The Recursive Podcast
By The Recursive Media
The Recursive Podcast Apr 16, 2024
Why to Visualize Failure and How to Find Your Energy as a Founder with Milen Manev from PlanDelta Еp.94
Our guest today is Milen Manev, the co-founder and CTO of PlanDelta, a next-generation planning tool bridging the gap between strategic and financial planning.
With over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, Milen has a wealth of knowledge in software product development and has held various leadership positions, including Vice President at the American software company SyncHR.
He holds a Master Degree in Management of Information Systems from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
In this episode we discover Milen’s approach to entrepreneurship, fundraising and what he learned from pitching to the biggest VC funds.
He talks about:
How visualizing failure and making peace with the worst case scenario can help you prepare for hard decisions;
Why self-promotion and highlighting your capabilities is crucial during fundraising;
What sacrifices comes with entrepreneurship and what mental health challenges occur;
*This episode of The Recursive Podcast is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 - Trailer
01:56 - Introduction
02:27 - How PlanDelta Choose the Problem They Want to Solve
05:52 - How to Know if You Are Solving the Right Problem
09:22 - Carving a Niche in Complex IT Ecosystems: How PlanDelta Identified Its Place in the Big Picture
15:09 - Data Integrity for Strategic Decisions in Fast-Moving Startups
17:06 - Mastering the Pitch and How Many Meetings With Investors You Need
27:48 - The Truth About Fundraising as an Early Stage Startup
30:32 - Why and How PlanDelta Fundraised from 17 Angel Investors
34: 54 - Step by Step: PlanDelta's Methodical Approach to Growth
39:00 - The Fine Line Between Ego and Ambition
44:28 - Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Tech Startups
51:09 - How to Get Energized as a Founder and the View on Failure
1:04:37 - Mentorship and Asking for Support
1:08:33 - Outro
The Formula for Sustainable Business Growth with Diana Aladzhova from CFO Insights | Ep.93
Our guest today is Diana Aladzhova, an experienced investment manager and partner at the first Bulgarian mezzanine fund Silverline Capital. Shе is also the founder of the cloud-based provider of CFO services CFO Insights. Diana has a background in banking and the private sector, with a focus on investment structuring, due diligence, financial analysis, and company valuation. She holds a Master's degree in Finance and Private Equity from the London School of Economics and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). In this episode we follow her journey from finance, to private equity and entrepreneurship. In her conversation with Irina, Diana Aladzhova talks about: How her experience as an investor helped her found her own company focused on supporting startups and scaleups with financial expertise; The importance of strategic financial management vs. “growth-at-all-costs” strategy; How to build the right foundation for sustainable growth as a company; Achieving balance between life and work is about building efficient work habits and self-awareness; *This episode of The Recursive Podcast is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed. TIME STAMPS: 0:00 Trailer 03:13 Introduction 04:16 From LSE to Building Bulgaria's Private Equity Landscape 13:00 Learning Curve: First Experiences as Equity Investor 18:00 The Hedgehog Concept: Mastering the Art of Exponential Growth 25:40 How to Build A Sustainable Business Model: Lessons from an Investor Turned Founder 34:29 The Perils of Growth-at-All-Costs: A Financial Perspective 38:32 Building Strong Foundations: Resilience and Responsibility in Startup Culture 44:55 How to Scale a Service Business Efficiently: CFO Insights Long Term Vision 49:45 Creating Social Impact Through Business Logic: The Story of Box to Remember 54:55 Balancing Act: Juggling Work, Family, and Passion Projects 1:02:15 Balancing Vision and Action: Strategies for Long-Term Success 1:07:20 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Self-Doubt 1:14:31 Outro
Food, Tech, and Longevity: Rethinking Health with Victor Penev from Edamam | Ep.92
Our next guest has come a long way in his professional and personal development - from investment banking, through digital media and marketing, and e-commerce to rethinking humanity’s relationship with food. Victor Penev is a serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of the food database and nutrition data provider Edamam. He is also a mentor and investor in food tech startups and an advisor to early-stage entrepreneurs. Before that, Victor co-founded and sold Bulgaria’s largest Internet Company NetInfo BG. In this episode we discover what is next on his journey. In his conversation with Irina, Victor Penev talks about: The legacy of one of Bulgaria’s firsts digital media companies and the early days of the Bulgarian Internet; The bittersweet experience of selling your company as an entrepreneur; Building a business on the intersection of food and technology without traditional fundraising; Defining success beyond financial metrics, focusing on long-term impact; His new longevity project: redefining health and food in Bulgaria *This episode of The Recursive Podcast is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed. Time Stamps: 0:00 Trailer 03:25 Introduction 04:13 After the Fall of the Berlin Wall: Student Ventures and First Media Startups 08:50 From Investment Banking to Entrepreneurship 10:52 The Origin Story of NetInfo: Bulgaria’s First Digital Media Company 12:45 How NetInfo Shaped Bulgaria's Internet Landscape 19:25 Trust and Transition: Victor Penev's Experience with Succession at NetInfo 23:14 Cooking Up Ideas: The Birth of Edamam on a Thai Beach 24:30 Breaking the Mold: Building Edamam without VC Money 30:40 Reflections on Venture Capital: Addressing Inefficiencies in Investment Practices 33:26 Meditative Entrepreneurship: Finding Calm Amidst Chaos 37:20 Do You Have to be Competitive to be a Good Entrepreneur? 45:10 The Art of Mentorship: Nurturing Organic Connections 49:50 The Relationship between Food and Longevity: Victor’s New Project 1:03:10 Life as a Puzzle: Entrepreneurship, Home, and Identity 1:09:29 Outro
Do You Know the Value of Your Used Smartphone? Mihail Dimitrov from Swipe.bg | Ep.90
Our next guest is an entrepreneur in the promising field of circular economy, advocating for the continuous use and reuse of materials.
Mihail Dimitrov is the co-founder and CЕO of Swipe.bg, a Bulgarian marketplace for buying and selling used smartphones. The company recently raised an investment to expand regionally and grow its market share.
Mihail Dimitrov comes with vast experience in e-commerce and business development. He previously worked for the world's largest classifieds platform OLX and Bulgaria’s largest mеdia group Nova Broadcasting Group.
In this podcast episode, Mihail and Irina talk about:
*This episode of The Recursive Podcast is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed.
Entrepreneurship as a Personal Growth Path With George Dochev from LucidLink
Our guest is on a quest to redefine the way businesses collaborate and work with data in the cloud.
With more than 20 years of experience in building successful enterprise software products, George Dochev is the co-founder and CTO of US-Bulgarian scale-up LucidLink.
The company’s solution is used by the biggest names in the media, health, and finance industries, namely Adobe, Spotify, and WebMD.
At the end of 2023, LucidLink closed the largest round for the Bulgarian ecosystem - a 75M dollars Series C.
Is LucidLink on its way to becoming the next Bulgarian unicorn? Watch the episode to find out for yourself.
In this conversation with George Dochev we unpack some of the big questions around scaling and growing a company to a multibillion dollars business:
*This episode of The Recursive Podcast is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed.
How to Build a Profit-First Mindset with Serial Entrepreneur Ruslan Leteyski
Our guest is only 27 years old but he already has several successful ventures in the e-commerce industry. Ruslan Leteyski founded his first company while still in high school.
He’s the founder of CheckOutX and Vanga AI, e-commerce solutions for Shopify & WooCommerce that help merchants increase their revenue.
