In a year dominated by conversations about Artificial Intelligence, automation, productivity, and digital transformation, one thing became increasingly clear at IT BBQ Fest Brașov 4.0: technology may accelerate connections, but communities create them.
As companies race to adopt AI, optimize processes, and rethink the future of work, there is a growing tendency to focus on platforms, tools, and systems. Yet behind every successful technology initiative sits something far less measurable: relationships.
Relationships between people, between companies, communities, and ideas. That is where the real value of events like IT BBQ Fest can be found. Not in the burgers. Not in the music. Not even in the moment discussions. But in their ability to create the conditions for something larger to happen.
Building an ecosystem, not just an event
Healthy technology ecosystems are rarely built through individual organizations working in isolation. They emerge when companies, communities, educational initiatives, entrepreneurs, and professionals find opportunities to collaborate around shared goals. This year’s edition highlighted exactly that.
Community organizations such as AgileHub and the Brașov Cybersecurity Community joined established technology companies, local entrepreneurs, students, and professionals in a space designed not around presentations or sales pitches, but around conversation.
And those conversations matter. Because innovation does not happen inside a single company. It happens when different perspectives collide, when people challenge assumptions, when ideas move from one network into another, and when communities stop operating in parallel and start building together.
For Ely Ciumacencu, L&D Manager at Tremend – Publicis Sapient, this has been visible since the earliest days of the initiative.
“For us, IT BBQ Fest is much more than an event sponsorship. It started 4 years ago, when we wanted to celebrate the opening of our new office at Coresi Business Campus together with the local community, and were fortunate to have How About Tech see the opportunity of creating a space where people can connect, share ideas, and strengthen the local tech ecosystem through meaningful interactions and community spirit. Today, seeing hundreds of professionals, students, entrepreneurs, and technology enthusiasts coming together at IT BBQ Fest is a reminder of what can happen when a community grows around a shared purpose. We are proud to continue supporting this initiative and to contribute to an event that brings people together year after year in such an authentic and positive way.” said Ely.
For Nagarro, IT BBQ Fest offered something increasingly valuable in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work environment: the opportunity for people to connect beyond projects, meetings, and organizational boundaries.
“IT BBQ Fest gave our colleagues the opportunity to spend quality time together, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, and reconnect outside the usual work setting. What made the event special was the mix of people it brought together, professionals from different companies, backgrounds, and communities, all sharing the same space, conversations, and energy. We left with new connections and a reminder of how valuable it is to come together as a community. Thank you for organizing this!”, said Andreea Homoranu, Employer Branding & Communications Manager at Nagarro.
Her perspective reflects one of the festival’s core ideas: meaningful communities are built when people have the chance to interact as humans first and professionals second.
Communities are stronger together
One of the strongest signals from this year’s edition was the growing collaboration between local communities themselves. Rather than competing for attention, organizations increasingly recognize the value of shared visibility, shared audiences, and shared opportunities.
The Brașov Cybersecurity Community saw the event as an opportunity to connect with professionals outside the traditional cybersecurity sphere.
“Being a Community Partner at IT BBQ meant more than a logo on a screen – it was a chance to connect cybersecurity with Brașov’s wider tech scene, meet new faces, and exchange ideas in a relaxed setting. Strong communities are built not just through conferences and technical talks, but through the relationships and shared experiences we create along the way, and IT BBQ was a perfect occasion for exactly that. A big thank you to HowAbout.Tech for organizing such a welcoming event!”, said Daniela Mocanu, Partner at Brașov Cybersecurity Community.
Similarly, AgileHub viewed the event as an extension of conversations that started long before the event itself.
“For AgileHub, community partnerships are about building relationships based on trust, shared values and long-term collaboration. We were happy to reconnect with the HowAbout.Tech team and continue the conversations we started last year. The strongest communities are built through relationships that continue long after a single event ends. We look forward to continuing these conversations and turning ideas into meaningful collaborations.”, said Camelia Codarcea, Founder AgileHub.
Taken together, these perspectives reveal an important truth: communities are no longer looking only for visibility. They are looking for meaningful ways to collaborate and grow together.
The next generation is already part of the conversation
One of the strongest signals from IT BBQ Fest Brașov 2026 was the presence of the next generation, not only as visitors, but as active contributors to the experience.
This year, the festival staff was entirely composed of students from BEST Brașov, who helped keep the event running while connecting directly with today’s tech professionals, companies, community leaders, and entrepreneurs.
For them, IT BBQ Fest became more than a volunteering opportunity. It was a space to observe, learn, ask questions, and understand how the industry works beyond classrooms and theory. In many ways, they were not just supporting the festival. They were becoming part of the ecosystem it was built to strengthen.
And the same idea extended to the youngest participants.
While adults talked about technology, innovation, and the future, children were invited to imagine their own version of tomorrow. Supported by Drool.ro, the kids’ area brought color, creativity, board games, coloring books, playful activities, and a special raffle featuring a Nils balance bike for children aged 2+.
“We loved seeing children draw themselves as superheroes of the future. Because before someone becomes an entrepreneur, designer, or researcher, they first need the freedom to imagine who they could become. Sometimes, impact starts with a blank sheet of paper, a handful of colored pencils, and a space where kids feel encouraged to dream.”, said Iulia Ivan, on behalf of the Drool.ro team.
In many ways, that scene reflected something larger. Technology communities are maturing. They are becoming more inclusive, more sustainable, and more focused on long-term impact.
The real impact happens between events
Looking back, the most important result of IT BBQ Fest Brașov 2026 will probably not be measured in attendance numbers, social media reach, or even the energy of the day itself. It will be seen in what continues after the festival: the conversations that turned into follow-ups, the introductions that became partnerships, and the ideas that started to look like real projects.
For HowAbout.Tech, this is where IT BBQ Fest becomes more than a recurring event. It becomes a platform for connection, collaboration, and long-term ecosystem building.
“For me, the real win is not only what happens during IT BBQ Fest, but what starts because of it. The mission is growing beyond one day, one stage, or one festival setup. We are already thinking about how HowAbout.Tech can support more communities, more startups, more local initiatives, and more people who want to create meaningful impact. And if this year’s Brașov edition proved anything, it’s that the future of tech ecosystems will not be built through technology alone, but through the people willing to come together around it,” said Mirela Neagu, Co-founder of HowAbout.Tech.
With Brașov closing another strong chapter, the next one is already on the horizon.
See you at the next one: September, in Iași!
