Enis Hulli is a General Partner at e2vc, focused on investing in Central Eastern European and Turkish entrepreneurs on pre-seed and seed.

Svetozar Georgiev is a co-founder of Telerik, Telerik Academy and Campus X. After spending 14 years building a global software company, he is now dedicated to sharing his learnings with the next generation of Bulgarian entrepreneurs. As a co-founder and co-CEO of Telerik, Svetozar has been instrumental in steering the company from a bootstrapped startup to a global market leader, employing 850+ people in 11 offices around the world. Today, he is overseeing the development the educational institutions Telerik Academy and Telerik Academy Foundation, as well as the biggest private incubator in Bulgaria – Campus X. Svetozar is also an active mentor, advisor and angel investor, working with numerous startups and community organizations. His mission is to help the local tech and start-up ecosystems evolve and become strong bottom-up forces for positive change in Bulgaria. Currently he is Chair of BESCO – the Bulgarian Entrepreneurs’ Association, Vice Chair of “Teach for Bulgaria” Foundation and member of the Board of Trustees of the American University in Bulgaria.

Igor Zacharjasz is the Head of Digital Products for Visa in Central and Eastern Europe, covering eight markets in the region. He leads a team of experts who deliver innovative digital solutions for Visa's clients and partners, such as tokenization, 3-D Secure, Click to Pay, Visa Mobile or Apple and Google Pay. Igor has over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, with a focus on innovation and collaboration. He started his career at IBM, where he managed the IBM Innovation Studio, developing new solutions for partners and clients across various sectors. He also led the IBM Ecosystem Development team for Central and Eastern Europe, driving the adoption of IBM Cloud solutions among startups, developers and academia. In 2015, Igor joined Alior Bank, one of the leading digital banks in Poland. He was responsible for identifying and implementing cutting-edge technologies for the bank, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cloud computing. He also led the startup engagement team at Alior Innovation Lab, fostering cooperation between the bank and the fintech ecosystem. During his tenure at Alior Bank, he successfully launched Poland's first Android Pay deployment, enabling mobile payments for millions of customers. In 2018, Igor moved to Visa as the Innovation Studio Leader for Poland, where he coordinated collaboration with clients and partners, including issuer banks, acquirers and startups. He helped create and implement market-wide solutions that enhanced the customer experience and security of digital payments.

Delian Asparouhov is a Co-Founder of Varda and a Partner at Founders Fund

Dr. Botty Dimanov, CEO & Co-Founder of Tenyks, holds a PhD in Explainable AI for Vision from Cambridge University, invented US Patent for extracting concepts from visual information, and is a Forbes 30U30 honouree. Tenyks is an award-winning Cambridge University spin-out backed by YCombinator.

Bogdan is a General Partner of Underline Ventures, a venture capital firm that partners at the earliest stages with Eastern European founders building high-growth startups with global ambitions. Also, founder of the How to Web Conference, one of Europe’s leading startup and innovation events, Bogdan is advising early-stage startups on raising capital, building useful products, or crafting great pitch decks. Previously Partner with Gecad Ventures, entrepreneur (founded and exited Conectoo, an enterprise email marketing service), he was involved with MVP Academy, MVP Angels, TechHub Bucharest, and 3TS Capital Partners.

Laurin covers Dev / Data / AI investments at Earlybird. He joined in 2021 and is based in the Munich office. Laurin worked closely with software companies from multiple angles - as a strategy consultant, in Private Equity, and as a Product Manager at a mobility startup with >€100m in funding. At Earlybird, he works with companies like Workist and EthonAI. Laurin holds a Master’s from the London School of Economics.

Boris Valkov is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lace, an AI-driven platform revolutionizing call center operations. With over 20 years of experience in software engineering and leadership, including roles at Facebook AI and VMware, Boris specializes in deploying large-scale AI solutions.

In 2014, Svilen co-founded Dronamics with his brother Konstantin, an aerospace engineer, with a mission to leverage advances in aerospace and automation, in order to democratize air freight and enable same day shipping to remote and underserved areas. А report by the World Bank highlighting that improving logistics has a greater effect on trade than tariff cuts and other similar policies, inspired Svilen to develop Dronamics as a solution that will change how the world moves goods. Svilen and Konstantin are leading a fast growing team of world-class experts in aviation, logistics and engineering, and their pioneering work has won them numerous international awards and industry recognition. Svilen is an Economics graduate from Davidson College, USA; was appointed European Innovation Council ambassador in March 2024, and is an Endeavor Entrepreneur alongside his brother Konstantin.