His current project TimeCraft is a platform for providing session-based digital services.
Ruslan Leteyski is also an active angel investor. Some of the businesses he supported include CloudCart, Klear, Puzl Coworking, and CoLiving Semkovo.
In this episode, we follow his journey in building, scaling, and exiting profitable businesses in the e-commerce industry - from CheckOut X becoming the industry's top checkout alternative to being rejected by Shopify, through the challenges of transitioning to a WooCommerce ecosystem.
The episode is packed with actionable insights on:
The balance between validating a product idea through development and user feedback;
The challenges of receiving feedback and managing imposter syndrome (while feedback is valuable, it's essential to filter and assess its relevance);
Lessons learned from failure in building a lean startup
In his conversation with Irina, Ruslan Leteyski introduces his latest project TimeCraft, a platform designed to streamline and support various session-based services such as coaching, therapy, and teaching. Leteyski aims to empower individuals to monetize their time effectively and to provide freedom for service providers.
Ruslan Leteyski is also a prominent critic of the prevalent startup culture's fixation on fundraising and the misconception that raising capital equates to success. He advocates building a solid business model and addressing real market needs rather than solely chasing investment rounds. And urges the media to cover and recognize the stories and potential of bootstrapped companies more often.
*This episode of The Recursive Podcast is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed.
Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
01:17 Curiosity Fuels Entrepreneurial Journey
03:39 Building a Profit-First Mindset
8:56 E-commerce Disruption: The Rise and Fall of CheckOut X
12:00 Navigating the Shift from Shopify to WooCommerce Ecosystem
18:15 The Product Validation Journey: Balancing Vision with Customer Feedback
26:56 Vanga AI: Lessons Learned From the Transition and Exit
32:15 TimеCraft: Redefining Session-Based Services in the Digital Era
43:11 The Digital Nomad Lifestyle and the Future of Remote Work
52:12 Why Startup Success Shouldn't Revolve Around Investment Rounds
59:10 Outro
How AI Is Reshaping The Workforce With Strategic Investor Ivaylo Slavov | Ep.87
In today's special episode, we're breaking away from the norm to revisit some of our most memorable conversations and catch up with our guests to see where life has taken them since. Our guest for today is none other than Ivaylo Slavov, a veteran in Bulgaria's IT industry. Last time we spoke, his company BULPROS had recently merged with the German giant ec4u, forming DIGITALL and setting ambitious goals to lead the digital cloud services market in the US. Fast forward almost two years and Ivaylo has traded his CEO hat for that of an investor, diving into projects at the intersection of AI and HR. After 13 years at the helm, he reflects on the transition, marked by international travels, and reevaluation of life priorities. Ivaylo shares his decision to step away from operational duties, focusing instead on providing advisory support to tech startups. He unveils his involvement in four impactful projects: Transforming Easy Consult into a flexible workforce service provider; Supporting Team Schedule's shift management software, which addresses scheduling and resource challenges Work Talent, a modern job board, aiming to streamline hiring processes and better match candidates with employers; Vibe Jobs, tackling the challenge of connecting non-digital workers to job opportunities through a chatbot-based job board within Viber. The emphasis is on simplifying the application process for those with limited access to digital platforms. In his role as a strategic investor, Ivaylo emphasizes his active contribution to strategic development, market penetration, and mission validation. The conversation delves into the evolving impact of AI on the workforce. While noting positive effects for senior knowledge workers, they acknowledge challenges for low-qualified workers, underlining the crucial need for strategic thinking and addressing security concerns in the realm of AI. Join us on this insightful journey as we unravel Ivaylo Slavov's post-CEO ventures and explore the ever-changing landscape of AI and HR. *The Recursive Podcast is excited to announce that this episode is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed.
Cracking the Code of Life With Milena Georgieva from EPIX.AI | Ep.85
Our next guest is on a quest to unlock the code of longevity.
Milena Georgieva is a molecular biology, genetics, and epigenetics professor at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
She is also a Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at the startup company EPIX.AI.
In her role, Prof. Georgieva is in charge of R&D activities and manages a group of experts working to understand aging processes and create instruments to measure biological age and extend the human lifespan.
The conversation spans from the genesis of Prof. Georgieva’s fascination with molecular biology, genetics, and epigenetics.
The discussion delves into the current state of genetic research and the mission of EPIX.AI, emphasizing the importance of health span over the lifespan. She explains how their interdisciplinary team leverages biological data, genetics, and epigenetics to create personalized prevention protocols for age-related diseases to extend healthy lifespans.
EPIX.AI, as its name suggests, deploys AI and ML algorithms, to decipher genetic triggers and organize and utilize effectively the abundance of health data.
Prof. Georgieva expresses the necessity for a cohesive ecosystem integrating scientific breakthroughs into practical applications, pointing out the gap between research and its implementation in business. She advocates for a shared language and collaborative mindset between the scientific, business, and governmental sectors to bridge this divide.
Watch the episode to learn more about:
*The Recursive Podcast is excited to announce that this episode is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:27 Unraveling Life's Code: First Steps into Molecular Biology & Genetics
05:10 Bridging the Gap: Integrating Science and Business in Genetic Research
12:35 From Lab Discoveries to Entrepreneurial Impact
17:00 Nature's Blueprint, Nurture's Influence: Understanding Genetics and Epigenetics
30:59 EPIX’s Mission to Revolutionize Aging
42:15 2024: EPIX’s Roadmap to Personalized Health Transformation
47:10 The Future of Healthcare: From Treatment to Prevention and Precision
52:46 Decoding Stress: Understanding Its Diverse Impact on Health
58:58 The Power of Listening to Your Body
1:04:46 Outro
Why Hydrogen Is the Clean Fuel to Save Humanity With Dragomir Ivanov From Hydrogenera
Our next guest is a dedicated engineer looking for solutions to reduce harmful emissions and popularize hydrogen technologies. Dragomir Ivanov is a leading expert in the field of hydrogen with over 16 years of experience. He is the founder of Hydrogenera - a company developing technologies for the production, storage, and consumption of hydrogen. He is also the author of two patents in the field. Dragomir’s vision is to demonstrate that hydrogen can be the main energy source because it is universal, has a zero carbon footprint, and can completely replace conventional fuels. In his conversation with Irina, Dragomir shares insights from his transition from lab innovations to entrepreneurial endeavors focused on hydrogen technology, emphasizing the simplicity and potential impact of converting water into clean fuel. The entrepreneur says that the technology for a hydrogen-based energy system is here but the primary challenge he sees is a shift in the mindset and a proper legislation. In his view Bulgaria is lagging behind in adopting hydrogen compared to other European countries, missing on the potential for market growth and energy efficiency improvement. In this podcast episode you’ll also hear: How an energy revolution based on hydrogen could reshape society, influencing economic structures and labor dynamics. The conversation shifts to envisioning a future where hydrogen becomes a widely adopted and affordable energy source, akin to the evolution of solar panels' affordability over time. The business model at the core of company, which customizes systems for each client rather than mass-producing standardized products; Time Stamps: 0:00 Introduction 01:28 The Origins of Hydrogen Passion: From University Sparks to Green Energy 03:20 Hydrogen Innovation: Bridging the Gap Between Lab Discoveries and Market Solutions 11:02 Hydrogen Adoption: Challenges, Readiness, and Market Potential 19:56 Hydrogen Integration: Competition, Collaboration, and Customization 27:14 Redefining Energy Costs: Hydrogen's Place in Future Economies 31:21 Navigating Deep Tech Fundraising: Insights and Challenges 34:30 "Hydrogen Valleys" - Potential Models for Communities Generating Their Own Green Energy 38:40 Sofia's School Hydrogen Project: Reducing Emissions & Inspiring Curiosity 41:11 The Energy Transition: Dual Push by Government and Industry 44:30 Outro
The Recursive Podcast is excited to announce that this episode is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed.
