Mentor Spotlight — Sergiu Ardelean, Co-Founder and CEO of Artivive

Sergiu Ardelean is one of Europe’s most recognisable innovators in augmented reality. As Co-Founder and CEO of Artivive, he has helped more than 600,000 creatives in over 120 countries combine traditional art with digital experiences. His work sits at the intersection of design, storytelling, and emerging technology, shaping how audiences engage with visual content worldwide.

Alongside leading Artivive, Sergiu also serves on the Advisory Board on Creativity and Entrepreneurship at Harvard’s Lemann Program. In this role, he contributes to global discussions on creative innovation and entrepreneurial development, offering perspectives from the fast-evolving AR and immersive technologies sector. This combination of hands-on industry leadership and high-level academic engagement brings a unique dimension to his mentorship within GRACE.

Reflecting on the programme, Sergiu shared:

“Augmented reality and immersive technologies are transforming how we tell stories, educate, and engage audiences across industries. At Artivive, we have seen firsthand how AR empowers creatives to bridge traditional art with digital innovation. Programmes like GRACE are essential because they equip the next generation with both technical skills and creative thinking – exactly what the industry needs. Hands-on, mentor-supported learning is the best way to prepare students for the real-world challenges and opportunities in XR and gamification.”

We are proud to have Sergiu in our mentor network. His trajectory across industry and academia provides GRACE students with insights that are both visionary and grounded in practice, helping them navigate and shape the future of immersive technologies.