Stephane Gantchev is a Partner at LAUNCHub Ventures and Co-Organizer of DigitalK Conference

Nikola Likov is a Bulgarian entrepreneur and venture builder based in Riyadh. Since 2019, he’s played an active role in Saudi Arabia’s transformation, building teams and launching corporate ventures across mobility, logistics, and fintech. After exiting a European venture builder, he joins the founding team of Rimthan Ventures, where he acts as Chief Growth Officer, helping scale regionally. As Chairman of The Bridge, Nikola unites Bulgaria’s top-performing global innovators and champions a “give back, pay forward” culture since 2021. His mission today is clear: build a bridge for Bulgarian companies to be part of “the Saudi Dream”.

Pallavi is a Principal AI Product Manager at Twilio, where she leads product strategy for Data Insights and Pricing platforms. With a career spanning Microsoft, ServiceNow, Adobe, and OpenText, she brings deep expertise in building and launching 0 to 1 products in B2B SaaS. Her work spans across Conversational AI, Proactive Customer Engagement, Feedback Management, Digital Imaging, and Web Conferencing. Passionate about solving real customer problems, Pallavi combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach to deliver meaningful product outcomes.

Entrepreneur & investor with extensive experience in the energy transition space. Cofounder of a global renewable energy company, behind some of the largest projects in Australia, Southeast Europe, and ultra large scale Power-to-X globally. Managing Partner of PostScriptum - a venture capital fund with a diverse portfolio of investments in sustainability and technology.

Irina started her career path in Vienna, working in media and communications. Later on, she gained experience in digital marketing and sales working for various tech companies in the B2B tech in DACH. In 2016, she made her first attempt as an entrepreneur when she co-founded WelcomeBuddy - a platform for expats Austria. The venture failed to launch, but the experience gained had a huge effect on her decisions later on. On one side, by observing how migration trends in Europe lead to massive brain drain in Bulgaria and Romania, Irina identified her new mission. On the other hand, Irina developed a strong passion for disruptive business models and the startup world. In 2019, Irina decided to move back to Bulgaria - and the media sector, helping establish the first international tech media outlet. Two years later, she and her co-founder, Etien Yovchev, launched the regional media project The Recursive. By combining news media with ecosystem mapping and a storytelling studio, their mission is to help innovative ventures from Emerging Europe scale internationally and get the visibility they deserve. Irina holds a degree in Mass Media & Communication Studies from the University of Vienna. In 2021, she was awarded Female Entrepreneur of the Year by La French Tech community in Bucharest. As a member of the advisory board of Entrepreneurs in Class, Irina is committed to inspiring entrepreneurial mindset in young students.

Lili Kostadinova is the Enterprise and Corporate Sales Manager at Cloud Office, where she drives revenue growth and builds strong client relationships. With a background in Data & AI Solutions Consulting at Cloud Office, she excels at understanding client needs and aligning technology solutions with their business objectives. Lili has a proven track record in conducting customer workshops, developing solution proposals, presenting on both business and technical stages and leveraging her skills in data and AI. Her previous experience includes roles in account management and data engineering.

Deyan Yordanov is an Account Executive at Cloud Office, focused on driving business growth through strategic sales initiatives in cloud consultancy, digital transformation, and managed services. He is adept at identifying and nurturing new business opportunities, building trust-based client relationships, and developing tailored solutions. Deyan has a strong history in sales and account management, with a focus on cloud solutions and fostering impactful partnerships.

Krum Zlatanov is a Digital Transformation Expert at Cloud Office, where he leverages his deep understanding of cloud technologies to guide clients through their digital journeys. His background includes experience in partner programs and IT support, providing him with a comprehensive perspective on the cloud ecosystem. Krum is skilled in data analysis and applying his expertise to facilitate effective digital transformation strategies leveraging Google Cloud and Google Workspace.

Founder of Several Clouds, a premier provider of Cloud and DevOps consulting services, helping businesses with their cloud adoption journey. Daniel is heavily engaged with the cloud community and is organizing the biggest public cloud conference in Bulgaria - AWS Community Day Bulgaria. He also teaches Cloud and DevOps at Telerik Academy and Sofia University. In 2021, Daniel is recognized as an AWS Hero - an elite group of less than 250 people worldwide. A father of three.