On People and Ideas: Inside Marius Istrate's Investment Philosophy
Hello, The Recursive Community! We are back from our summer break and today we are taking you on a journey to Bucharest and inside the mind of a seasoned investor.
Marius Istrate is currently the Chairman of the Board of TechAngels Romania, an investors' community planning accelerated growth after a decade on the market. He is also a Venture Partner at 3VC and Crew Capital.
Among the companies he invested in are FlowX.AI, parol, Carsup, Snackable AI, Transition-One, Romania-Insider.com, Younichoice, SmartDreamers, Bunnyshell, OxidOs.
In his previous modus operandi, Marius was an entrepreneur himself, CTO, and CEO at various IT companies. He also took on the role of Chief People Officer at the Romanian unicorn UiPath, leading the company's growth from 100 people to 3K.
In a conversation with our Country Lead in Romania Elena Vrabie, Marius discusses the transition from being an entrepreneur to an investor, highlighting how his experience at Uipath shaped his thinking, but also the importance of embracing change and gaining diverse experiences in the business world.
“One of the things that people appreciate about working with me today is that I'm capable of asking questions from different angles that they haven't really thought about before”, he explains.
Marius reflects that the most rewarding aspect of his work as an investor is the opportunity to continuously meet and learn from people with diverse backgrounds, values, and perspectives.
Join Elena and Marius’ conversation as they explore the value of education today, what it means to be a decent human being, and why founders should explore life in different cultural contexts.
Mental health struggles and the power of being genuine with Velina Getova, @NotYourTherapy | Ep.81
Join us in our latest podcast episode as we delve deep into the realms of leadership, mental health, and authenticity together with Velina Getova, founder of NotYourTherapy, which provides psychological support in the workplace. With more than ten years in human development, Velina has worked with multinational corporations, tech start-ups, universities, and nonprofit organizations in Bulgaria, the US, and the UK. Long years of experience led her to the realization that the most needed skill in the future is not only our ability to learn but also our ability to manage our interior state. In her conversation with Irina, Velina shares personal stories of leaders opening up about their mental health struggles and the transformative power of being genuine in leadership roles. She discusses the societal molds that define what a leader "should" be and how breaking free from these molds can lead to more genuine and effective leadership. Velina also touches upon the challenges of modern communication tools and their potential to lead to burnout. We learn about Velina's passionate mission to change the narrative around entrepreneurship in Bulgaria, emphasizing happiness, success, and mental well-being. As we envision a future where discussions around entrepreneurship focus on joy and positivity, we invite you to be part of this enlightening conversation. Tune in and discover how to find your authentic leadership style and the importance of self-reflection in our fast-paced world
Against All Odds: The Story of the World’s First Cargo Drone Airline with Svilen Rangelov from Dronamics
Join us in our latest podcast episode as we explore the journey of Svilen Rangelov, the co-founder and CEO of Dronamics, the world's first cargo drone airline.
Svilen's passion for fast, affordable, and green freight is transforming the way goods are moved across the globe.
Dronamics is the company he co-founded with his brother Konstantin in 2014 and in this episode, Svilen shares the story of how they built Dronamics from the ground up, overcoming nearly 700 rejections, plenty of skepticism, and challenges in the tech industry.
Dronamics develops and operates large, long-range drones built specifically for cargo to serve a variety of industries: from pharma to food, from e-commerce to spare parts.
Their full-scale flagship drone, the Black Swan, recently successfully completed its first test flight.
In his conversation with Irina, Svilen explains the vision behind creating an airline, rather than just a product, to offer same-day delivery services over long distances.
The CEO of Dronamics delves into the strategic decision of starting the company in Bulgaria, a contrarian bet that turned into a talent filter for those deeply committed to the vision. Svilen shares insights on how their hands-on approach and commitment to innovation led them to build their own equipment and machinery, creating a solid foundation for growth.
Svilen opens up about Dronamics' long-term vision, aiming to turn the company into a generational one, making a positive impact on a global scale.
Svilen and his team aim to continue innovating = the aviation industry, redefine logistics, and democratize access to rapid and reliable goods delivery
Change the Story That You Tell Yourself with Serial Entrepreneur and Investor Andrei Pitis
Our next guest is a well-known entrepreneur and investor in the Romanian IT industry.
Andrei Pitis has 30 years of experience in tech. He was one of the first official Linux contributors in Romania and co-founder of RoEduNet, a network that offered free internet to students.
Later, Andrei founded Vector Watch, a Romanian start-up that produced the first Romanian smartwatch. The company was later acquired by Fitbit, where Andrei held various positions including VP of Engineering and VP of Product.
In the meanwhile, Andrei invested as an angel in CleverTaxi that got acquired by MyTaxi.
Later, Andrei founded Simple Capital, a private investment vehicle supporting local startups with global aspirations.
As an active angel investor and mentor, Andrei is the president of ANIS (The Romanian Employers' Association of the IT&C industry), an associate professor at the Politehnica University of Bucharest, and a creator of educational programs like Innovation Labs.
In his conversation with Irina, Andrei walks us through his long journey in the tech industry, having witnessed many shifts from the first programming languages to the dot-com bubble, the 2008 global financial crisis, to the emergence of AI and blockchain.
He offers his insights on the cyclical nature of technology's evolution, the importance of branding for building a successful tech business, and why launching your product globally from the start is the way to go for entrepreneurs from the CEE region.
In this episode, he also talks about:
Why creating magic is important in tech;
Edge Mentality vs. Center Mentality;
How To Cope With Stress as an Entrepreneur;
The Power of Creativity with Ionut Vlad from Tokinomo: An Artist’s Approach to Disrupt Shopping
Today on The Recursive Podcast we get to find out more about revolutionizing in-store advertising with robots.
Ionut Vlad is the co-founder of Tokinomo, a technology company that uses sensors, motion, light, and sound, to bring shelf products to life and increase shopping engagement.
No wonder the startup which produces in-store marketing robots has received various awards, like “Impact Star” by Deloitte, and “Most Inventive Startup” by La French Tech Romania.
With a background in graphic design and fine arts, Ionut honed his craft as an Art Director at Saatchi & Saatchi before launching his own game-changing project.
As Ionut Vlad shares in his conversation with Elena Vrabie, it was his creativity that eventually led him to a tech solution of a marketing problem - how to make products visible and attract shoppers’ limited attention spans in stores.
“I noticed something quite interesting - my creativity helps a lot because I think the best engineers have this creative approach to things, otherwise they wouldn't invent stuff. If you are kind of a stickler for the rules, you will always come up with the same stuff. If you're creative and you're trying to bypass certain obstacles, then the creative mind comes into play”, Ionut Vlad says.
In the episode, Elena and Ionut Vlad also discuss:
🛍️ The Psychology Behind Shopping Decision-Making;
🧲 Do opposites attract in a co-founding team?
👂 Listening to feedback vs. following one’s original ideas to solve problems;
😳 How to be a successful founder if you’re an introverted person?
