Immerse yourself in advanced strategies and insights to grow your business to new heights. Learn from experts how to scale, innovate, and navigate the pitfalls of growing your enterprise.
What will you learn?
You will find answers to the following topics:
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Discover key strategies for securing funding and investment to support your growth
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Learn how to drive business growth and expand your operations effectively
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Find out how to ride the wave of innovation and stay ahead of the competitive market
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Gain insights on how to take your business global and overcome international challenges
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Refine strategies for a profitable and successful exit
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and many others.
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Explore the sessions
Bulgaria - Innovation Destination: How Entrepreneurship can lead the way for turning Bulgaria into an innovation destination
Scaling up
EN
Milena Stoycheva (Board of Innovation), Dimiter Banov (Hydrogenera), Natalia Konova (AMIRA MEDITECH LTD), Asparuh Koev (Transmetrics), Boyan Zahariev (Green Gold Intl)
Let’s deep dive into what innovation is and what it means for distinctive industry representatives. The panel discussion will give you all those perspectives that illustrate what known and unknown potential we have thriving in Bulgaria and how we can leverage it even further for broader visibility
Equity Financing or IPO – Finding the Right Fit for Your Company’s Growth
Scaling up
BG
Zdravko Pirinliev (BenchMark), Simeon Iliev (MFG Invest), Kosta Jordanov (Wiser)
This panel will explore strategies and opportunities for company financing, focusing on equity financing and stock market listing as two key models. Featuring experts representing diverse businesses and investment approaches, the panel will provide insights into the real advantages and challenges companies face when choosing the path to growth through the capital market. One of the panelists will share experience from the perspective of a financial analyst and author of a startup guide, while the other two participants will contribute their experience as representatives of already-listed companies—one of which specializes in direct investments in other businesses.
The panel is aimed at startups and entrepreneurs seeking sustainable financing solutions, offering practical advice and insights for achieving long-term success through capital attraction.
Founder Fundraising Hacks: Maximizing ROI for Your Next Round
Scaling up
EN
Krikor Dzeronian (Electives.io)
Learn proven strategies and insider hacks to secure your next round of funding and achieve a high return on investment. Krikor will share his personal experience and techniques for making the right moves in the fundraising process, ensuring your efforts lead to rewarding and impactful results. Don’t miss this opportunity to level up your fundraising game.
From East to West: how to master fundraising as a young Bulgarian founder
Scaling up
EN
Zvezdin Besarabov (Outdid.io)
Do you have global ambitions? Sooner or later, you'll fundraise from western investors. But you didn't study in Stanford, you don't have a sleek British accent, and the people you talk to are having difficulty pronouncing your name, let alone judging how good of a founder you'd be.
How would a first-time founder from Eastern Europe get this right? And are there any differences in perception or fulture that you must address?
In 2022, Zvezdin co-founded the ID verification startup Outdid.io, and after over 100 VC pitches which failed for all kinds of reasons, in 2023 they closed a $2.5M seed round led by a US and Singaporean VC, followed by around 20 angel investors. He would love to share his learnings of what did, and most importantly, didn't work, in the pursuit of helping more founders understand that they can, and will do, a lot more with the right preparation.
How #BreakingGrounds showcased Bulgaria’s tech ecosystem to 300,000 investors and innovators in less than a year
Scaling up
EN
Teodor Antonio Georgiev (Storytelling Studio), Iskren Krusteff (Integrator JSC), Konstantin Bezuhanov (Evrotrust), Boyko Takov (Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency)
In this panel, leading figures from Bulgaria’s tech ecosystem will discuss the remarkable journey of #BreakingGrounds, an initiative that has propelled Bulgaria into the spotlight of the global innovation landscape. From startups to scale-ups, the panel will explore how Bulgarian companies gained visibility among 300,000 investors, innovators, and industry leaders in under a year. Join us as we uncover key success factors, the challenges faced, and the strategic initiatives that made this milestone possible.
How to get to a Global Scale and what's the bridge to it?
Scaling up
EN
Pavlina Yanakieva (Bulgaria Innovation Hub)
Scaling Bulgarian businesses globally is not a mission impossible. Hear more about the future horizons the ecosystem offers and how you can cross the bridge for international success
Overcoming the Fears of Scaling: Lessons from Successful Entrepreneurs
Scaling up
EN
Nikolay Todorov (LimeChain), Ivan Georgiev (Pontica Solutions), Boris Pavlov (Flat Manager), Roberta Tihomirova (Eleven VC)
Are you ready to scale your business, or are you hesitant about the next big leap? In this session, successful business owners will share their hard-earned lessons on scaling up, revealing what to do—and what to avoid—for long-term, sustainable growth. Learn how to overcome the challenges of scaling and ensure your business thrives at every stage.
The technology boost into our lifestyle - AI generations
Scaling up
EN
Georgi Kostadinov (Kelvin Health), Milena Georgieva (EPIX.ai), Nikolay Vasev (Epix.аи), Federico Acosta (Custom Surgical)
Let's deep dive into understanding why AI is gold in the current business dynamics and how technology can not only bring in more ideas, improvements and efficiencies, but also can change and boost our health conditions
Unlocking Growth: Secrets to Scaling Your Business
Scaling up
BG
Dimitar Dimitrov (Ardes), Alexander Dreischuh (Alpi Investment), Nikolay Zheynov (Ucha.se & Eduboom), Lubomir Nokov (Harmonica), Nikolay Markov (FMFIB)
Hear from successful entrepreneurs across various industries as they share their personal journeys and reveal the common strategies that helped them scale their businesses. Learn the key factors that drive sustainable growth and take your business to the next level.
What are investors looking for?
Scaling up
EN
Tim Jeck (Entrepreneurial Investment Partnership), Atanas Raykov (Rakuten Viber), Hristo Hristov (Darik Radio), Julian Gikov (Raiffeisen Bank International AG), Mirena Bordelieva
Our international speakers are excited to join us and reveal some of the “mysteries” around what business investment looks like from regional perspective, what investors across the globe are mostly looking to see in a pitch or business proposal and how you can prepare to address those expectations more effectively next time you are up for an investor meeting.
Start Up, Bulgaria Scaling Up