Evgenia Peeva is a social entrepreneur dedicated to the cause of quality education and optimal human development. She is the co-founder and long-time executive director of non-governmental and for-profit organizations working in the fields of formal and informal education, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. She has founded and led for almost a decade Teach For Bulgaria (Заедно в час) and is currently the CEO of SoftUni BUDITEL High-School for Digital Sciences - the second biggest private high-school in Bulgaria. She is also a co-founder of Crisp Labs, a boutique AI advisory & solutions company. Evgenia has received numerous awards for her proven leadership skills in the field of education.

Georgi is co-founder and managing partner of BrightCap Ventures - an early-stage VC, developing the potential of the SEE startup ecosystem by providing capital, mentorship, and access to global networks. Before BrightCap, Georgi co-founded Aviaso, an aviation software startup that created innovative fuel efficiency products for the leading airlines. In 2015, Honeywell acquired Aviaso. Before Aviaso/Honeywell, Georgi was a first-round employee of Sciant. Starting as a software engineer, Georgi grew in the software business, contributing to a variety of projects and business operations and being one of the partners managing Sciant. In 2007, VMware acquired Sciant.

From startup dreamers to global achievers, Petya Dobrenova has spent 21 years helping businesses scale smartly – and legally. She brings well-rounded expertise in the manufacturing, retail & wholesale, pharma, IT, media, and automotive industries – built through years of working closely with clients across these fields and others. CIPP/E certified and a long-time advisor on employment and privacy law, she’s passionate about tech, transformation, and making sure innovation and compliance walk hand in hand. Digital and innovative companies grow at lightning speed before her eyes – and she often, yet kindly, reminds them that a pinch of proper legal compliance – bitter as it may taste at times – is actually a key ingredient in the recipe for long-term success.

Ivan has over a decade of experience in SaaS & IT consulting, having worked at global market leaders such as Salesforce and Merkle. At Deel, he's focused on helping CEE startups & SMBs go global from day one and expand internationally at speed. When offline, Ivan enjoys coaching CrossFit in Prague, Czechia.

Teodor Antonio Georgiev is a key orchestrator of the CEE tech ecosystem, bridging startups, investors, and global markets. As the driving force behind #BreakingGrounds and Co-Founder of Storytelling Studio, he positions the region’s top innovators on the world stage, securing high-impact visibility and forging strategic alliances. From scaling startups to shaping narratives that resonate globally, Teodor is the connector, storyteller, and dealmaker who ensures that the most promising ventures in CEE don’t just grow—they lead.

Ralitsa is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and startup advisor with deep experience in building tech products. She’s a co-founder of Appolica | Venture Studio and a strong advocate for lean, value-driven startup building. Part of Forbes 30under30 and a Forbes Female Leader for 2024, she was also selected to represent Bulgaria in the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program. Her mission is to help female founders and working moms become more confident and achieve their goals.

Stoyan Ivanov is a co-founder of nFuse.ai and former General Manager at The Coca-Cola Company. He spent nearly 20 years in corporate leadership, where he built Coca-Cola’s European venturing unit and led business operations across 8+ markets. Today, he is focused on building nFuse.ai—a B2B AI sales platform helping consumer goods companies sell smarter and faster. Stoyan is also an active mentor and investor, supporting early-stage startups across tech and consumer industries. He is passionate about turning ideas into scalable businesses and helping the next generation of entrepreneurs grow with purpose and clarity.

Christian Tsanov is the founder and CEO of Argumento, a platform that connects legal professionals with ready-to-hire clients through AI. With a background in law, startups, and business development, he launched Argumento to democratize access to justice for millions worldwide. In his spare time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, learning piano, and indulging in a bit of retro gaming when the opportunity arises.

Ivo is a professional real estate investor with over 10 years of experience in Bulgaria, Germany, and Switzerland. He has worked for global companies such as Adidas and Vodafone. He has led large teams, managed multi-million euro budgets, and operated internationally, sharing his strategies for successful real estate investments. He is also the founder of Investimo, a platform dedicated to smart property investing. In addition, he coaches and mentors numerous startups in Germany and Switzerland, helping them grow and scale their businesses.

Iliya teaches 1.4M+ students on the topics of AI, data science, and machine learning. He is a serial entrepreneur, who has co-founded Team-GPT, 3veta, and 365 Data Science. His latest project, Team-GPT allows SMBs and Enterprises to adopt GPT technologies in a safe, private, and collaborative way, chat with any AI model, organize prompts, and discover AI use cases.