How We Learn With Lavinia Mehedintu From Offbeat
Next stop for The Recursive Podcast - Bucharest, where we meet with Lavinia Mehedintu.
She has dipped her toes in different educational programs as a student before embarking on an entrepreneurial journey of her own, in the learning and developing pool with the social learning platform Offbeat.
With a diverse background in HR and communications, Lavinia aims to provide a fresh, actionable twist to the learning industry's ongoing transformation.
In her conversation with Elena Vrabie, Lavinia shares how her desire for freedom and autonomy in solving problems eventually led her on the entrepreneurial path and helped her build a community for learning and development professionals.
Their discussion delves into the intricacies of learning - how we learn, how our neurons connect, why is it so hard to change our behaviour, and what should a long-term learning strategy for your professional and personal development look like.
In the episode you’ll also hear:
How AI will change our learning experience;
How to build effective knowledge-sharing in your organization;
The Importance of having a support system as an entrepreneur;
Navigating the Path to Sustainable Growth With Bakhrom Ibragimov From Molten Ventures
Our next guest comes from London but has a special interest in Central and Eastern Europe. Bakhrom Ibragimov is a partner at Molten Ventures, which invests in Europe’s tech leaders from Series A to the growth stage.
Bakhrom joined Molten in 2022 from EBRD Venture Capital. There he founded and managed commitments of €500m over three VC funds.
Previously Bakhrom was leading investments with Virgin Green Fund and TLcom Capital. He was also an Internet Finance Director at Virgin Media and a tech investment banker with Cowen & Co and Credit Suisse.
Bakhrom holds degrees from LSE, Cambridge University, and Tashkent State Technical University.
In his conversation with Irina, Bakhrom highlights the potential of Central and Eastern Europe, emphasizing the abundance of engineering talent and the advantage of entrepreneurs having a global perspective from the start due to the small economies in the region.
In the episode, he also talks about:
Bridging the funding gap between seed and growth equity stages in the region;
How to build a repeatable and scalable sales process, focusing on the value the product brings to customers;
Strategies for scaling in an economic downturn;
37 Businesses, Zero Days as CEO: The Remarkable Story of Radu Georgescu
Today The Recursive podcast is live from Bucharest, meeting one of the most prominent founders and investors on the Romanian tech scene.
Radu Georgescu is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the tech industry.
He has successfully exited several companies, including the acquisition of RAV antivirus technology by Microsoft, the ePayment business by Naspers, Avantgate by Francisco Partners, and VectorWatch by Fitbit.
Radu is currently the founder of Gecad Ventures, a family office that invests in high-growth potential companies.
He is also a Board Director and adviser to numerous technology companies, including the equity management and financing platform for tech startups SeedBlink.
In this conversation with Irina, we get a sneak peek into the mind of a strategic thinker, a prolific entrepreneur, and a passionate investor.
Radu shares his learning experiences gained from founding 37 companies, both successful and failed, and his revelation that the operational roles are not well suited for him.
Radu Georgescu explains that he has always been focused on identifying market niches and the problems that need to be solved. By not being involved in execution, he managed to maintain a broader perspective and use his network to gather information and deliver it to the team that is better equipped to create and build the product.
In the episode, he also talks about:
Why pivoting is one of the most important tools in a founder’s bag; (“Just pivot and figure out where the market goes as you roll.")
The Danger in Treating Your Business as Your Baby;
What really makes a company stand out;
How to Design a Social Change with Sasha Bezuhanova from Move.BG
Our next guest - Sasha Bezuhanova - has left an impact in manifold ways on the Bulgarian tech ecosystem and society.
She’s one of the first internationally recognized managers. One of the first Bulgarian female leaders in tech. She’s an active angel investor. A philanthropist. A social mover and shaker.
Sasha Bezuhanova is the founder and chairman of the board of MOVE.BG. Ten years ago she left her business career at HP to dedicate herself to positive social change and sustainable development in Bulgaria through innovation, education, and active leadership.
Among the causes Sasha Bezuhanova pursues through many initiatives and projects is positioning Bulgaria as a global digital center, promoting entrepreneurial and green transformation culture, and affirming the role of women in business in Bulgaria and Europe.
In her conversation with Irina, Sasha dives in-depth into the transformative decision she took 10 years ago on a plane from Jakarta to Frankfurt. Inspired by the street protests in Bulgaria, she left a successful corporate career to try to foster a meaningful societal change, based on dialogue, collaboration, and grassroots empowerment.
In the episode, she also talks about when it makes sense to break rules in business, how Bulgaria built a deep tech expertise, and how to harness the power of networks to enable social change.
The Drive to Constantly Challenge Yourself With Orlin Dochev From Next Consult
Our next guest has close to 20 years of experience in management consulting and digital transformation.
Orlin Dochev is a managing partner at Next Consult, an international business, and digital transformation consultancy, blending both strong management consulting expertise with deep IT knowledge. The company has offices in the USA, UK, Switzerland, Romania, and Bulgaria and is partnering with global technology vendors like Salesforce, Tableau, and SAP ERP.
Orlin co-founded Next Consult 13 years ago with the vision to add value to its clients by introducing best practices in sales, marketing, etc. He’s also an avid supporter of various educational initiatives.
In his conversation with Irina, Orlin shares insights from his journey from programming to sales to business leadership, combining rich experience in global corporations, startup companies, and entrepreneurship.
He talks about his philosophy of continuous learning by self-challenging and how they spotted the gap on the market with Next Consult where IT companies would focus on programming systems without questioning the client's processes and operations. The mission of Next Consult, Orlin shares, is to focus on making clients more successful by helping them to restructure their businesses. “This requires a lot of sales psychology, discovering business models, challenging the client, challenging yourself, and listening”, he points out.
In the episode, you’ll also hear:
The potential impact of Chat GPT on the consulting industry;
Building a company culture of continuous learning;
The state of digital transformation in the Bulgarian market;
From Idea to Acquisition: Scaling Proptech Solutions with Dmitriy Aleksandrov from Homsters
Today on the podcast we welcome a Ukrainian entrepreneur who currently resides in Sofia.
Dmitriy Aleksandrov is the CEO of Homsters, a SaaS provider of automated digital marketing solutions for the property segment.
For 8 years, he grew the company from an idea to a PropTech business running in 5 countries. Homsters was acquired by the global media company Ringier at the end of 2022. But Dmitriy is still at the steering wheel to scale the company’s solutions.
Initially working in marketing and transitioning to project management in the fintech and telecom industries, Dmitriy gained valuable experience in tackling complex problems and managing diverse projects. This experience prepared him for his role as CEO, where he emphasized the importance of both a big-picture perspective and attention to detail. Dmitriy credited his colleague and mentor, Andrew Olejnik, for inspiring him to join the proptech industry and become part of Homesters' early stages, even when the company was just an idea on a napkin.
In his conversation with Irina, Dmitriy discusses the culture clash with his corporate background and the challenges of building a startup from scratch. He shares their company's pivots, the need for customization in different markets, and the importance of establishing partnerships. He opens up about their failed expansion attempt in Vietnam and the lessons learned from scaling back.
In this episode, Dmitriy also talks about
The importance of defining values and maintaining them despite changes in the company and its products;
The role of AI - property matching algorithms and the emergence of conversational interfaces in the real estate industry;
The challenges of managing a dispersed team and the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine on their business;
The Mindset and Strategies for Growth With Viktor Bilyanski From Scalefocus
Our guest today is one of the Co-founders and а Board Member of Scalefocus - Viktor Bilyanski.
