The champions who, for three years in a row, have taken the stage at the Business League Gala at Apollo 111 are people who truly deserve their awards. In Business League and beyond, they all share one common trait: effort. And, without exception, they all take it seriously.
Once a year, we shine the spotlight on them, give them awards, and thank them for making great things happen together. For the rest of the year, glamour gives way to hard work. And this applies not only to the best but also to those who aspire to excellence. Sometimes, perseverance is just as important as extraordinary ideas.
On Wednesday evening, over a hundred marketers, merchants, partners, investors, and guests attended our event. But business terminology can be set aside for a moment, so we can call them all “our people.” 2025 is the year under which we boldly wrote Unstoppable Together. It’s a mantra that sounds great, but that’s not what matters. What truly matters is that it perfectly reflects how we want to grow together: without compromise, without forgetting that a team of teams means strength and continuous improvement.
This year, the Gala host was Nikola Ilchev, founder of the Balkan eCommerce Summit and one of the most respected leaders in the e-commerce industry in the region. Given that cross-border commerce has become an increasingly important growth factor, including in the Balkans, Nikola’s presence was more than welcome.
Expanding Horizons – Partnership with eCommerce Bulgaria
The first segment of the evening featured a dialogue between Nikola and Dorin Boerescu (CEO, 2Performant) on the topic of Cross-Border E-commerce, covering the most important aspects of an increasingly relevant phenomenon:
Growth opportunities
Similarities between markets, which weigh more than the differences
Language, culture, logistics, and bureaucracy as the main challenges in cross-border commerce
The importance of strong partnerships at every stage of growth
Concrete steps to make the first sales in markets beyond Romania
Balkan eCommerce Summit 2025, which will take place in Sofia on April 29 and 30
Awards for the Most Promising Players in BusinessLeague
Most Promising Marketer Startup: MBM
Most Promising Merchant Startup: Atu Tech
Most Promising Marketer Freelancer: HOOH
Most Promising Merchant Freelancer: Pufo Market
Anelisse Ionașcu, the eKarting Champion
As every year, Anelisse Ionașcu, the eKarting champion supported by 2Performant, took the stage at Apollo 111. Ane has been both a national champion and vice-champion, and this year she moved up to the Super Miniwatt category, the most powerful one.
In any competition, results, fair play, and the lessons learned are the three essential things a competitor needs to become a champion. Anelisse truly is a champion, and her discussion with Ivona Băbărelu (Growth Manager @ 2Performant) proved it perfectly.
Awards for the Best Start-Ups in Challenges
Best Marketer Challenger – Revenue Rally: Istoric Prețuri
Best Merchant Challenger – Revenue Rally: NailShop
Best Marketer Challenger – Target Strike: Siento OOD
Best Merchant Challenger – Target Strike: NailShop
Best Marketer Challenger – Speed Run: Buget de familie
Best Merchant Challenger – Speed Run: NailShop
Beauty, One of the Star Categories of 2024
Four experienced professionals with valuable insights took the stage for a debate focused on the Beauty category.
Gabriel Bonciu (Business Development Manager @2Performant), Cătălina Soare (Demand Generation Manager @ Sephora), Ovidiu Golea (Business League Marketer, Unicorn Level), Marius Topuzaru (Business League Marketer, Companies Level). A few key takeaways:
Not surprisingly, trust between Marketers and Merchants remains just as important, regardless of the business category.
In affiliate marketing, content projects still have great potential.
It’s good to set clear objectives—at least to avoid hearing, as a Unicorn Marketer, that “the results were actually a bit too good.”
Awards for the Best Companies in Challenges
Best Marketer Challenger – Revenue Rally: ICE Knowledge
Best Merchant Challenger – Revenue Rally: Best Value
Best Marketer Challenger – Target Strike: ING Bazar
Best Merchant Challenger – Target Strike: Fashion Days
Best Marketer Challenger – Speed Run: KlikAds
Best Merchant Challenger – Speed Run: Best Value
Business League Trends: Affiliate Managers
The Affiliate Managers program completely changes the dynamic between stores and marketers. The role of Affiliate Manager is new in the competition, with immense potential. And Tiberiu Anghelina, Product Manager @ 2Performant, talks about Business League with the ease with which people talk about themselves, so the enthusiasm matches the expectations.
