LECTORS, MENTORS AND INVESTORS

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  Larry Biehl

  Founder of Interculture and founder of Bulgarian Entrepreneurship Center (BEC)

  Larry Biehl graduated Stanford University. After developing his own business in Silicon Valley, he starts helping young entrepreneurs to do the same. For over 50 years, he is a financial advisor and investment manager for different startups all over the world. He is the founder of Interculture foundation which finances the project Bulgarian Entrepreneurship Center.

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  Drayton Bird

  Specialist in Direct Marketing [UK]

  Drayton Bird is one of the most important figures in the field of direct marketing and advertising for the last 25 years, with 52 years experience in the field of online and offline marketing. In 2003, “Chartered Institute of Marketing” designates Drayton Bird as one of the 50 specialists in the world who have shaped the development of today`s marketing. He has worked for some of the biggest brands worldwide – Audi, Bentley, British Airways, Cisco, Deutsche Post, Ford, IBM, McKinsey, Mercedes, Microsoft, Nestle, Philips, P & G, Toyota, Unilever, Visa and Volkswagen. In various capacities – mostly as a writer, Drayton has helped sell a variety of products – from Airbus aircraft to the Peppa Pig animation. He has written 6 books, out in 17 languages, one of them “Commonsense Direct and Digital Marketing” has been a bestseller for all years since 1982. He has also been given Lifetime Achievement Awards numerous times.

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  Dale Howarth

  Business Mentor, Professional Speaker & Writer delivering ‘Practical Lessons for Better Business’

  For over 20 years he has mentored leaders and teams from new start businesses to some of today’s most successful SME’s. From new start businesses, entrepreneurial spirits and SME’s to well-known corporate clients, across a broad range of industries and sectors. He is an officer and board member to several companies.

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  Cüneyt Erpolat

  Country Manager of Alibaba.com Turkey

  Аppointed as Country Manager of Alibaba.com, one of the largest e-commerce portals in the world, Cüneyt is responsible for all business processes and stakeholder relationship management of Alibaba.com in Turkey since May 2013. Cüneyt Erpolat graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara University and started his career as Product Manager at Xerox. He then worked as Channel Manager at Microsoft between 2000 and 2002, as Head of SME Department at Avea between 2002 and 2007, and as one of Anadolu Yatırım`s founding partners in 2007 serving as investment consultant. Erpolat, who served as Sales Director in Datamarket for one year in 2010, became Sales Director of Grenke Turkey between 2011-2013.

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  Michael Marvin

  Venture & Seed Capital Fund Deployment

  Marvin has been actively involved in starting and/or growing more than 100 technology companies – and investing in many of them – over the last 30+ years. He was a founder and first CEO of a startup that went public 7 years later and was ultimately sold to a Fortune 500 company. Also, Mike was an adviser to a $1.4 Billion Equity Fund, where he screened the companies to be funded and served on their boards. Michael Marvin also founded and helped manage a seed capital fund that invested $10,000 – $100,000 in startup companies concentrated within a 60-mile radius of great universities (Rensselear Polytechnical Institute). Throughout his career, Mike has been a CEO, Chairman of the Board, Board Member, Advisor, and/or an Investor with numerous technology companies located in New York, Florida, Virginia, Connecticut, and Canada.

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  Miguel Reynolds

  President & CEO at Global Business Brokers

  Miguel is a serial entrepreneur who started his first venture in his early twenties. He is experienced business strategist, negotiator, business broker, mentor and author. Founder of several companies and NGOs. –Market Financed Inventions, CORKBRICK INTERNATIONAL. Strategic management adviser for several institutions in Portugal, Brazil and USA. An international speaker in several areas such as strategic management; e-work, entrepreneurship; venture capital; business brokerage; business citizenship; sustainable integration of disabled people.

