mReady was my greatest professional school — 14 years of wearing every hat from founder to product manager, people leader, and strategist. I’m deeply grateful for the early believers, the incredible teammates, and the resilient company it became. The lessons in building culture, navigating uncertainty, and turning ambition into real impact shaped how I advise startups and innovation teams today. Show less