What should you do if you’re a Marketer who wants to become an Affiliate Manager?
Create an account in Business League
Take the digital marketing exam (neither too hard nor too easy)
Complete your profile
Help stores sell and earn with every sale they make, regardless of the number of Marketers contributing to those sales
Awards for the Best Corporations in Challenges
Best Marketer Challenger – Revenue Rally: Digital Trend Agency
Best Merchant Challenger – Revenue Rally: Fashion Days
Best Marketer Challenger – Target Strike: ING Bazar
Best Merchant Challenger – Target Strike: Fashion Days
Best Marketer Challenger – Speed Run: WPD Marketing
Best Merchant Challenger – Speed Run: Fashion Days
Business League Trends: 250 for 2025
The stage once again belonged to Dorin Boerescu (CEO, 2Performant) for what we called the Business League E-Commerce Accelerator.
A unique program for those who have set rapid growth as their goal for 2025. 2Performant is here to support them and is investing in the first 250 e-commerce entrepreneurs by offering them an exclusive set of benefits to help them:
€250 in direct credit for affiliate marketing campaigns.
Zero platform fees for three months or the first two hundred sales.
Zero setup fees for account creation.
Dedicated support for fast integration and campaign launch.
In general, getting started is not always easy, but that’s precisely why Business League stands by those who want to launch a project now.
“It doesn’t happen overnight. Until it does.” (Nike campaign, after Madison Keys won the US Open this month)
Business League Talks: AI in Affiliate Marketing
Ana Oprița (CTO @ 2Performant) moderated the discussion on AI in affiliate marketing, joined by two seasoned and new Business League performers: Cătălin Radu (CataR) – Business League Affiliate, Companies Level, and Lucian Ionescu (klikads.ro) – Business League Affiliate, Corporations Level.
Awards for the Best Unicorns in Challenges
Best Marketer Challenger – Revenue Rally: BigConvert
Best Merchant Challenger – Revenue Rally: Bookzone
Best Marketer Challenger – Target Strike: WPD Marketing
Best Merchant Challenger – Target Strike: Dr.Max
Best Marketer Challenger – Speed Run: BigConvert
Best Merchant Challenger – Speed Run: Dr. Max
Business League Talks: The Power of Cashback in Affiliate Marketing
The panel on cashback in affiliate marketing had the most participants—and the most people named Alex. Moderator: Tiberiu Anghelina (Product Manager @ 2Performant). Taking the stage were Rodica Chirița (Digital Marketing Specialist @ Noriel), Alex Blindu (Partnership Manager @ Dateio), Alexandru Filip (Country Manager @ Dateio), and Alex Foaie (Owner of CashClub). A discussion about transparency, loyalty, and expansion plans beyond national borders.
Special Interview – Radu Spineanu
In the beginning, there was the line of code. And the first line of code for our product was written by Radu Spineanu (Co-Founder 2Performant). He is now in the U.S. and has founded several companies. A video interview at the end of the evening, alongside Ana Oprița (CTO @ 2Performant), revealing that all you need to get to America and make things happen is to buy a plane ticket.
Best of the best Awards
Best Company Merchant: Cupio
Best Company Marketer: Dateio
Best Corporation Merchant: Bookzone
Best Corporation Marketer: Digital Trend Agency
Best Unicorn Merchant: Dr.Max
Best Unicorn Marketer: Big Convert
Party and Conclusions
Wednesday night’s gala was the result of the hard work of dozens of people; and the closing party was the crowning moment of their success. We thank them—especially Ana, Ivona, and Manuela, who ensured that time flowed smoothly and that the energy remained in the room.
Business League is a space that we believe is changing the game in affiliate marketing. And we are constantly improving it. The galas, meet-ups, and other face-to-face events complement a product that has built an amazing community. It’s not always easy, but it doesn’t have to be. When Arthur Ashe was asked if he really believed he could make a difference, he simply replied: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
See you soon.
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