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  Bas Lansdorp

  CEO and co-founder of Mars One

  Bas is CEO and co-founder of Mars One, a not for profit foundation with the goal of establishing a permanent human settlement on Mars. To prepare for this settlement the first unmanned mission is scheduled to depart in 2020. As CEO of Mars One, Bas is responsible, among other things, for investor relations, public outreach and for the initial contacts with potential suppliers, sponsors and partners. He is a persuasive and enthusiastic public speaker, presenting about Mars One about once per week at all sorts of events. Bas is an entrepreneur with an engineering background, interested in visionary technological business cases. Bas Lansdorp speaks at events and conferences on all continents. He is a born entrepreneur with a passion for ambitious projects. He speaks about his experience as co-founder and CEO of Mars One: making the impossible possible.

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  Bojidar Krapchev

  Amazon Lead CEE at Amazon Web services

  He Leads Amazon’s partner team in 50 countries in Central Europe to grow and develop the most customer centric Partner Ecosystem in order to help customers in their Cloud journey. The Central region spans from Switzerland to Turkey, South East Europe, Russia and CIS. He was also a Senior Business Development Manager Dynamics Ax at Microsoft from 2015 to 2016, Member of the board of LLP Group from 2000 to 2013 and Managing Partner at LLP Dynamics SEE from 2011 to 2014. Leading Microsoft Dynamics (NAV, AX) partner in Central and Eastern Europe. LLP Dynamics is part of LLP Group.

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  Vesselin Popov

  Director for the University of Cambridge Psychometrics Centre

  Since May 2013 Vesselin Popov is Business Development Director of the University of Cambridge Psychometrics Centre, a multidisciplinary research institute specializing in online behavior and psychological assessment. Leading industry collaboration, product development and tech transfer strategies for a world-class multidisciplinary research team at the University of Cambridge. Leveraging academic research and commercial insight to transform how we work, shop, move, meet and play, and ensuring citizens retain control over their digital identities in the process.

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  Matt Brooke-Smith

  CEO/founder Future Workshops, Harmony Platform

  Matt Brooke-Smith is a 4-times entrepreneur, having founded and run successful companies in mobility, video, and enterprise software from London, UK. He studied Computer Science and received a distinction from Southampton University. Harmony, his latest venture, enables companies to build enterprise grade mobile Apps without writing code. Harmony is being used across financial services, healthcare, media and energy industries to fuel digital transformation and mobilise business.

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  Baybars Altuntas

  Chairman, World Business Angels Investment Forum

  Entrepreneurship and innovation guru, global leader, best-selling author, angel investor, Chairman of the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), Vice President of the European Trade Association for Business Angels and Early Stage Market Players (EBAN), President of the Business Angels Association of Turkey (TBAA), the World Entrepreneurship Forum Ambassador to Turkey and the Balkan countries, and President of Deulcom International. One of the top global speakers on entrepreneurship, innovation and angel investment invited by former US President Obama to speak at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya.

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  Marc Wesselink

  Selection & Alumni Manager at Startupbootcamp Smart City & Living [NL]

  Mark Wesselink is an Entrepreneur, started 12 companies in FMCG, Home Electronics, Healthcare, E-Commerce, HR and Finance. Because of this, he has an in depth knowledge of many fields which can help entrepreneurs to maintain a 360-degree view of their business. He is a motivator, business coach, critical optimist. With his skills and experience, he is currently in charge of selecting Startups for the Accelerator programs in Amsterdam and helping the alumni from Startupbootcamp Amsterdam with the execution of their business. He is also co-founder of Startupbootcamp Africa with programs in Johannesburg & Cape Town. With his entrepreneurial experience, Mark advises managers and entrepreneurs to let their company grow faster and helps them establish a solid infrastructure. After founding and having bootstrapped 12 companies and failed 4 times, he is definitely an experienced entrepreneur with an international focus. After interviewing hundreds of startups as Selection & Alumni Manager at Startupbootcamp, he went on to co-found Startupbootcamp Africa.