He started his career in the field of software development two decades ago.
In 2012, a pivotal moment in his career came up, as he joined forces with 4 other professionals to establish Scalefocus.
With 7 delivery locations in Bulgaria, Turkiye, and North Macedonia, the company provides tailored software solutions and services that empower Fortune 500 companies, innovative startups, and established leaders to innovate, grow and meet technology and business challenges.
In the past decade, Scalefocus has developed hundreds of successful projects on an international level.
The company is one of the biggest IT employers in Bulgaria and allows local talent to work on impactful projects for various international clients across many industries - IT, financial services, healthcare, energy and utilities, and more.
Viktor is heavily involved in the local startup ecosystem as an angel investor, community supporter, and event organizer. He is also an avid sports enthusiast.
In the episode, Viktor talks about:
How to stay competitive in today's very fast and constantly evolving business environment;
How to balance between aggressive scaling and maintaining focus;
How to multiply your value as a software engineer;
AI and Leadership: can technology help us make better decisions?
Learning through teaching: the power of sharing knowledge;
Finding Your Zone of Genius with Sinisa Rakovic From Hunch
Our next guest is helping marketers all over the world have a scalable process for user acquisition, engagement, and storytelling through social media.
Sinisa Rakovic is the CEO and co-founder of HUNCH, a marketing technology company focusing on creative intelligence.
Sinisa is also a serial entrepreneur with several successful exits behind his back. He graduated from California State University and spent time at Stanford University.
In his conversation with Irina, Sinisa reflects on all these experiences - his time in the US, his first venture and exit, the challenges and opportunities to build and scale a company from Eastern Europe - and how they have shaped his definition of success and views on building an infrastructure and support system for the long-term success of tech entrepreneurs.
Tune in for more insights on:
How will creativity evolve in the AI era;
The Growth Story of Hunch;
In the podcast, Sinisa references the Zone of Genius framework by Gay Hendricks;
Unlocking the Future: Why Problem-Solving is the Ultimate Skill with Darko Todorovic from HTEC Group
In our next stop in Belgrade, our guest is fascinated by the application of AI, machine learning, and data science in the digital transformation of businesses.
Darko Todorovic is VP of Engineering and Delivery at the software company HTEC Group.
Prior to that, Darko was in charge of R&D, leading the development center of the company HTEC in Niš.
Darko is a Ph.D. candidate in the field of Robotics at the University of Niš, where he was the head of the Robotics Laboratory and thought at the Department of Control Systems.
In his conversation with Irina, Darko shares how his science education and early exposure to different scientific areas have influenced his career path in the tech world and at the HTEC group.
In this episode, Darko talks about:
How universities can become the breeding ground for innovation and talent again;
HTEC's approach to business, talent acquisition, and growth; (“Create an environment where people can become the best version of themselves”)
Putting the CEE region on the map as a product destination (“We are not the option where you go to cut the prices, we are the option where you go to solve your biggest problem.”)
The importance of problem-solving skills and human intelligence compared to AI;
The Future of Assistive Tech With Nikola Krstić From Anoris Technology
Next stop for The Recursive podcast - Belgrade!
Our next guest became an entrepreneur fresh out of high school. Nikola Krstic is now the CEO of the software company Anoris Technology. His company develops a smart glove designed to help people with impaired vision. The smart glove works like a wearable assistant device enabling blind people to have a better quality of life. And it is inspired by the founder himself.
In his conversation with Georgi Nenov, he shares his personal journey to entrepreneurship - from a nerdy kid who started programming at 8 years old through winning a high school entrepreneurship competition with his idea of the smart glove for blind people, to building a working prototype and planning a global distribution campaign.
In the episode, Nikola talks about:
⚒️ The thirst for being a creator and the importance of motivation when venturing out; (“If you give someone the knowledge, you give them the key to success”)
🚀 The technology behind the smart glove, their market approach, and vision to help visually impaired people live a happy and fulfilled life;
🇷🇸 The challenges but also opportunities to grow a startup with a global vision from Serbia;
Rediscovering the Balkans’ Promise With Tatjana Zabasù Mikuž from South Central Ventures
Our next guest is one of the first female investors in the CEE region.
Tatjana Zabasù Mikuž is the managing partner at South Central Ventures (SCV), an early-stage VC fund investing in the Balkans. Last year, they closed their third fund at 70 million euros.
Tatjana is also the co-founder of the first venture capital fund in Slovenia, which was created in 2008. Since then, she’s been actively involved in more than 40 investments. She has also served as a board member of companies like Cognism, InPlayer, Efos, and Shout.
“It takes courage, vision, and quite some funding to be able to make it on the global market. We are looking for companies that already have some traction and our role as a local investor is to share the initial risk. To help them grow and bridge the gap to larger markets”, Tatjana explains the role of SCV in her conversation with Georgi Nenov.
In the podcast, she also talks about:
What is the biggest challenge for Balkan startups to scale;
The role of regional investors in overcoming those challenges;
The mindset shift needed for the systemic success of the regional tech ecosystem;
Supporting the next generation of female founders and investors;
Building the Next Super App From CEE With Atanas Raykov From Rakuten Viber
Our next guest is responsible for the global growth of Rakuten Viber, one of the biggest calling and messaging applications with over a billion users all over the world.
Atanas Raykov is building on the app's popularity with a focus on Europe, the US, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. He works directly with Rakuten’s and Viber's global executive team to develop strategic partnerships, marketing, and PR initiatives, as well as transform the application into a super app. Previously Atanas worked for 10 years for the biggest telecom in Bulgaria VIVACOM.
Atanas is also an LP and mentor for the portfolio companies of LAUNCHub Ventures and Eleven Ventures. Part of the mentors' network of Endeavor Bulgaria. And an angel investor of the CEO Angels Club.
As a student at a business school, Atanas described his future career in the next 10 years in an essay. Little did he know he will turn this vision into a reality.
He landed his first job as an intern during the merger between BTC and Vivatel and worked for the launch of their new united brand - Vivacom.
Atanas worked there for 10 years, changing positions and helping the company become the leader in offering the widest range of telecom solutions in the Bulgarian market.
How did he do that?
“There was a lot of serendipity and a lot of deliberate choices from my side. I am patient and consistent and I play a longer-term game to increase the number of opportunities that come to me”, Atanas shares.
🎙️ Discover Atanas's journey through this episode as he talks about:
💡 His lessons learned from blitz scaling;
🏠 How to utilize Airbnb to upgrade your network;
💰 The successful pitch that persuaded Viber to invest in the CEE region;
🚀 Viber's Next Frontier: Becoming a Super App;
The Perfect Storm for Breeding Innovation With Ned Dervenkov From BESCO
Our next guest is on a mission to transform Bulgaria’s economic model towards high-value-added businesses.
Ned Dervenkov is one of the co-founders of the Bulgarian startup association https://besco.bg/https://besco.bg/ (recently rebranded to The Bulgarian Entrepreneurial Association).
With over 500 members, the NGO is working towards a series of reforms to improve the framework for starting a business in Bulgaria and position the country as an innovation powerhouse in the region.
He had participated in the creation of several laws impacting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bulgaria.
Prior to that, Ned Dervenkov was a serial entrepreneur with businesses in real estate, sustainable fashion, and finance.
Ned is also a part of ABLE - the Association of Bulgarian leaders and entrepreneurs, where he also serves as a mentor.
