Hi Marten, thanks for taking the time to talk with us today,
Tell us a bit about you? What’s your profile?
I’m from Varna, studied in the mathematics high school and later move to Sofia to study Law. besides the academic side, I’m very curious, I start working when I was 14 years old, now I’m 25 and I been working in many different things, I categorize myself as entrepreneur, my first business was selling computer games in my neighborhood, I also been working in sales, logistics, tourism and other areas, but even when I’m in a regular job, always keep side projects for my entrepreneur soul.
From where comes the idea of doing Innovator space in Varna?
the idea is to have a place where people can gather together, discuss, come with new ideas and develop this ideas into live projects.
we don’t just want to be a coworking space, we want a place with good vibes and a startup ecosystem, where you can meet new people, share and get new knowledge, and that’s why we name it Innovator.
that’s why we do different events and trainings to build up a community, soon the workshop will be ready for use by designers, hobby enthusiast and everybody else, where they can prototype their ideas, doesn’t matter if for fun or business, the idea is we can make and create.
Let’s move to another topic, what do you like about Bulgaria?
Many things, life here is good, nature, food, my friends and my family are here, there are problems and struggles in Bulgaria, but like any other country have their own.
I’m a big fan of southern Europe, after high school I had to make the decision of moving abroad or not… I was accepted in few European universities, but I choose to stay here, maybe was emotional, I wanted to stay here and help to change things in my country, kind of idealistic decision.
There are many people from your generation doesn’t live in Bulgaria, tell us about that?
Many classmates move away from Bulgaria after we finish high school, mostly to study abroad, but they start to come back, I can see a process of returning, many because their love their country, but also others see that now there are opportunities for graduates abroad, some come to work for European companies with offices in Bulgaria.
Others see the possibility to start their own business, take advantages of the qualified workers, the cost advantage of Bulgaria and they start doing business with the country that they went to study, using the contact network generated during those years.
How do you feel about foreigners come to live in Bulgaria?
it’s interesting, when I was studying in Sofia, I use to participate in a football club which was created by expats and was also functioning as expat community, mainly British, but also Spanish and Italians, most of them like it in Bulgaria, and when time pass they get use to the Bulgarian way of doing things, they start understanding Bulgaria is not perfect, but anyway they like it and enjoy their time here.
Which languages do you speak?
English, Russian, little French, and a bit of Turkish language.
Do you visit other countries?
Yes, mainly Europe and some in Asia.
Name your top 3 from the countries that you visited?
Is difficult, but let’s say, Greece, Turkey, Spain and Portugal, I think southern Europe would be my favorite, and the good think is than in all those places, they think I’m originally from there 😊
Which advise you will give to people that want to come and live in Bulgaria?
Come to live in Bulgaria, but somewhere at the sea side, for example Varna.
The southern side of Balkan Mountains, those places are very cool there you can feel the real spirit of Bulgaria, its like life was 50 years ago, but in the good way, peaceful and quiet!
