Up the Mountains, the start-up founded by two mountain guides, obtains European funding to take outdoor experiences to the next level

Up the Mountains, the Cluj-Napoca start-up founded by two internationally certified mountain guides, is entering a new stage of development. The company has obtained European funding through the North-West Regional Program 2021–2027, managed by ADR North-West, to digitize its activity, increase safety levels and develop new photo-video services dedicated to outdoor experiences.

The project is called, not coincidentally, “Up the Mountains – Equip for Altitude”, SMIS code 366875, and it scored 100 out of 100 points in the technical and financial evaluation. For Radu Jlobnițchi and Andrei Pop, the two guides behind Up the Mountains, the investment is less about “going big” and more about doing better what they already do: small groups, personal experiences and more care for the people they go up the mountains with.

“We don’t want to turn Up the Mountains into a big tourism company. We want to become very good at what we do. The investment helps us exactly where it counts: safety, organization, technology and the way we build the experience of the people who come with us to the mountains.” – Radu Jlobnițchi, co-founder and Administrator, Up the Mountains

The investment includes IT equipment and mobile devices for organizing activities and communicating with participants, professional photo-video equipment, as well as safety equipment, including an automated external defibrillator (AED). However, an important part of the project story began before the European funding: the Up the Mountains community supported the development of the social enterprise through crowdfunding and made the next step possible.

“Up the Mountains grew around a community, not around the idea of volume. People came in droves, supported the crowdfunding, and told the story further. This funding allows us to build further, without losing the things that brought us here.” – Andrei Pop, co-founder and Project Director, Up the Mountains

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project is financed under the North-West Regional Programme 2021–2027, Priority 1 – "A competitive region through innovation, digitalisation and dynamic enterprises", Specific Objective 1.3 – Intensifying sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and creating jobs in SMEs, including through productive investments.

The total value of the project is 122,691.28 lei, of which the total eligible value is 102,562.24 lei, and the non-reimbursable financing is a maximum of 51,281.12 lei, representing 50% of the approved eligible value. Of the non-reimbursable financing, 43,588.95 lei come from the European Regional Development Fund, and 7,692.17 lei from the national budget. The project is implemented over a period of 24 months, according to the financing contract.

Among the results sought are the digitalization of the reservation process through the CRM platform, the development of photo-video services, and the strengthening of Up the Mountains' capacity to offer better organized and safer outdoor experiences.

ABOUT UP THE MOUNTAINS

Up the Mountains is a social enterprise founded by Radu Jlobnițchi and Andrei Pop, internationally certified mountain guides, built around a simple idea: mountain experiences in small groups, professional guiding, and a business model with social and community impact.

SMALL GROUPS. BIG MOUNTAINS.

For further information:

Radu Jlobnițchi – Administrator & co-founder | radu@upthemountains.com

Andrei Pop – Project Director & Co-Founder |popmihaiandrei@gmail.com

We invest in the future of the region!

Unload

"The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union, the Government of Romania or the Managing Authority for the North-West Regional Programme 2021-2027"