SeedBlink Blog

Hi Mila! What excites you about investing in a tech startup?

It's important to mention that I do not come from the tech industry. I come from finance, retail and coaching backgrounds. And initially, technology was something completely new to me. What really excited me was the fact that with technology you can scale and go beyond countries and geographies. That opens opportunities that are so different from traditional industries. It's fascinating and almost like magic. These scaling opportunities open the potential for excessive returns.

The risk is also much greater, of course, because these companies are also more likely to fail. But if they succeed, they might deliver massively.

Is now a good time to invest in a startup over the medium term? And why?

In 2021, we have seen a lot of optimism and urgency in investing. When there is an economic downturn, investor optimism drops. On the other hand, good startup companies have not disappeared. When they invest now, there is less urgency, and startups must do more convincing and be more careful with their money, which is a healthy thing. Those who invest in the down market are taking a position. Of course, there is risk, but there is also the opportunity to thrive when the economy picks up again

Do you invest only in Bulgarian startups or also in CEE?

So far I have only invested in Bulgarian startups. I am very excited that tech companies are an opportunity for my home country to foster economic growth and prosperity. I wanted to support the ecosystem in Bulgaria because this is the country I want to live in.

How or where do you find these investment opportunities?

I developed an interest in startups in 2019. I was intrigued by the fact that the people who are part of this ecosystem have this can-do attitude, the flexibility in the way business is done. So I decided that I wanted to be part of that ecosystem. I wanted to support startups with my business knowledge, so I started my own company focused on coaching leaders and teams and organisational support.

Then I became part of the CEO Angels Club. I made it a goal to listen to as many presentations from startups as possible. And the best way to learn is to be hands on, to have skin in the game, so I started investing. Opportunities come when you are open to them. CEO Angels is the main source, SeedBlink is another, and recently I have also been approached directly by founders.

Do you invest alone or do you team up with other investors to syndicate?

I am interested in getting different perspectives on investing in a company. Being able to team up with other investors is very powerful because different people have different expertise and you can better assess the potential of a business. For me, it is important to get as much information as possible

Do you go the extra mile for the startups in your portfolio?

I believe in participation. I am interested in understanding what's going on in the company, and if I can support the companies I have invested in, I do.

What results have you often seen with your investments?

I have only recently started investing and it is too early to talk about returns. However, some of my results are knowledge about the technology and startup world and the opportunity to interact with great people who believe they can shape the future

Do you have any advice for angels investing in first businesses?

My advice is to invest in something you understand and can envision how the solution the startup offers can become a scalable and profitable business.

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