A Note from Criss
Our Story
From taking apart amplifiers as a kid to building tools for the next generation of lighting designers — this is how CUE++ came to be.
The Beginning
CUE++ started not in a boardroom or an incubator, but in the living room of a jazz guitarist in Romania.
My father was a music teacher and guitarist — the house was always filled with music, instruments, and the occasional piece of equipment I'd taken apart. Much to his despair, I had a habit of disassembling anything with a circuit board.
But he never scolded me. Instead, he let me figure out how to put it back together. That patience taught me more than any textbook ever could.
The Journey
First Lines of Code
Growing up in Romania before computers were widely available, I'd spend hours at internet cafes — not playing Quake or Red Alert like my friends wanted, but connecting an old DSP chip via serial port, surrounded by a mess of wires. My friends were not amused. But I was hooked.
University & DJing
Studied Computer Science at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca. During the day, I was learning algorithms and data structures. At night, I was DJing drum and bass at local clubs and running small events with whatever equipment I could get my hands on. The realization hit: coding could fund my passion for sound.
12 Years in London
Moved to London chasing the startup scene. Over 12 years, I was part of multiple startups, worked as a freelancer with clients like Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Dyson, and helped build technology for Reprezent FM. But the pull of live events never left.
Big Production, Bigger Problems
Got connected with major production houses who kept asking for help with problems they needed custom software to solve. "Can you build an MA plugin for this?" became a common request. I dove deep into grandMA, learning its intricacies and building tools that production teams actually needed.
Back to Roots
The pandemic brought me back to Cluj. I discovered that hardly anyone in the local scene knew about or used grandMA — there was a gap between what professionals needed and what was accessible. CUE++ was born: I bought sound and light equipment, built a 'playground' studio, and started helping smaller events level up their production quality.
Building the Future
I met an incredible team who shared the same vision, and together we formed what CUE++ is today. VENU.studio is our answer to a problem we've lived firsthand: the hours spent on documentation, the friction of moving between tools, the gap between creative vision and technical execution. We're building the tools we wish we had.
Our Mission
Democratize Professional Tools
Professional-grade lighting design shouldn't require years of specialized training or enterprise budgets. We're making powerful tools accessible to everyone.
Eliminate Busywork
Lighting designers should be designing, not wrestling with documentation. We automate the tedious parts so you can focus on creating unforgettable experiences.
Bridge the Gap
Between creative vision and technical execution. Between CAD files and console programming. Between planning and production. VENU.studio is the missing link.
Open Standards First
We believe in GDTF, MVR, and open formats that work everywhere. No vendor lock-in. Your data is yours, and it should work with any console, any visualizer.
What Drives Us
Built by Practitioners
We're not just building software — we're solving problems we face ourselves. Every feature comes from real production experience.
Curiosity Over Credentials
The kid taking apart amplifiers grew into a company that questions everything. We believe the best solutions come from asking "why not?"
Community First
From Cluj's local scene to London's production houses, we've seen how knowledge sharing elevates everyone. We're building tools that make collaboration natural.
“My father never scolded me for taking things apart. He just asked: 'Can you put it back together?' That question still drives everything I build.”
The Team
CUE++ is a small, passionate team of developers, designers, and lighting professionals based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania — with roots stretching across Europe's production scene.
Meet the teamLet's build something together
Whether you need custom tools, production support, or just want to geek out about lighting — we'd love to hear from you.