Simpals

Simpals is a privately held Moldovan group whose businesses are centered on online services and digital media. Founded in Chișinău by Dmitri Voloshin in 2002, the company began with internet projects including Joblist.md and subsequently built a broad portfolio of classified, information, video, mapping, education, public-procurement, ticketing, sports, and community platforms. Its best-known property is 999.md, Moldova’s major online classifieds marketplace. Other notable services have included Point.md, Play.md, Stiri.md, Map.md, Studii.md, Achizitii.md, Joblist.md, Forum.md, and Afisha.md. Simpals has also operated as an online advertising network and sales house. Reference material describes it as a leader in Moldova’s online advertising market, with its portals collectively reaching more than 70% of Moldovan internet users and attracting approximately 1.3 million monthly unique visitors as of 2023. A 2011 reference cited a 48% share of Moldova’s online advertising market. These figures are historical and should not be treated as current financial results. Beyond web portals, Simpals developed an animation and computer-graphics studio. The studio produced advertising work, short animated films, social videos, and the virtual-reality film ARIPI. Its filmography includes Baro and Tagar, Gypsy and Death, Santa and Death, the Dji films, ARIPI, and later environmental shorts. In 2010 the group opened the School of Monsters, a training initiative focused on animation and computer graphics. The company has repeatedly combined digital products with civic and social initiatives. It launched the Chișinău Is ME art project, helped establish the Chișinău International Marathon with Sporter.md, supported environmental planting through Verde.md, and participated in public-interest responses during the COVID-19 crisis. Its platforms offered free or adapted services for local producers, job seekers, schools, doctors, and people exchanging assistance during quarantine. Studii.md was expanded into a distance-learning system and was included among platforms recommended by Moldova’s education authorities during the pandemic. Simpals has also experimented with venture creation and physical products. Simpals Garage, launched in 2011, served as a startup incubator and development unit. In 2022, Simpals Factory was introduced as a venture startup studio with stated equity capital of €1 million; this figure is reported in reference material rather than independently verified here. Hardware and sport-technology projects have included Lobster Neck Weight, an underwater weighting system, Sonr, an underwater communication device, and Aheel, a running-safety device. The group is led by founder and CEO Dmitri Voloshin, with Roman Shtirbu also identified as CEO in the reference material. Simpals reported approximately 200 employees in the period covered by the Wikipedia reference. It became a resident of Moldova’s first IT park in 2018 and has been involved in the Association of Electronic Industry Companies. Its overall positioning is that of a Moldovan digital-platform house: a locally rooted operator that builds high-traffic consumer services, advertising infrastructure, creative production, and technology ventures rather than a single-category product brand.

Simpals was established in Chișinău on 1 April 2002 by Dmitri Voloshin. Its early activity focused on internet services for Moldova, including Joblist.md. The company grew from four employees in 2002 to a larger web-services operation, adding Drive.md in 2003 and experimenting with social and community products such as Yes.md and Colegi.md. Forum.md received a national internet-project distinction during this early expansion. In 2006, Simpals launched Point.md, an information portal that later became one of the group’s central properties. In 2007, Play.md introduced an online-video model combining professional news material with content uploaded by users. The company then expanded into software, mapping, e-commerce, media, and animation. It worked on the 3D animated film The Gipsy from 2008, launched an online shop and improved Point.md mapping in 2009, and opened the School of Monsters for animation and computer-graphics education in 2010. The group’s 2011–2013 phase broadened its commercial and venture footprint. It launched Imobil.md, Simpals Garage, Numbers.md, a unified Simpals ID login, and services such as Point Money. StopHam Moldova and other civic projects added a social dimension. The 999.md brand developed mobile applications and received national trademark awards. Simpals’s animation studio also gained festival recognition for Dji. Death fails and related work. From 2014 onward, Simpals combined platform development with public events and social initiatives. The Chișinău Is ME art project began in 2014. In 2015, Simpals and Sporter.md organized the first Chișinău International Marathon, while 999 Market and Play Live extended the group’s marketplace and streaming activities. In 2016, 999.md expanded to Transnistria and mapping coverage was enlarged. In 2017, the company introduced Achizitii.md for tenders and Verde.md for urban greening. The FOSFOR electronic-music festival, organized with partners connected to Afisha and 999.md, drew substantial attendance. Simpals became a resident of Moldova’s first IT park in 2018. Sporter expanded its event program, including the Hai Haiduci! festival and a large marathon. In 2019, the group introduced Studii.md, joined the Association of Electronic Industry Companies, developed 3D mapping features, and continued work on Sonr, an underwater communications product. That year 999.md marked two decades of operation, while the company reported ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification. In 2020, Simpals’s activities reflected the pandemic environment. Studii.md was adapted for remote education and connected more schools; 999.md supported local producers, emergency employment, doctors seeking accommodation, and mutual aid; and the Garage team supported production of protective equipment. The group launched ID.md for electronic document exchange and supported the aLIVE public-information broadcast with international and civil-society partners. Its animation studio continued releasing festival-oriented and environmental work, including ARIPI and The Flat. By 2022, Simpals had launched Simpals Factory as a new venture startup studio. Reference material describing the group in 2023 listed 33 portals and products, approximately 200 employees, and monthly reach of about 1.3 million unique visitors. Simpals therefore remains best understood as a diversified Moldovan internet-services group whose portfolio spans consumer platforms, advertising, creative production, social initiatives, and early-stage technology ventures.

