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For today’s episode, we talked with Karol Szubstarski, a venture investor at OTB Ventures. With over a decade of experience in the realm of venture capital, Karol brings a blend of traditional and corporate VC expertise to the table. He spent five years as an Associate and Investment Analyst at Intel Capital, identifying opportunities across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, to name a few.In his current role at OTB Ventures, Karol spearheads investments in Series A opportunities, focusing on deep tech. In this episodes, he shares about: How personal experiences fuels his professional careerHis transition to the VC world under the guidance of Marcin HejkaThe advantages and disadvantages of the Polish startup ecosystem0:00 Trailer 1:33 Intro 2:25 Backpacking through Asia with two broken arms & other challenges5:19 Karol’s adventure with the VC world and DeepTech 10:41 What are the skills a DeepTech investor should have? 12:09 Karol’s skills and learnings from Intel Capital and OTB Ventures 15:52 Perspective on the DeepTech ecosystem in CEE 21:27 Strengths of the Polish startup ecosystem24:23 Challenges of European tech startups for scaling globally 27:42 How OTB Ventures assesses the investment opportunities 39:45 Striking the right risk vs advantage balance 42:19 Can CEE startups get money from US investors right from the start? 44:55 How to differentiate yourself as a VC fund? 47:17 Building the top team for OTB’s portfolio companies 51:24 The leap of faith in investment decisions 52:42 What’s needed to be a good VC investor? 55:05 The CEE VC ecosystem and the lack of private capital 57:45 How will the CEE startup ecosystem look in the future? 1:03:40 How is OTB Ventures adapting to the technological advancements 1:10:00 Outro
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Our guest today is Bartosz Lipnicki, an entrepreneur, investor, and Managing Director at Endeavor Poland. With a background in industrial engineering, Bartosz's career trajectory has evolved to encompass sales, business development, and entrepreneurship. Bartosz is the Founder and Managing Partner at Alfabeat, a seed fund specializing in enterprise software companies from Central and Eastern Europe. Beyond his professional endeavors, Bartosz is an avid marathon and tower runner.In this episodes, he touches on:☑️ How to escape the 'hamster wheel'☑️ The skills of the future☑️ The importance of collaboration within the ecosystem00:00 - 01:42 Trailer01:43 - 02:55 Intro02:56 - 10:14 Running and personal development10:15 - 15:42 Investor’s role and mentoring15:43 - 17:24 Growth beyond the financial aspect17:25 - 20:02 The right time for acquisition 20:03 - 26:00 Mitigating the risks in investing 26:03 - 30:22 The importance of networking30:23 - 32:10 Lessons on mentorship32:11 - 33:38 Getting off the “hamster wheel"33:39 - 37:05 The purpose behind teaching37:06 - 42:30 Valuable skills beyond formal education42:31 - 52:27 Polish entrepreneurial ecosystem52:28 - 55:05 The definition of success55:06 - 01:01:39 Envisioning of the future of the Polish tech ecosystem 01:01:40 - 01:01:56 Outro
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Our guest today is Krzysztof (Chris) Wrobel, the founder and CEO of Virbe AI, a startup incorporating a one-stop-shop solution to extend your team with AI-powered digital employees. With passion and experience for the future of digital interaction, Chris founded Virbe AI, a Virtual Being creation suite, designed to transform Conversational AI and chatbots into interactive human-like avatars. Chris is also involved in mentoring and guiding other companies in embracing emerging technologies. In this episodes, he touches on: How he started his entrepreneurial journey by accident; What can a Virtual Being do for a business and why we need this technology;The balance between innovation and ethical implications in VR/AR; TIME STAMPS 0:00 Trailer 1:53 Intro 2:40 Chris’s entrepreneurial journey from hospitality to engineering10:00 The skills one need to have in a startup 15:33 How Virbe started and what’s the story behind?21:22 The business model of AI solutions 24:41 The EU AI Act and its impact 25:54 How to explain a new technology to investors 31:38 Virtual being vs chatbots 36:42 How is metaverse fitting in Virbe’s business?39:33 Will AI steal our jobs? 47:27 What big problem is Virbe solving 53:04 Outro
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Our next guest is an engineer turned entrepreneur turned investor. Borys Musielak is a founding partner at Polish SMOK Ventures, having a particular focus on software development tools, game development, and artificial intelligence. In 2007, he founded OSnews.pl, a pioneering news site covering tech, marketing, and business. He also co-founded Filmaster, a platform providing personalized analytics solutions, acquired by Silicon Valley-based Samba TV in 2015. His contributions to the ecosystem extend to mentoring early-stage startups across various platforms and accelerators in the CEE region.He talks about:Focus and motivation when starting a venture;How to elevate the CEE potential;The future of venture capital;And more!TIMESTAMPS0:00 - 1:42 Teaser1:42 - 3:33 Intro3:34 - 12:28 Perks in being a VC with engineering and entrepreneurial background 12:29 - 15:19 The path on establishing your first venture15:21 - 17:10 Focusing on one thing as a founder17:11 - 21:24 Satisfaction as a VC investor21:25 - 26:55 The art of being wrong26:56 - 30:59 Lessons on fundraising31:00 - 33:46 What is the secret of success in venture capital?33:47 - 48:28 Potential across the CEE region48:29 - 52:13 Thought on sales and marketing52:14 - 54:09 Are founders couchable? 54:10 - 1:01:48 Working with youngsters1:01:49 - 1:05:38 Hypothesis for the future & outro
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Our guest for this episode has a big, bold ambition to make digital identity services the cornerstone of all economic and social activities of people around the world.