Kremena Dervenkova is the Executive Director of ABLE, a dynamic community of 400+ young professionals and entrepreneurs driving positive change in Bulgaria. Under her leadership, ABLE runs initiatives like ABLE Mentor (Bulgaria’s first 1-on-1 mentorship program for high schoolers), ABLE Activator (an entrepreneurship program for students and young professionals), and BASE Sofia & BASE Mentor (business courses for real-economy enterprises). With a background in international business and hospitality, Kremena has spent the last eight years in the NGO sector, focusing on entrepreneurial education and personalised mentorship as ways to help young people shape raw ideas into real impact. Passionate about sustainability, she is also a long-time advocate for entomophagy (eating insects) and serves as founder and Chairman of Bulgaria’s Association of Insect Producers and Processors.

Vesko Kolev is the founder and CEO of Icanpreneur - the first Accelerator-as-a-Software dedicated to empowering more people to become successful entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. He has been an active player in the software industry since 2004, where he has led and developed world-class teams and products for both private and public companies. In his spare time, Vesko enjoys playing football, reading, and spending quality time with his wonderful wife and three children.

Most of my time is spent as the CTO and Co-founder of Iris.ai, where I am the technology driver for building our Artificial Intelligence tools for researchers and scientists. I am the head of both the research and development team. My past is a unique experience which is a combination of AI research, software development, technology leadership skills, put to the ultimate test in building and operating an international startup with with a very ambitious vision and goal. With the contribution of my leadership, Iris.ai has become a world leader in practical AI applications. Its award-winning AI engine for scientific text understanding comprises of algorithms for text similarity, tabular data extraction, domain-specific entity representation learning and entity disambiguation and linking and it measures up to the best in the world. Before founding Iris.ai, I worked as a Research Engineer in Artificial Intelligence at Chalmers University of Technology after finishing my second Master’s Degree at the same place, in Computer Systems and Networks Engineering, and had a broad experience in corporate software development.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boryana Pelova is an internationally recognized professional with a career spanning over 15 years in the field of data analysis and large dataset processing. Her expertise extends across both conventional and cutting-edge machine learning techniques. She has made significant contributions to the academic and applied aspects of this domain via leading and participating in a number of research projects, aimed at improving society challenges such as air quality, prevention of depression, digitalization of public sector and SMEs, financial stability, etc. The current projects of Assoc. Prof. Pelova are: • Digitalization of SMEs (since 2023) • SHARE-ERIC Bulgaria (since 2018) • Project in „Fundamental Science 2023“ program by the National Science Fund (since 2023) Assoc. Prof. Pelova’s expertise goes beyond her research contributions. She has played a pivotal role in the development of the MSc Program "AI for Business and Finance" as its academic director. She is actively nurturing the next generation of AI and data science professionals through engaging young professionals in the academic life of Sofia University via projects and programs. Among her significant contributions is the development of an industry-funded PhD program. In commitment to societal development, she has also served as the Head of the Career Center at FEBA (from its establishment in 2016 until 2023), organizing numerous impactful career events that offer support to high school and university students in finding their fulfilling career path. Assoc. Prof. Pelova has served as Vice-Dean of FEBA in the period 2019 – 2023. In this role she contributes significantly to the development of a sustainable business-academic relationship in support of modern high-tech educational process. Since 2023 Assoc. Prof. Pelova works actively towards creation of school-university-business synergy. She is among the leaders who initiate the affiliation of Vocational School of Computer Programming and Innovation in Burgas as an associate school to Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and currently she coordinates the joint activities on behalf of FEBA.

Eryn is the Co-Creator of the AI Maturity Index and Editor of Weekly Workforce. Before founding the AI Maturity Index, she scaled two unicorns in the tech talent industry. Her work in freelance and platform economies has impacted over 4.5 million workers in 190+ countries. She was named one of the Top Female Leaders in SaaS by The SaaS Report, and 2024 Digital Innovator by ISG.

With over 16 years of experience in information and cybersecurity, Stoyan Popov leads the information security technology and security strategy at Amusnet, an international all-casino solutions provider. Passionate about building resilient systems and driving innovation in digital risk management, he plays a key role in safeguarding Amusnet’s operations and customers worldwide. Stoyan is committed to fostering a culture of security and continuous improvement in one of the most dynamic industries.

Daniel has spent more than 14 years in the IT industry, starting as a developer and later on transitioned to an architectural role. He co-founded a SaaS startup and managed to guide it to a successful exit. What sets him apart is his knack for understanding the business side of projects as well as the software requirements. He’s passionate about software architectures, leadership and team-building. Currently, he oversees the product architecture and leads various AI initiatives at SmartIT, managing a team of skilled architects and AI engineers. He thrives on simplifying complexity, leading teams to new heights, and creating innovative solutions.