• 2022

  Simpals Factory launches

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  The group introduced a venture startup studio described as having €1 million in equity capital.

• 2020

  Pandemic-response expansion

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  Simpals adapted Studii.md for distance learning and used several platforms to support communities during quarantine.

• 2018

  IT park residency

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  Simpals became a resident of Moldova’s first IT park.

• 2017

  Achizitii.md and Verde.md launch

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  The group introduced a tender platform and an urban tree-planting initiative.

• 2015

  First Chișinău International Marathon

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  Simpals and Sporter.md organized the first international marathon in Chișinău.

• 2011

  Simpals Garage launches

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  The group created its first venture incubator and launched Numbers.md.

• 2010

  School of Monsters opens

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  Simpals opened a school devoted to animation and computer graphics.

• 2007

  Play.md launches

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  The company launched a video portal described as Moldova’s first online television service.

• 2006

  Point.md launches

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  Simpals introduced Point.md as a Moldovan information portal.

• 2002

  Simpals is founded

  [1]Simpalsen.wikipedia.org

  Dmitri Voloshin registered Simpals in Chișinău and launched Joblist.md during the company’s first year.

A Moldovan digital-platform group combining high-reach consumer web services, online advertising, creative production, civic projects, and technology ventures.

• Classifieds marketplace · 2002

  999.md

  Simpals’s flagship classifieds platform, allowing Moldovan users to list, discover, and exchange products and services. It became one of the country’s most visible internet brands, added mobile applications, and expanded to Transnistria in 2016. Related initiatives have included 999 Market, 999 Master, and special categories for local commerce and tourism.

• Information portal and mapping · 2006

  Point.md

  An information portal launched in 2006 and later associated with mapping, navigation, weather, and utility services. Its mapping work included a detailed Moldova map developed with the national geodesy and cadastre institute, mobile applications, indoor mapping, and later three-dimensional objects.

• Video platform · 2007

  Play.md

  A video-hosting and online-television service launched in 2007. It combined Simpals-produced news and video with material submitted by users, and later added video channels and Play Live streaming functionality.

• Animation and computer graphics · 2008

  Simpals Studio

  The group’s animation and graphics operation produces advertising, short films, social videos, and experimental work including virtual-reality animation. Its portfolio includes the Dji films, ARIPI, and environmental shorts such as The Ocean, The Harvest, and The Flat.

• Education technology · 2019

  Studii.md

  An electronic school-management platform launched in 2019 with digital student agendas and gradebooks. During the COVID-19 period it was expanded into a distance-learning system and connected to schools across Moldova.

• Procurement platform · 2017

  Achizitii.md

  An online tender and procurement platform developed in collaboration with the Moldovan government for public and private-sector participants.

• Underwater communications hardware · 2019

  Sonr

  A Garage-originated underwater communicator intended for swimmers, divers, and coaches. The project was developed as a compact communications aid for training and was selected for a Starta accelerator cohort according to the reference material.

• 2020#staiacasa support initiative

  Moldova

  During quarantine, 999.md offered free listings for local producers and farmers, supported urgent employment matching, and helped doctors find accommodation. Other Simpals projects supported mutual aid and protective-equipment production.

  Outcome. The platforms were used to provide practical community support during the pandemic.

  Source
• 2017Verde.md

  Moldova

  A public environmental initiative designed to restore and expand green spaces in Chișinău with resident participation.

  Outcome. The initiative reported planting more than 2,000 trees and bushes during 2019.

  Source
• 2015Chișinău International Marathon

  Moldova

  Simpals and Sporter.md organized the first Chișinău International Marathon, establishing a recurring public sports event.

  Outcome. The event expanded substantially in later editions, including an edition reported to have 18,000 participants in 2018.

  Source
• 2014Chișinău Is ME

  Moldova

  An art and civic project focused on Chișinău and its residents.

  Outcome. The project became part of Simpals’s wider social and cultural activity.

  Source

• 2022

  Launch Simpals FactoryStrategy

  Background

  After the earlier Simpals Garage incubator, the group sought a renewed vehicle for creating and financing technology startups.

  Action taken

  Simpals launched Simpals Factory as a venture startup studio with stated equity capital of €1 million.

  Aftermath

  The available reference does not provide enough information to assess the studio’s subsequent portfolio or performance.

  Stated equity capital. €1,000,000 (2022)

  Source

• 2020

  Expand Studii.md into distance learningStrategy

  Background

  Moldova’s schools moved toward remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating demand for a broader digital education system.

  Action taken

  Simpals expanded Studii.md beyond electronic diaries and gradebooks into a distance-learning platform.

  Aftermath

  The platform was recommended for distance learning by Moldova’s education ministry, and 111 schools were connected by the end of 2020.

  Source

1. 1Simpalsen.wikipedia.org