In this episode, Ned talks about:
How BESCO is creating the infrastructure for the multiplication of success in Bulgaria;
What is the secret sauce of effective advocacy work on a policy level;
The importance of paying forward and supporting the success of others;
Can tech unify like-minded people in the Balkans?
If You Want to Create a Big Company, You Have to Solve a Big Problem With Orlin Radev From AMPECO
Our next guest started his first startup venture at 17. By the time he finished school, he managed to sell the business and return his investment.
Since then Orlin Radev has been a serial entrepreneur, mentor, and supporter of the Bulgarian tech ecosystem.
Most recently, he’s one of the founders and CEO of AMPECO. All-in-one electric vehicle charging management platform, essential for the electric mobility evolution.
The company recently closed its Series A investment, supported by BMW iVentures and LAUNCHub Ventures to scale and conquer the North American e-mobility market.
In the episode, Orlin talks about:
How the ability to craft your own destiny drew him to entrepreneurship;
The importance of having co-founders who bring a different perspective to the business (“I work better when I have someone to challenge me.”)
How the idea of AMPECO came to be during a 35-hour adventurous drive from Germany to Bulgaria, which concentrated the experience of every EV driver back in 2018;
You Have to Think Big to Make an Impact With Dimitar Enchev from PostSriptum Ventures
Our next guest believes that decarbonization is the biggest paradigm shift in the world economy since the industrial revolution.
Dimitar Enchev is a managing partner at PostScriptum Ventures. A private equity fund focused on sustainability and energy transition investments.
But besides his investor’s hat, Dimitar is also an entrepreneur. He co-founded CWP Global. A company that developed and realized a number of large-scale renewable energy projects, including the biggest wind farm in Europe.
Recently, Dimitar has exited with CWP Renewables, one of Australia's leading renewable energy players. He will now focus on the groups’ projects in Europe and new climate tech opportunities such as green hydrogen.
Dimitar graduated from Swarthmore College in the USA and the London School of Economics.
In his conversation with Irina, Dimitar talks about:
✔️ How to create the next wave of unicorns in the decarbonization space;
✔️ The 3 big trends driving change in the energy space;
✔️ How CEE can turn its challenges as one of the most carbon-intensive regions in Europe into economic opportunities;
The Game Theory of Shared Success With Momchil Vassilev From Endeavor Bulgaria
Our next guest is a seasoned manager who walked all the way from consulting to entrepreneurship to ecosystem building.
Momchil Vassilev is the managing director of the global entrepreneurial network Endeavor for Bulgaria. In this role, he helps create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and nurture founders with global ambitions, the ability to scale fast, and a give-back mindset.
Prior to that, Vassilev has over 20 years of professional experience in management and business development. He co-founded a biotech company called Provity. Led the Corporate Development of VIA Investment group and oversaw audits, mergers, and acquisitions at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In his conversation with Irina, Momchil talks about his own journey towards entrepreneurship, but also about building the backbone of the Bulgarian entrepreneurial ecosystem and galvanizing the next level of its growth.
“Endeavor is all about helping high-impact entrepreneurs to grow big and through their success, to impact the economy and society in general”, he explains.
Watch the episode to learn:
🏃🏻♀️ How to stay relevant in a fast-moving world?
💀 Why do so many startups die before they become scale-ups?
🇧🇬 How to create game-changing innovation in a small country?
How to Leverage the Growth Potential of Southeast Europe With Elvin Guri From INVENIO Partners
Our next guest is an Albanian-born entrepreneur. His professional path is closely connected to Bulgaria. But his impact as an entrepreneur and investor has spread throughout the whole region of Southeast Europe.
Elvin Guri is currently managing the VC fund - INVENIO Partners, advising and mentoring companies from the biotech industry to healthcare, food, and real estate.
Elvin Guri co-created Jet Finance, the largest independent consumer lending company in SouthEastern Europe which he exited to BNP Paribas in 2007.
He holds an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford. He has supported several educational initiatives in Bulgaria and Albania, including his Alma Mater AUBG, Junior Achievement & Teach for Bulgaria.
In his conversation with Georgi Nenov, Elvin Guri talks about:
- What was the winning combination for Jet Finance to become the largest independent consumer lending company;
- How to help create a more equitable society through investments;
- How to nurture the next regional champions;
- How regional economies can cooperate, but also compete better to grow;
The Future of Biometric Security with Vince Gaydarzhiev from Alcatraz AI
Our next guest is a hardware engineer building the future of biometric security.
Vince Gaydarzhiev is the founder of the US-Bulgarian company Alcatraz AI. The hardware-as-a-service startup offers autonomous access control that uses facial biometrics, 3D sensing, and AI.
Among the customers of Alcatraz AI are Fortune 500 companies, including telecoms and government-owned banks.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Vince worked as an engineer for high-profile companies like Apple and Nvidia.
He holds several engineering degrees from Stanford and the universities of Southern California and Florida.
In his conversation with Irina, Vince talks about
🔐 The complexity of innovating the security industry;
💸 The hardships of fundraising for a hardware-as-a-service company;
👔 Why stepping down as a CEO was one of his best business decisions;
What Investors Look For in a Startup Founder With Elina Halatcheva From BrightCap Ventures
Our next guest is one of the power ladies of the Bulgarian VC sector.
Elina Halatcheva is a managing partner at BrightCap Ventures.
With a background in finance and investment banking, Elina has an MBA from Stanford University. She grew as a professional in the US and UK markets and her expertise ranges from investment banking to e-commerce and real estate.
Eventually, Elina came back to Bulgaria to contribute to the growth of the local tech ecosystem.
As an investor Elina is also a part of the European Women in VC initiative, trying to bridge the gap for funding for female founders.
In her conversation with Georgi Nenov, Elina talks about:
🎯 What are the key qualities of successful founders?
🤝 Why teamwork is important in the investor-founder relationship and for the success of the business?
💸 Strategies for fundraising in a downturn;
Imagine The Future of Mobility With Dimitar Dimitrov from Digital Lights
Our next guest is a seasoned executive who has walked the road from corporate to entrepreneurship.
After more than 20 years in different positions in the IT industry, Dimitar Dimitrov founded his own company. Digital Lights is a software company building innovative solutions for the mobility industry.
Recently, it has been ranked the 3d fastest-growing IT company in Bulgaria.
Dimitar Dimitrov is also a lecturer at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Sofia University. His own Alma Mater, where he’s currently also part of the Alumni Board.
In his conversation with Georgi Nenov, Dimitar Dimitrov reflects on:
🧠 The philosophy behind doing meaningful work;
🚀 The growth journey of Digital Lights;
🏎️ How software has become the soul of the vehicle and where is the future of mobility taking us;
How to Build AI We Can Trust With Petar Tsankov From LatticeFlow
Our next guest’s mission is to make artificial intelligence more secure and reliable. Petar Tsankov is at the unique intersection of science and entrepreneurship.
Until recently, He’s was researcher and a lecturer at ETH Zurich, and currently co-founder of LatticeFlow, a company helping machine learning teams build and deploy trustworthy AI.
Before that, Petar already had one successful exit. He sold his first company ChainSecurity to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Petar is the proud owner of “The John Atanassov” award - an initiative that supports young Bulgarian inventors in the area of information technology.
He has a Computer Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
In the episode, Petar talks about:
🤖 What is critical to win the market of deep learning technology?;
🤔 Can AI offer more fair way to treat people?
🎨 Is there a boundary between what humans can do and what technology can do?