Damyan Iliev is a Senior Finance Manager at Experian, where he leads a team of professionals focused on financial operations and strategic planning. With extensive expertise in data analysis and visualization, he is a sought-after speaker and mentor at various professional forums. Damyan is actively involved in developing young talent by engaging them with real-world business cases. His professionalism and deep expertise make a valuable contribution to the advancement of the financial sector in Bulgaria.

Georgi Nenov is an energetic storyteller and a leading voice in the tech and startup community. As the creator and host of the popular podcast "The Superhuman with Georgi Nenov," he has built a platform that connects him with the business and entrepreneurial world, collecting inspiring stories from visionary founders and innovators. Georgi’s passion for sharing these stories and his genuine curiosity give him a unique ability to draw out the human element behind every success, making complex ideas relatable and inspiring audiences to believe in themselves and dream big. On stage, Georgi’s charisma and insight shine through. He has proven his skill as a moderator and master of ceremony by hosting major events. Whether he’s engaging a room of startup founders, software engineers, or corporate innovators, Georgi easily connects with diverse audiences and sparks meaningful conversations. His dynamic presence and knack for asking the right questions ensure every event he leads is a memorable experience. Now he brings that same superhuman energy and expertise to the Digitalk Awards stage as host.

From an early age, Hristo has been driven by a fascination with how technology solves real-world problems. His journey began with a childhood passion for computers, leading him to the Vocational School of Computer Technology in Pravetz and later into software engineering and technical leadership roles in Fintech, Healthcare, and Telecom. Over the past decade, he has collaborated with clients across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, tackling complex challenges in diverse industries. As he progressed into CxO and VP roles, Hristo combined his deep technical expertise with business strategy, always focusing on how technology can drive meaningful transformation. His keen interest in AI’s potential to reshape the way we work has been instrumental in CleverPine’s company-wide AI adoption, leading to significant productivity and efficiency gains—including projects with up to 90% AI-generated code. Currently, Hristo is focused on advancing the development of AI agents that move beyond productivity enhancements to deliver autonomous value. Outside of work, he is passionate about motorcycling and the thrill of pushing boundaries on the track.

Mr. Zavodov is a managing director and portfolio manager in the London office, where he leads the European real estate equity team. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2020, he was a managing director in the merchant banking division of Goldman Sachs, focusing on investments in real estate platforms, real estate assets, loans and loan portfolios secured by commercial and residential real estate, and structured equity. He began his career at The Blackstone Group. He has 14 years of investment experience and holds a Ph.D. in financial economics from the University of Cambridge.

Stefan Tzalov currently leads the unit at the European Investment Fund (EIF) responsible for institutional relationships in the Nordics, Baltics, and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), a role he assumed at the beginning of 2025. Before this, he played a key role in EIF's infrastructure investments team, helping grow the fund’s infrastructure investment activity from around EUR 250 million in 2021 to over EUR 3b billion in 2024. With extensive experience in alternative assets, Stefan has a strong focus on Central and Eastern Europe through his work with EIF.

Hristo Stoyanov manages the institutional mandate relationships of the European Investment Fund in Bulgaria. He joined the EIF office in Sofia in 2011 to develop the project management, structuring and capital raising for financial instruments in support of entrepreneurship and innovation and the implementation of equity investment vehicles, portfolio guarantees and credit enhancement products. He is responsible for originating, implementing, and managing EIF’s Bulgaria venture capital and credit initiatives through a diversified portfolio of private equity funds and risk-sharing commitments to local credit institutions. He oversees the execution of JEREMIE and SME Initiatives, Bulgaria Recovery Equity Fund and InvestEU with EUR 800m AUM.

After 8 years in VC and startups, Gergana is now focused on helping early-stage founders navigate venture capital. She was part of Eleven Ventures, one of the top early-stage funds in Southeast Europe, served as Program Manager of the Visa Innovation Program, led the Bulgarian Fintech Association, and held various strategic roles across the Paynetics group. She also co-founded 180 Degrees Consulting Sofia and has mentored in multiple startup programs across the region.

Fundraising Coach, Helping founders fundraise faster and easier Nikola spent the last 7 years working in Venture Capital as part of Eleven Ventures. He has been part of the fundraising process of 3 VC funds and the investment process of 40+ startup deals. He co-founded three accelerator programs boosting over 250 startups, among which Eleven Alpha, Elevate and Pre-Accelerator. Today Nikola works with founders 1:1 to help them fundraise faster and easier. He brings the perspective, playbooks and approach used by investors.

