The Pack Behind the Planet: Celebrating Orbis at JA Gen-E Europe, Their App, and Our Mentorship Journey
Alexandra Retegan
Head of Product
Reading time: 3 min
Published: Jul 10, 2025
Key takeaways
- Orbis, the high-school team mentored by Wolfpack Digital through the DPIT program, won the Johnson & Johnson Brilliant STEM Innovation Award at JA Gen-E Europe 2025 in Athens.
- Gen-E Europe is the largest youth entrepreneurship festival in Europe, gathering teams from over 40 countries.
- The Orbis app raises awareness of individual carbon footprints, using a virtual planet that grows greener based on user actions.
- Wolfpack Digital's Cristian Virciu and Victor Motogna mentored the team, with Cristian accompanying them to Athens.
- Before Athens, Orbis had already won first prize in the national DPIT competition in 2024.
We’re thrilled to celebrate a remarkable milestone reached by Orbis, the high-school student team we proudly mentored through the Asociația Descoperă-ți pasiunea în IT (DPIT) program.
After months of dedication, innovation, and collaboration, Orbis has just returned from Athens, where they received the Johnson & Johnson Brilliant STEM Innovation Award at JA Gen-E Europe 2025 — a moment that marks a major achievement on their journey as young entrepreneurs.
Junior Achievement Gen-E Europe 2025
Orbis’ participation in Gen-E Europe, the largest entrepreneurship festival for youth in Europe, is a testament to their commitment to building a meaningful and socially impactful greentech solution. Often referred to as the “Oscars” of youth startups, Gen-E gathers outstanding teams from over 40 countries, all presenting ventures that address pressing global issues through innovation. The atmosphere in Athens was deeply inspiring, set against a backdrop of historical significance that encouraged participants to dream big and create for the good of humanity.
There was a series of events and talks that also included an expo area for the participating ventures, where the Orbis team was happy to present their app and their vision. The Brilliant STEM Innovation Award was presented by Johnson & Johnson in an electrifying, multicultural atmosphere.
Orbis so far and our mentoring journey
The mission behind Orbis is particularly close to our hearts. Their mobile app focuses on raising awareness around individual carbon footprints, helping users adopt more environmentally responsible behaviors. The standout concept — a virtual planet that grows greener based on user actions — is not just a gamified approach to climate awareness, but an original call to action for mindful, sustainable living.
At Wolfpack Digital, we’re passionate about tech for good and supporting our community, so it was a natural fit for our team to get involved in the Academia DPIT program and support Orbis in turning their idea into a functional product and creating their first startup. We’re proud to highlight the involvement of two of our leaders in this mentorship journey: Cristian Virciu, our Head of UX/UI Design, and Victor Motogna, our Head of Web Development. Both played an important role in guiding the Orbis team throughout the program — from product discovery and user experience to technical feedback and strategic direction.
Cristian also accompanied the Orbis team to Athens, where they had an amazing time soaking up the energy of the event, the culture of the city, and the shared excitement of young innovators from across Europe. Seeing their project recognized on such a prominent stage, while being immersed in a space full of ideas and possibilities, was an unforgettable experience for the whole group. Here is what Cristian had to say:
“Mentoring the Orbis team and seeing them shine on stage in Athens was an incredibly proud moment. Their creativity, determination, and teamwork were a true reflection of what the next generation is capable of. The energy at Gen-E was contagious, and I’m glad to take part in a celebration of innovation without borders.”
The first important milestone for this team was that Orbis won first prize in the national competition organized by DPIT in 2024, after spending the summer with us at Wolfpack Digital. From the very beginning, the team impressed us with their drive, open-mindedness, and eagerness to learn. Watching their growth — and seeing their mobile app work beautifully — has been one of the most rewarding experiences of the year. We wish them the very best going forward.
Cheers to a bright future in innovation and sustainable app development
We extend our sincere thanks to DPIT and all its supporters for making this mentorship opportunity possible and for nurturing the next generation of tech innovators. A big thank you as well to Junior Achievement Europe, Junior Achievement Romania, and Johnson & Johnson for recognizing and supporting impactful youth-driven projects like Orbis.
To the brilliant young minds behind Orbis — congratulations! Your passion, perseverance, and creativity have inspired us all. Learn more about the pack and explore our projects.