Konstantin Bezuhanov is co-founder and CEO of Evrotrust Technologies, the company that aims to solve the challenges associated with secure digital identification.
Evrotrust's products are adopted by over 1.3 million users across 58 countries. The company has attracted partnerships with industry giants like Mastercard and leading banks such as Unicredit Bulbank, and KBC, and it has been recently recognized by governments and the European Commission.
In this episode, we learn more about the complexities of identity in the digital age, but also what it takes to solve meaningful problems.
Konstantin also shares:
How it is to build a global identity system transcending national borders and work with strict entities like banks or government;
Views on mission-driven entrepreneurship how a strong sense of purpose guides decision-making and success metrics;
How the future would look if digital identity seamlessly integrates into daily life;
The importance of data protection and compliance in Evrotrust’s solution;
TIME STAMPS
00:00 Trailer
0:56 Introduction
1:47 Moving from the comfort zone to entrepreneurship and what it takes
4:41 Konstantin’s endeavors in London and why he lived there
10:08 Why Konstantin moved back to Bulgaria
11:03 Why execution matters more than the idea
13:00 Evrotrust’s story and how the founding team was formed
20:42 Choosing the best market and end users for Evrotrust
24:00 The most difficult problem in the space of digital identity
28:58 The mission and vision of Evrostrust
36:08 Early adopters for digital identity solutions
38:05 Konstantin’s many hats and switching them
44:39 Finding success as a founder and in life
47:30 The future of digital identity
55:43 Outro
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Our guest today is Radoslav Gaydarski, co-founder of CleverPine, a company that has made significant strides in the tech industry since its inception during the pandemic. Prior to this position, he was the co-founder and CEO of Upnetix, offering client-tailored software solutions, which was acquired by Scalefocus.
With a deep background in software development and a passion for entrepreneurship, Gaydarski shares his journey from tinkering with computers in his youth to leading a company that has seen substantial growth and has recently partnered with Lufthansa Technik to innovate within the aviation sector.
In this discussion, you will discover Radoslav’s approach to leadership style,but also CleverPine's way of delivering exceptional value to its clients.
On top of that, he touches on:
How their company cultivates a positive and productive workplace culture; The importance of surrounding oneself with the right team; Learning from past challenges, and how these principles have guided his strategies for talent development and company growth;TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Trailer
01:47 Introduction
03:27 Why Radoslav Moved to the US and Back to Bulgaria
08:11 Choosing Entrepreneurship and What Does It Take
13:25 Radoslav’s Failures and What He Took Out of It
20:00 What Is a Lifestyle Company
20:33 Upnetix’s Acquisition and the Learnings Learned
23:20 Cleverpine and Lufthansa Technik’s Partnership and What Is ViTech
39:06 The Importance of Studying the Client’s Industry and How Cleverpine Does That
42:41 How a Lifestyle Company Works and Why It Doesn’t Care About Metrics
51:59 CleverPine’s Working from the Office Culture
54:59 Team Structures and How to Deliver Quality Projects on Time
1:01:17 Developing Yourself as a Leader and Self-Reflection
1:04:58 CleverPine’s Flans for the Future
1:10:20 CleverPine Ventures and Supporting New Businesses
1:16:30 The Happiness Culture and How Can a Leader Foster This
1:21:40 Outro
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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
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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 Landscape13:00 Learning Curve: First Experiences as Equity Investor18:00 The Hedgehog Concept: Mastering the Art of Exponential Growth25:40 How to Build A Sustainable Business Model: Lessons from an Investor Turned Founder34:29 The Perils of Growth-at-All-Costs: A Financial Perspective38:32 Building Strong Foundations: Resilience and Responsibility in Startup Culture44:55 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 Projects1:02:15 Balancing Vision and Action: Strategies for Long-Term Success1:07:20 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Self-Doubt 1:14:31 Outro
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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 Startups08:50 From Investment Banking to Entrepreneurship10:52 The Origin Story of NetInfo: Bulgaria’s First Digital Media Company 12:45 How NetInfo Shaped Bulgaria's Internet Landscape19:25 Trust and Transition: Victor Penev's Experience with Succession at NetInfo23:14 Cooking Up Ideas: The Birth of Edamam on a Thai Beach24:30 Breaking the Mold: Building Edamam without VC Money 30:40 Reflections on Venture Capital: Addressing Inefficiencies in Investment Practices33:26 Meditative Entrepreneurship: Finding Calm Amidst Chaos37:20 Do You Have to be Competitive to be a Good Entrepreneur? 45:10 The Art of Mentorship: Nurturing Organic Connections49:50 The Relationship between Food and Longevity: Victor’s New Project 1:03:10 Life as a Puzzle: Entrepreneurship, Home, and Identity1:09:29 Outro
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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. -
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.
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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
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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 challengesWork 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.
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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
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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 Energy03:20 Hydrogen Innovation: Bridging the Gap Between Lab Discoveries and Market Solutions11:02 Hydrogen Adoption: Challenges, Readiness, and Market Potential19:56 Hydrogen Integration: Competition, Collaboration, and Customization27:14 Redefining Energy Costs: Hydrogen's Place in Future Economies 31:21 Navigating Deep Tech Fundraising: Insights and Challenges34:30 "Hydrogen Valleys" - Potential Models for Communities Generating Their Own Green Energy38:40 Sofia's School Hydrogen Project: Reducing Emissions & Inspiring Curiosity41:11 The Energy Transition: Dual Push by Government and Industry44:30 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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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;
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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? - Visa fler