Entrepreneurship Is the Craft of Taking Risks With Radu Negulescu From Sessions
Our next guest discovered entrepreneurship when he was a teenager. Since then Radu Negulescu has been running multiple successful businesses.
While still in university, he founded Trencadis, a company developing IT solutions for governmental institutions and businesses.
Trencadis was recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in Central Europe by Deloitte.
During the pandemic, Radu appointed a seasoned manager to run Trencadis to jump-start a new venture.
His company Sessions was founded on the verge of transitioning toward remote and hybrid work.
Sessions’ mission is to solve the problem of unproductive meetings and help teams communicate more effectively.
In the episode, Radu reflects on his journey from a teen entrepreneur, through university-drop-out, to a serial entrepreneur.
In this episode you will hear:
✂️ Why entrepreneurship is a craft;
🔮 What is the future of hybrid work;
🤔 How management is different from leadership;
🗂️ His theoretical framework about the nature of information;
Going Global is About How You Perceive Limitations with Dan Mihaescu from GapMinder VC
Our next guest has participated in the Romanian tech ecosystem since its inception.
First as an angel investor, today, Dan Mihaescu is the founding partner of GapMinder VC.
He has led GapMinder’s investments in companies like FintechOS, TypingDNA, Cartloop, Cyscale, and DruidAI.
Before that, Dan was a seasoned business executive with experience in small, medium to large enterprises, M&A deals, and venture acceleration. Dan is also an INSEAD Alumni and Harvard Business School graduate.
In his conversation with Irina, Dan reflects on the evolution of the Romanian tech ecosystem, his decision-making process as an investor, and the building up of the business expertise in the region.
In the episode, you’ll hear:
🌐 What is the spill-over effect after UiPath’s global success?
🚩What are the red flags when an investor is making a risk assessment?
❓What is the question Dan asks founders to test whether they’re playing the long game?
Why Entrepreneurs Should Be Storytellers With Mike Butcher from TechCrunch
Our next guest is one of the most influential people in tech in Europe.
Mike Butcher is Editor-at-large at TechCrunch. But his journalistic work has appeared in many media outlets from The Guardian to the BBC, and Bloomberg.
He was recognized by the Queen of England for his services in tech industry and journalism.
Mike has also advised UK Prime Ministers and the Mayor of London on tech startup policy.
He is the founder of the non-profit Techfugees. A global organization providing tech solutions for displaced people.
In his conversation with Irina, Mike opens up about how he got the journalism “bug”. He shares his observation on the growth of the European tech ecosystem and reflects whether regulations are a hurdle or an opportunity for tech businesses. He offers his view on what’s the best use of public money to fuel innovation.
Watch the episode to find out:
🔥 Which tech trend he’s most passionate about?
🏃♀️ What are the unique advantages of Eastern Europe when it comes to innovation?
🛑 What is the major pitfall startup founders make when pitching their product?
🎙️ What’s the most interesting interview he’s had of all the founders he’s met?
How To Transform Education With Evelina Necula From Kinderpedia
Our next guest takes education very seriously. So much so, that she founded an ed-tech startup.
Evelina Necula is the co-founder of Kinderpredia. A school management software that simplifies administrative stuff to help teachers, parents, and students communicate better.
Today, Kinderpedia is used by schools and kindergartens in 14 countries. In over 2000 schools and kindergartens worldwide.
Evelina leans on her marketing and B2B sales experience to scale the company.
In her conversation with Georgi Nenov, Evelina shares why and how she decided to become an entrepreneur even though she had a great career as a marketing professional.
Evelina and her co-founders first spotted the need for better communication between parents and teachers. They saw the difficulties both parties were going through to stay in touch - the frustration of the teachers and the anxiety of the parents to be disconnected from their children’s experience in school or kindergarten for most of the day. And they realized the huge opportunity children were missing not having the most important adults in their life communicate and work together towards their progress, Evelina explains.
In the episode, she talks about:
🎒 Kinderpedia’s vision to transform education;
✨ What is at the core of leadership?
🤔 Why spending time on validation of your product pays off;
Why The Next 10 Years Will Be All About Market Networks with Andrei Ursachi from Stailer
Our next guest is born an entrepreneur.
At just 23 years old, he already had three companies, making profits.
Andrei Ursachi is a serial entrepreneur, currently serving as the CEO of Stailer, an online booking platform for the beauty industry. An opportunity Andrei saw and acted on in the midst of the pandemic.
He utilizes his background in digital marketing and psychology to build fast-scaling companies.
In his conversation with Georgi Nenov, Andrei reflects on what is it like to stay at the top of your game in this intense competition that is running a startup business.
Watch the episode for insights on:
💅🏻How he built Linkedin for beauty professionals; 💙 How business teaches you to stay anxious but follow your intuition; 🥊 How to get up when you’ve been knocked down;
Thinking Fast and Slow in Startup Culture with Dimitrios Skaltsas from Intelligencia.AI
Our next guest has a passion for exploring the barriers to AI implementation. As a startup founder, and an advisor, but also as an investor.
Dimitrios Skaltsas is the co-founder and Executive Director of Intelligencia. A company that helps pharma and biotech companies reduce risks in drug development and bring new drugs to market faster.
Dimitrios has an MBA from INSEAD and he has been an executive resident there. And he has also led the Big Data and AI department at McKinsey New Ventures.
Dimitris lives in New York, but you can meet him often in Athens. Intelligentsia’s headquarters is across the ocean, but Athens is the R&D powerhouse of the company.
In his conversation with Irina, Dimitris shares lessons learned from:
🥧 His first entrepreneurial venture, selling traditional Greek cheese pies in New York; 📏 Measuring success in a sophisticated industry like drug development; 🧠 Thinking both fast and slow to grow and accelerate a startup;
The Power of Connecting People With Pavlina Yanakieva from Bulgaria Innovation Hub
Our next guest is a true community builder and a person with a passion and talent for connecting people.
Pavlina Yanakieva is the co-founder and CEO of Bulgaria Innovation Hub. A non-profit that aims to build bridges between Sofia and the Silicon Valley and help local entrepreneurs scale their businesses in the US market.
Before that Pavlina gained experience in sales, marketing, and network development at US Telecoms like AT&T and T-Mobile. She has also worked for Google and Cingular Wireless.
Pavlina has a degree in International Relations from San Jose State University in California. And she has specialized in entrepreneurship and product management at Stanford and Berkeley.
In her conversation with Georgi Nenov, she reflects on how to crack the culture code when it comes to the perception of entrepreneurship and failure in Bulgaria and the US.
She also talks about the power of networks, and her mission to support education in Bulgaria.
In the episode you’ll also hear:
👨👧How her grandfather taught her first entrepreneurial skills; 🏋️♀️ How to nurture a culture of confidence and self-worth in Bulgaria; 🏃♀️ What are Europe’s advantages in the competition for capital and talent with China and the US;
How to nurture a growth mindset with Apostolos Apostolakis from Venture Friends
Our next guest is known as the Guru of the Greek startups. Apostolos Apostolakis is a partner at Venture Friends. The first 100% private venture capital fund in Greece with successful exits and soonicorns like Blueground and Spotawheel in their portfolio.
Today, Venture Friends has spread its impact not only throughout Europe but also to South America and the Middle East. Apostolos also has a vast portfolio as an angel investor. But before that he was a serial entrepreneur, tapping into niches like e-commerce.
Apostolos has studied civil engineering and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. He kickstarted his career as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group.