Boris Pavlov is the co-founder and CEO of Flataway AI - the Shopify of travel. Previously he launched, scaled and exited one of the largest vacation rental management companies in Europe. Prior to embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, Boris worked for an international investment bank in Paris, New York and London.

30+ years of experience in software development, architecture and management. CTO of SEP - the first Bulgarian mobile payment provider. Chair and Board member of Omega Management. Founder and CTO of OMG Mobile. Founder and CTO of Taxistars - the only nation wide taxi booking application. Founder and CTO of Neuronica - AI research company

Sergey Vichev is the Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder at Crisp Labs, where he leads AI research and development with a sharp focus on turning frontier technologies into real-world business impact. A final-year PhD candidate at Sofia University, Sergey specializes in LLM agentic behaviour. His research bridges theory and application, with active contributions to open-source ecosystems and academic communities. Sergey is a natural problem solver, passionate about uncovering patterns in data and harnessing the full potential of AI to streamline and optimize business operations. With over a decade of experience in Data Science and Machine Learning, Sergey brings a proven track record of successfully deploying AI solutions across both commercial enterprises and the public sector. His projects span diverse industries — among others including fintech, logistics, compliance, HR.

Alexander Papratilov is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of experience in the IT services and software development ecosystem. A passionate builder and problem-solver, he thrives on complexity—whether it’s developing cutting-edge technologies, revitalizing legacy systems, or transforming R&D organizations to unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation. Alexander is part of the leadership team at Wiser Technology (BUL: WISR), a public IT services company that designs, develops, and operates mission-critical software solutions for some of the world’s most prominent organizations. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, deep domain expertise, and engineering excellence across industries, Wiser has built a strong track record in sectors such as defense, aerospace, AI, and enterprise transformation. At Wiser, Alexander helps translate advanced R&D into practical applications across a range of domains, including security, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. He began his programming journey in the late 1990s, creating custom software for mechanical engineering firms. This early experience laid the foundation for a multifaceted career spanning technical leadership, organizational transformation, and operational excellence. Over the years, he has developed deep expertise in engineering management, software and security architecture, application scalability and performance, and the design and evolution of operational processes.Alexander has held key executive roles where he led complex project delivery, scaled high-performing teams, and drove strategic initiatives that accelerated business growth. His leadership style is shaped by extensive experience working in multicultural, distributed, and multi-time-zone environments—sharpening his ability to manage complexity and lead with agility. In addition to his executive work, Alexander serves as a Board Member at BASSCOM, the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies, where he advocates for industry development and contributes to shaping the future of Bulgaria’s technology ecosystem.

VC Portfolion Daniel is co-leading Portfolion’s early-stage investment team where he is focused on partnering up with the most ambitious founders coming from Central and Eastern Europe at pre-seed and seed stages.

Bilyana Nikolova is a dedicated entrepreneur and innovator with a strong commitment to addressing global challenges through technology and innovation. She co-founded two start-ups tackling water scarcity, achieving impressive results, including saving 3 million cubic meters of water, 1.5 million kWh of energy, and 3 Tonnes of CO2 emissions, as well as restoring the water supply to a town, struggling with water regime for several years. Bilyana joined the EIT Alumni Board in 2024, driven by her desire to contribute with her entrepreneurial spirit, strategic insight, and commitment to fostering innovation across Europe. She holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Montesquieu and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the American University in Bulgaria. Bilyana is strongly convinced of technology's power to deliver sustainable solutions and generate real, measurable impact.

I am a product builder and an entrepreneur who spends most of his time investing and scaling businesses in the areas of FinTech, Blockchain, HRTech, and AI. At Space Tree, a venture studio and private investment company, I am dedicated to creating and nurturing community-oriented startups that drive positive change and empower individuals and groups to achieve their full potential. In my previous roles as CEO of Motion Software and later as EVP and Global Head of Innovations at Exadel, I fostered strategic partnerships with a diverse spectrum of organizations, from Silicon Valley startups to multinational corporations like FactSet, BNP Paribas, Fidelity, and the Financial Times. In the summer of 2022, Motion Software was acquired by Exadel in a strategic deal that expanded our remote teams' capabilities and geographical coverage to 17 new locations across Europe, Asia, South, and North America. At the beginning of 2024, I left my executive position at Exadel and dedicated my work entirely to building new ventures.