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  Björn Weigel

  Business strategist and investor

  Björn Weigel is a business strategist, investor/entrepreneur and economic growth protagonist that commenced working as a management consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, before starting his first company – Dobono AB – 2004. In October 2016 Bjorn together with a colleague releases The Innovation Illusion, published by Yale University Press, a book claiming that capitalism has lost its mojo. He is also part of the board of ECIPE, The European Centre for International Political Economy, an independent and non-profit policy research think tank dedicated to trade policy and other international economic policy issues.

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  Peter Hopwood

  Public Speaking & Pitch Coach. Global Conference Host & MC. Presenter

  Born in Watford (UK), Peter is a communications and presence coach, public speaking & pitch trainer, conference host running Hopwood Communications. Essentially, his strength lies in helping companies, professionals, startups and high performers to confidently communicate with impact. A passionate communicator, listener and motivator, Peter just loves to share ideas and holds a strong appreciation for collaboration and development. A quick thinker with an acute attention to detail – and loves to be kept on his toes. With a background career across the hospitality, travel, and training industries feeling lucky enough to have moved through 7 European countries, Peter now combines all of his accumulated communication experience, balancing his work across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and everywhere in between.

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  Amir Jaffari

  Growth at Shopify

  From April 2011 till 2013 is a Co-Founder and CMO at MakeTreks. MakeTreks is a not-for-profit that harnesses the power of online videos in bringing awareness to the issue of homelessness around the world. Provided care packages including food and clothing to homeless individuals in Toronto, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, and Paris. Since March 2013 he is Marketing Director at Video Agency - video marketing agency that specializes in YouTube marketing strategies for brands. Consulted clients to create, optimize and manage PPC video advertising campaigns. Trained online marketing teams of B2B startups, small and medium sized businesses. Since August 2016 is Growth at Shopify

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  Peter Goryalov

  Executive Organizational Leadership Coach, CEO, DreamersDo Ltd.

  Executive Organizational Leadership Coach, CEO, DreamersDo Peter is the founder of DreamersDo – the first executive coaching company and premium provider of organizational leadership services for CEOs and organizations dedicated to catalyzing more visions into reality for a better world and sustainable profitable business growth. In the last 11 years he has partnered with the CEOs and their teams of leading financial, infrastructure, media, advertising, chemical, pharma and energy companies to tackle market challenges and be at the forefront of their industries. In 2012 in Las Vegas he has been awarded with one of the greatest recognitions in the coaching industry worldwide – The ICF President’s Award for her leadership and contribution to establishing the coaching industry in Bulgaria. Prior to that he has led pioneering IT projects like developing the intel server market for business and the first Microsoft OEM channel in Bulgaria, while working at leading tech companies like HP, Compaq and one of the first distributors of Microsoft. In 2004 he was acknowledged by Carly Fiorina the then CEO of HP with “The Best of the Best” Excellence Award for HP sales managers worldwide for “his leadership and significant contribution to the company”.

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  Irina Goryalova

  Executive Organizational Leadership Coach, Managing Partner, DreamersDo

  Irina is an entrepreneur and pioneer in the coaching industry. As an executive organizational leadership coach in the last 10 years, she has partnered with CEOs and organizations (ranging from 20 up to 2500 employees) to face market challenges, turn their visions into reality, catalyze sustainable profitable growth and lead their industry forward. In 2012 in Las Vegas she has been awarded one of the greatest recognitions in the coaching industry worldwide – The ICF President’s Award for her leadership and contribution to establishing the coaching industry in Bulgaria. Prior to that she consulted and led the PR for the Bulgarian market on behalf of large defense companies like Rolls-Royce, Finmeccanica, Saab, etc. in some of the most complex multimillion national defense tenders. Before that, as a Diplomatic Correspondent, she interviewed numerous high ranking US and European officials and dignitaries, among which Sen. John McCain, former US presidential candidate, and Steve Forbes, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Magazine

