More than 1,800 entrepreneurs, CEOs, and managers from over 1,100 companies participated in the Business Evolution roadshow organized by Doingbusiness.ro, gaining access to valuable networking opportunities and business insights while also contributing to one of the most relevant snapshots of Romania's business environment this year: less optimism about the economy, greater confidence in their own business strategies, and a strong call for fiscal predictability and increased investment in digitalization.
In a year when Romanian companies are seeking direction in an unpredictable economic environment, Doingbusiness.ro brought its 2026 ‘Business Evolution. Growth. Transformation. Adaptation’ event series to several cities across the country—a roadshow built around practical insights, relevant trends, and actionable solutions for entrepreneurs and managers.
Business Evolution is a project dedicated to supporting the growth of Romanian companies through innovation, collaboration, access to financing, and high-performance leadership. In every city, the conferences served as a meeting point between expertise and the real needs of the market, offering relevant content, direct access to specialists, and the opportunity to turn local challenges into practical solutions that can be immediately implemented within organizations.
From Ploiesti to Hunedoara, from Ramnicu Valcea to Targu Mures, and from Focsani and Braila to Alba Iulia, the Doingbusiness.ro roadshow brought together more than 1,800 entrepreneurs, CEOs, department managers, and business professionals from over 1,100 companies, representing a wide range of industries and diverse business perspectives.
What Do Business Leaders from the Doingbusiness.ro Community Say About Romania's Economy?
• Growth continues, but at a slower, more cautious, and more controlled pace.
• Business leaders have greater confidence in their own strategies than in the overall economic outlook.
• Price continues to be the main competitive factor, while digitalization remains the greatest opportunity for differentiation.
• Fiscal and economic unpredictability is holding back investment.
• Stability, tax simplification, and digital transformation are seen as key priorities for the development of the business environment.
THE KEY TOPICS SHAPING THE CONVERSATION AMONG BUSINESS LEADERS IN 2026
The speakers addressed topics that are critical for today’s business leaders, including financing, digital transformation, adaptive leadership, economic trends, growth strategies, modern marketing, team management, and emerging business models.
Each edition was built around themes that reflect the current challenges facing Romanian companies: how to navigate economic uncertainty, accelerate digital transformation, build resilient teams, and transform organizations to remain competitive.
The experts featured on the Business Evolution stage shared practical insights, real-world case studies, and actionable tools. For many participants, the conferences became a space for strategic clarity—a place where ideas are transformed into actions, and actions into measurable results.
BUSINESS EVOLUTION BAROMETER 2026
A defining feature of each edition is the Business Evolution Barometer, a flash survey conducted among event participants. The results provide a real-time snapshot of Romania's business environment, captured directly from the perspective of the decision-makers who shape it every day.
Following the analysis of the combined data collected across this year's seven editions, the following key findings emerged:
a. How Do Business Leaders View the Outlook for Their Companies?
The data reflects moderate yet realistic optimism. Nineteen percent of companies expect revenue growth of between 10% and 20%, while 17% anticipate profit growth of between 5% and 10%.
At the same time, 34% believe their workforce will remain unchanged, an indicator of cautious decision-making in the current economic climate.
These figures point to a strategy of controlled growth, with companies prioritizing operational efficiency and strengthening their market position before pursuing accelerated expansion.
b. Confidence in the Economy and Their Industry
Only 22% of respondents are confident about the positive outlook for Romania's national economy, while 37% express confidence in the industry in which they operate.
The gap is significant and highlights a common pattern: business leaders place greater trust in what they can directly influence—their own industry and their own business strategies—than in the broader macroeconomic environment.
This mindset translates into a distinct strategic approach: selective investments, expansion into new markets, portfolio diversification, and increased investment in marketing and communications—all trends confirmed by the survey results.
c. Competitors' Advantages Reflect the Market
According to the survey results, 49% of respondents believe that competitive pricing is the primary advantage of their local competitors. This is followed by distribution channels (38%), business partnerships (37%), and brand recognition (33%). Digital transformation ranks much lower, at just 20%, highlighting a gap between the public narrative and the reality of the market.
This distribution suggests a market where competition is still driven primarily by efficiency and market access rather than innovation. Romanian companies have a significant opportunity to gain a competitive edge through digitalization, automation, and brand investment—areas where competitive pressure remains relatively low.
d. The Real Challenges Facing the Business Environment
The most significant challenges identified by respondents are economic uncertainty (53%), the state of the national economy (50%), and the level of taxation (45%). A lack of political stability and long-term vision in public policy is cited by 42% of respondents.
These findings are closely aligned with broader trends across Central and Eastern Europe, where companies operate in a highly volatile environment and fiscal and regulatory predictability has become a critical factor influencing investment decisions.
e. What Would Accelerate Entrepreneurship in Romania?
Sixty-six percent of respondents call for greater stability in regulation and taxation. Fifty-three percent advocate for a simpler tax system, while 46% believe that adapting to technological change is essential. Together, these three priorities outline a clear strategic direction: Romania needs a predictable, business-friendly, and digitally driven environment to foster sustainable business growth.
For the leaders within the Business Evolution community, these findings serve as important reference points for shaping their strategic decisions in the years ahead.
THE POSITIVE IMPACT AND MISSION OF BUSINESS EVOLUTION
The mission of Business Evolution is to support the growth of Romanian companies by promoting innovation, collaboration, and excellence in leadership. Through conferences, networking opportunities, and the exchange of best practices, the platform provides access to strategic know-how, economic trends, and practical solutions that help businesses adapt and achieve sustainable growth. Companies can also continue the dialogue initiated during the conferences through consulting programs, training sessions, and executive coaching delivered by the speakers participating in this roadshow.
With a legacy of more than 80 successfully organized editions, Business Evolution remains Doingbusiness.ro's flagship business development roadshow and one of the most highly regarded business conference series in Romania. The results of the 2026 edition demonstrate that business communities across every region are ready to evolve, while Business Evolution continues to be one of the platforms where that evolution gains direction and momentum.
We are proud to have advanced our mission with the support of Raiffeisen Bank Romania, Orange Business, SCUT, Raiffeisen Leasing, Trend Consult, as well as all our institutional, media, and mobility partners.
About Business Evolution
For more than 18 years, Business Evolution has been Romania's leading business conference roadshow, dedicated to C-level executives, entrepreneurs, and managers from business development, IT, finance, marketing, and sales departments. The conferences provide a platform for discussing the latest macroeconomic trends and developments, as well as emerging business opportunities and market trends.
The Business Evolution conference series offers participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and engage with leading experts across a wide range of industries.
For more information, visit: www.businessevolution.ro
About Doingbusiness.ro
Doingbusiness.ro is a premium B2B marketing, communications, and business development agency. The company offers an integrated portfolio of B2B communication and business development services delivered through both online and offline channels, including specialized business portals, digital applications, publications, conferences, webinars, segmented databases, and dedicated telemarketing services for generating qualified B2B leads.
Leveraging its extensive experience and a flexible, results-oriented approach, the company develops tailored solutions designed to meet each client's commercial objectives and specific business needs. By using specialized tools and rigorous targeting methodologies, Doingbusiness.ro provides access to highly relevant B2B audiences that exceed market standards, both in terms of the size of the organizations targeted and the seniority of the decision-makers reached.
Its high professional standards, operational expertise, and collaboration with specialized partners enable the company to deliver value-added services and solutions designed to enhance commercial performance and generate a competitive return on investment.
Learn more at: www.doingbusiness.ro
