Serial entrepreneur with 20+ years at the edge of art and technology. Founder & CEO of Artivive, keynote speaker and CultTech advisor — building, backing and telling the story of the creative economy.
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See all on LinkedIn →For more than 20 years I've built companies at the meeting point of art, technology and business — from an AR agency I co-founded and sold, to Artivive, now in the hands of 750,000 creators across 190 countries. Today I build, back and advise the ventures, companies and institutions shaping CultTech, and take that story to stages around the world.
ArtiviveRomania ConnectHarvard LPCEMITCultTech SummitSXSWCIMIxExpo 2025 OsakaVolkswagenAudiViennaSeoulShanghai
ArtiviveRomania ConnectHarvard LPCEMITCultTech SummitSXSWCIMIxExpo 2025 OsakaVolkswagenAudiViennaSeoulShanghai
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creatives worldwide
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countries reached
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years in art & tech
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ventures founded & advised
The journey
so far.
THE FIRST EXIT
An AR agency, co-founded and sold.
My first venture: an augmented reality agency in Vienna that I co-founded and led as creative and product lead, creating campaigns for Volkswagen, Audi and others across 42 countries. We built it, exited it, and I learned that the future belongs to experiences, not screens.
THE PLATFORM
Artivive is born.
I set out to democratize AR for the creative world: a platform where any artist can make a painting move, a poster speak, a wall breathe — no code required. The Canva for augmented reality.
SCALE
A global creative community.
Today 750,000 creatives in 190 countries build with Artivive, supported by teams across Vienna, the United States and Korea — and partners from the Albertina and Centre Pompidou to Harvard, MIT and Expo 2025 Osaka.
THE SERIAL FOUNDER
Beyond a single company.
I co-founded and sit on the board of Romania Connect, a bilateral business platform under the patronage of the Romanian Embassy in Vienna, advise Vienna Digital Lab on digital transformation for cultural institutions, and back early ideas through Blue42 Labs.
MENTOR & ADVISOR
Backing what's next.
I serve on the advisory board of Harvard's Lemann Program on Creativity & Entrepreneurship, mentor founders through the MIT Arts Startup Program and the CultTech Accelerator, and advise ventures, companies, corporates and educational institutions on CultTech — at the intersection of culture, technology and commerce.
THE STAGE
Telling the story, worldwide.
I speak and host workshops at international conferences such as CIMIx, mentor and partner at the CultTech Summit, and join the conversation at gatherings like SXSW and Expo 2025 Osaka — sharing what I've learned about creativity, AR and the creative economy with founders and institutions across Europe, the US and Asia.
What I'm building now
01
Artivive
As founder & CEO, scaling the creative platform that turns every artwork into a portal — AR for artists, museums and brands, without a single line of code.
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Mentoring & Advisory
Advising ventures, companies, corporates and educational institutions on CultTech — from strategy and go-to-market to fundraising and scaling. Mentor at the MIT Arts Startup Program and the CultTech Accelerator; advisory board at Harvard's LPCE.
03
Building & Backing
Serial founder beyond Artivive: co-founder and board member of Romania Connect, advisor to Vienna Digital Lab, and an early backer of new ideas through Blue42 Labs.
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Speaking & Stage
I speak and host workshops at international conferences — CIMIx and beyond — and take part in events like SXSW, the CultTech Summit and Expo 2025 Osaka, on creativity, AR and the future of the creative economy.
Pictures
Press & profile photos. Hover and click any image to download the high-resolution file.
About
Sergiu Ardelean, in brief.
Who is Sergiu Ardelean?
Sergiu Ardelean is a Vienna-based, Romanian-born serial entrepreneur who has worked at the intersection of art and technology for more than 20 years. He is the co-founder and CEO of Artivive, the leading no-code augmented reality platform, used by over 750,000 creatives across 190 countries.
What is Artivive?
Artivive is an augmented reality platform — often called "the Canva for AR" — that lets artists, museums and brands turn any artwork into an interactive AR experience without code. Co-founded by Sergiu Ardelean, it serves more than 750,000 creators in 190+ countries, with partners including the Albertina, Centre Pompidou, Harvard and MIT.
What does Sergiu Ardelean do besides Artivive?
Beyond Artivive, Sergiu is a serial founder and advisor. He co-founded and sits on the board of Romania Connect, advises Vienna Digital Lab, and mentors and advises ventures, companies, corporates and educational institutions on CultTech — including through the MIT Arts Startup Program, the CultTech Accelerator and the advisory board of Harvard's Lemann Program on Creativity & Entrepreneurship.
What does Sergiu Ardelean speak about?
Sergiu is an international keynote speaker on creativity, augmented reality, CultTech and the future of the creative economy. He speaks and hosts workshops at conferences such as CIMIx and the CultTech Summit, and takes part in events including SXSW and Expo 2025 Osaka.
How can I book or work with Sergiu Ardelean?
Sergiu is available for keynote speaking, mentoring, and CultTech advisory for ventures, companies, corporates and educational institutions. The best way to reach him is via his LinkedIn profile.
Let's make
the future creative.
Speaking engagements, mentoring, or CultTech advisory for ventures, companies, corporates and educational institutions — let's talk.