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  Bilyana Dimitrova

  Managing Partner at Dimitrova and Staykova Law office

  A lawyer with interests in the field of the international business law and management, intellectual and industrial property law. Member of the Sofia Bar association. Mrs. Dimitrova has been engaged in several projects in the field of public healthcare, including transplantation, auto transplantation, establishment and management of medical institutions, medical responsibility and trade with medical goods and drugs. She was part of a team - legal consultant of Sofia municipality for preparation of concessionary analysis and documentation for building of an underground public parking space, as well as projects regarding waste management and environmental protection. Since Oct 2015 she is a Managing Partner at Dimitrova and Staykova Law office. She was a lector at “Business Alternatives Program” and “I can – here and now” in 2016.

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  Rumen Iliev

  Partner at LAUNCHub

  Rumen Iliev is a Partner of LAUNCHub since May 2012. Mr. Iliev manages the application process, the pre-selection and the portfolio relations. Previously, he had his own business consultancy practice focused on solving business issues and helping companies and their management in achieving business goals. During his professional career, he has held various senior expert level positions at some of the biggest multinationals in Utilities and Insurance in the CEE Region. Interested in Entrepreneurship, Startups, Venture Capital, Investments and focused on building connections with the relevant people in the startup / entrepreneurial ecosystem that can help early stage companies achieve their goals.

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  Boyan Benev

  CEO, SHYN

  Boyan S. Benev is a young entrepreneur. CEO at SHYN.One.He is a strategist, speaker and writer born in Bulgaria, raised in Britain and now living back in Sofia, Bulgaria. He founded his first company at age 16 and since then he has been working as a consultant in marketing, sales, media and information technology. Boyan is the founder and Chairman of the Bulgarian Entrepreneurship and Innovation Cluster. He is passionate about delivering long-term, sustainable change both in business and society.Areas of interest for Boyan are education and value-generating business. He was declared as UK`s Top Young Entrepreneur in the Start Your Business magazine`s ranking. Boyan also loves to write. He has published 3books – “The Little Book of Business”, “The Little Book of Reality” and “Two Generations” which had the book of the month awards from Onda Coffee Break.

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  Niki Kunchev

  Tv and radio host, showmen

  Niki Kanchev is a Bulgarian television and radio host, showman, famous for hosting the Bulgarian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? After he became popular with the show, he was selected as a co-host of Big Brother Bulgaria, Vip Brother and Big Brother All stars, SMS for a millions, the show “Rent me - Niki Kanchev”. He also hosted the game show 1 vs. 100.

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  Nikolay Petkanov

  Regional Manager at BSMEPA

  Nikolay Petkanov is a regional representative of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA).He is an experienced Regional Operations Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Business Planning, Customer Service, Sales, and Strategic Planning. Nikolay is a strong operations professional with a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) focused in Leadership in Global Environment from Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar".

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  Simeon Prusiyski

  CEO @ Startup Masters, StartUP Foundation Bulgaria

  Simeon is experienced Project Manager, Coordinator & Senior Web DeveloperHe is a highly skilled web developer with over 9 years of professional experience. In recent years he has focused his skills and experience in the field of project management. Over the past few years he has led various projects ranging from online gaming to online gambling portals, accounting systems and ecommerce SaaS platforms.2 years ago he co-founded his second company, Startup Masters, where he currently hold the position of CEO. Simeon is the main organizer of BizzIT - the largest charity IT event in Bulgaria, which raised over 10 000 BGN for the treatment of children in need.He has also been a lecturer for the past 2 years, teaching eCommerce and back-end development in Sofia and in the Webrika Academy in Pleven, which he co-founded. Also, Simeon is regularly teaching, organizing and hosting seminars and conferences in the IT and eCommerce fields. Simeon Prusiyski is a co¬founder & CTO at Startup Masters and an active supporter and Vice-president of the Startup Foundation Bulgaria.