In his conversation with Desy Karapchanska, he shares his lessons learned along his journey from consultancy, to entrepreneurship, to the world of VC. In the episode, you’ll also hear:
🍀 Why intuition is essential in making investment choices;
🔍 How to keep an open mind for constant learning;
🗺️ How to scale a company worldwide;
How to Level Up the VC Game, with Irina Dimitrova, CFO and Partner at LAUNCHub Ventures | Ep.48
Next on The Recursive podcast, we welcome the Chief Financial Officer and Partner at LAUNCHub Ventures, Irina Dimitrova.
She left behind a prospective career in London, where she graduated in Banking and International Finance from the University of London, to pursue her dream - of making an impact in her home country, Bulgaria. With her financial acumen and determination, she managed to put Southeast Europe on the map for investments when entrepreneurship was still at its embryonic level.
First, she wanted to pursue a career in project management, but things took another turn and she became one of the first women in the venture capital market in our region by joining LAUNCHub Ventures.
In this episode, you will hear more about:
- What is the driving force behind a successful career in venture capital?
- What is more important than the entrepreneurial idea for investors?
- What does the future of the SEE region hold?
How To Make Bulgaria More Attractive For Future Innovations With Max Gurvits from Vitosha Venture Partners | Ep.48
Next, on The Recursive podcast, we welcome an innovation driver and supporter in the Bulgarian startup ecosystem.
Meet Max Gurvits, a “Bulgarian by choice,” as he describes himself. Max is a Managing Partner at Sofia-based VC, Vitosha Venture Partners. Graduating from The University of Groningen with a Master’s degree in International and European Law, Max explores his interest in entrepreneurship at one moment of his life, which later leads him to moving to Bulgaria. Since then, Max Gurvits has been one of the most respected players in the Bulgarian innovation ecosystem.
In his conversation with Irina, Max shares the most interesting stories from his life and why he decided to work and live in Bulgaria. He stresses on the current state of the Bulgarian ecosystem and the opportunities for the country to develop as a main business location in Europe.
In the episode, you’ll also hear:
- How Bulgaria can develop a competitive economy;
- Why Max fell in love with Bulgaria and decided to move there;
- How a lawyer by education became an entrepreneur.
Take Action And The Rest Will Follow with Vicky Foteinou from CrowdPolicy
Our next guest, Vicky Foteinou, has been side-by-side with the tech founders from the Greek innovation ecosystem for the past decade. She has consulted startups from scratch, navigating their growth and expansion across markets, sectors, and networks. Payhawk, Plum, WealthyHood, Finloup, and Welcome Pickups, to name a few.
Vicky Foteinou is an experienced program manager with a background in public and business administration. Currently, she’s the Program Manager at the Greek Innovation and Technology Company, CrowdPolicy. And a Manager of the Visa Innovation Program in Greece.
Vicky Foteinou is also an avid explorer of human emotions, digging deep into psychology studies.
In her conversation with Desi Karapchanska, Vicky talks about what makes a good founder and why programs like the Visa Innovation Program are important for the ecosystem.
In this episode you will hear:
🤝Why networking and creativity are crucial for any ecosystem;
🔐Why empathy is important in entrepreneurship;
👩🏻💻How the Greek startup ecosystem has evolved under the leadership of women.
In The Tech Ecosystem We All Mature Together With Dimitris Kalavros-Gousiou From Velocity.Partners
Our next guest’s growth journey reflects the growth of the Greek innovation landscape.
Dimitris Kalavros got fascinated with tech innovation while working as a journalist. This is how he found his own calling for entrepreneurship.
Dimitris brought the TEDx conference to Athens and has curated it for more than a decade.
He also created Found.ation, a technology and innovation enabling platform in Southeast Europe. Today, Found.ation runs a digital transformation accelerator for companies and it acts as a tech education hive, offering reskilling, upskilling, and consulting services.
Later on, Dimitris put on the investor hat. He co-founded Velocity.Partners, a VC fund for early-stage ventures. The fund has supported 22 companies, many with international presence. And it already has 3 exits.
In his conversation with Irina, he reflects on his journey and the lessons learned along the way.
In the episode, he also talks about:
🔝 His evolution from a founder to an investor; (“Once you put on the investor’s hat you are no longer in the driver’s seat, you are no longer calling the shots”)
😨 Why fear is the main obstacle to start a business; (“The absence of fear is the energy source you need to start something new.”)
🇬🇷 His philosophy on the development of the Greek ecosystem; (“As an ecosystem, we mature together”)
Inspiration should come from within with Thomas Metz from Bosch Engineering Center Sofia
Next, on The Recursive Podcast, we welcome someone who is literally driving innovation in the future of mobility.
Meet Thomas Metz, the Managing Director of Bosch Engineering Center Sofia. Before coming to Bulgaria, he held various positions in Bosch Group. He worked in the field of automotive engineering, key customer management, and strategic marketing and sales. Thomas Metz joined Bosch more than a decade ago as part of their Junior Management Program.
In his conversation with Irina, Thomas Metz shares the important roadstops in his career journey that put him at the steering wheel of innovation at Bosch. He reflects on his leadership values and the future of mobility.
In the episode, you’ll also hear:
🚘 Why assisted automated driving will be everywhere by 2025;
👔 What is the difference between managing and leading people;
🇧🇬 Why did he decide to learn Bulgarian and what did that show him;
Why You Must Think Big When Launching a Startup with Victor Trokoudes from Plum
Welcome back, The Recursive Community! Our summer season is starting off hot with one of the stars of the European fintech world - Victor Trokoudes, the co-Founder and CEO of the AI money management app Plum.
Plum is a European smart money app that aims to grow people’s wealth through automation. It's built to improve financial outcomes for everyone by helping customers save, invest, budget, and spend. The company currently has over 1.3 million customers in Europe.
As Victor Trokoudes explains it himself, the idea for building Plum was to have “a button that you press and your financial life is sorted out.”
Victor is a Cypriot-Canadian serial entrepreneur with an educational background from from Harvard and INSEAD. He started his career on the trading floor at Morgan Stanley. Victor then joined the small team of 5 at TransferWise in London. When he left the company several years later, they were 500+ people, present in 25 markets.
Despite his success in the corporate world and clear future prospects, Victor always knew he wanted to go down the entrepreneurial path. Following his interest in payments, he first founded PoS terminal reseller BlueBird and exited later.
Today, Victor Trokoudes lives and operates his business between three countries, the UK, Greece, and Cyprus.
In his conversation with Irina, he talks about:
🆙 What it takes to scale a company from 5 to 600 people;
🔭 Why it is important to think big when launching a start-up;
💳 When to start saving and how to build a proper investment strategy;
How to Build a Strong IТ Community With Svetoslav Dimov From Dev.BG
Our next guest is passionate about building companies and developing marketing strategies. But he’s also experienced in building communities.
Svetoslav Dimov is the co-founder and CEO of DEV.BG, the biggest IT community in Bulgaria. DEV.BG is also a leading tech job board and one of the main organizers of tech events in the country. Helping IT professionals not only to find opportunities, but also to exchange ideas, knowledge, and experience.
In his conversation with Georgi Nenov, Svetoslav Dimov talks about:
🔩 The specifics of building a marketplace business; 🤔 Can you be conservative and risk-reverse and still make it as an entrepreneur? (“If I had to fill in a test: “Are you ready to be an entrepreneur?”, I would fail miserably.”) 🤝 How to build a healthy relationship with your co-founders;