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  Albert Stepanyan

  A.I. Evangelist, Startup Advisor and Entrepreneur

  Founder, CEO and lead strategist at Develandoo - а software accelerator that is changing the way companies build products. His experience includes acting as CTO of a Munich-based Startup accelerator, lead engineer at various enterprises, and acting as a lead developer or technical co-founder on more than 50 high-profile projects. He loves programming and describes himself as a person who can deliver successful projects with high revenue. From Dec 2014 till July 2016 is a Senior Software Engineer, Technical Lead at Elsevier - responsible for building fast changing web and mobile applications using the latest tools on the market, big data infrastructures, real-time REST API-s.

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  Kamelia Allow

  UAE Business Set up Expert

  She is strategically oriented senior business executive and board level advisor with extensive domestic and international business management experience. With a progressive eighteen years career distinguished by exceptional new business development, local banking and corporate structures, and commercial success, she offers expertise within the competitive field of management consulting, helping new investors in the UAE to establish and manage their businesses.Since Jun 2009 she is Managing Director at My Business Consulting DMCC. From Nov 2007 till Mar 2009 is a Finance Director at International Diamond Group DMCC.

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  Pavel Ezekiev

  Co-founder, NEVEQ Capital Partners

  Pavel Ezekiev has a degree in “Finance” in the US. From 2002 to 2004 he was Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency. For four years he worked in the “Investment Banking” department at Deutsche Bank in London as a senior specialist in corporate finance. In 2006, heads the new Bulgarian office of the bank. In 2007, he left to take over the management of venture investment fund NEVEQ (New European Venture Equity). He is co-founder and managing partner of the fund.

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  Justine Toms

  Expert online medias, online marketing and PR [BG]

  Justine Toms is one of the leading experts and entrepreneurs in the field of online medias and online marketing. Founded and manages the web agency ABC Design and Communication from 1998 and online media group “Az media” from 2001, including the web sites Az-jenata.bg, Az-deteto.bg, Ludi Mladi and others. From June 2011 the media group is part of the portfolio of Investor.bg. Justin Toms is founder and organizator of the competition for best bulgarian site and best internet impact “BG Site” from 1999 till now. Author of 10 books with topics online media and marketing, web influence. Specialist in the field of interactive advertising, internet media planning, email marketing and Web 2.0. Long-standing trainer and lecturer of seminars and corporate trainings with topics such as medias, PR, marketing and internet advertising in Bulgaria and abroad.

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  Dilyan Dimitrov

  Co-founder at Eleven Accelerator Venture Fund

  Dilyan is an investment specialist with over ten years of experience in the field of finance and equity investment. He is a co-founder of the Eleven Accelerator Venture Fund, a 12 million-euro fund for investment in startups in the Central and Eastern European region. Prior to his engagement with Eleven, Dilyan served as Vice President of Bedminster Capital Management, a $ 320 million fund, investing in private companies in the Central and Eastern Europe region, and participated in all stages of acquisitions transactions in the healthcare, financial services and media.

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  Milen Ivanov

  Serial Entrepreneur, adviser and investor

  Milen Ivanov was born in Silistra and has been a serial entrepreneur in various business areas over the past 15 years, mainly related to Marketing and B2B services. He has experience as an investor, employer and manager in spheres including advertising, event management, internet projects and business services. He has several awards - "Young Entrepreneur of the Year" 2003, "Creativity Award and Innovation" at the WYBA World Finals in Istanbul, one of the 40 younger innovators under 40ty who are changing Bulgaria according to a Darik radio contest. Founder and Chairman of CEO Club Bulgaria - the largest informal network of top managers and entrepreneurs in Bulgaria.Some of the companies he founded and run are JordanSheppard Executive Search, Horizons Recruitment, Gift.bg, Bulgarian Indoor Advertising, Sponsio. He is the author of the book: How to find a better job in Bulgaria?Since 3 years he has been the Director of The Founders Institute for Bulgaria, the world`s largest Academy of entrepreneurs and a startup incubator at the level of an idea with headquarters in Silicon Valley, and CEO of Angels Club, the angel club for investors who helps Young start-up companies to develop their business.

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