Fintech and Insurtech Summit

Nina Stoyanova

Deputy Governor, Head of the Banking Department and Member of the Governing Council, Bulgarian National Bank.

Nina Stoyanova is Deputy Governor, Head of the Banking Department and Member of the Governing Council, Bulgarian National Bank., elected on July 29, 2015 by the 43rd National Assembly for a 6-year term. in the period 2007-2015 she was a Chief Lawyer, Director of the Legal Directorate at the BNB. At that time he was also a member of the Legal Committee of the European System of Central Banks. In September-December 2006 he was a legal adviser at the European Central Bank in the Legal Services Directorate under a short-term employment program in the European System of Central Banks. In the period 2004-2015 she was a legal advisor on the board of the BNB Printing House, from 2001 to 2004 she was a member of the Board of Directors of the printing house. From 1994 to 1999 she was a legal adviser in the Directorate. Legal "of the central bank, and until 2006 - senior legal adviser.

Boyko Atanasov

Chairman of the Financial Supervision Commission

Boyko Atanasov is one of the prominent leaders in the Bulgarian state administration. For more than 20 years he works for and manages the National Revenue Agency, afterwards he is part of the leadership team of the Ministry of Finance, and thereafter for 6 years already he has been in the governance of the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC). He is the Chairman of FSC, elected with vast majority by the 44th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Boyko Atanasov graduated the University of National and World Economy, majoring in Planning and Forecasting of Economic Systems. He has a number of specializations in Bulgaria and abroad, including at Georgetown University.
His professional career began in the revenue administration, where he held various management positions due to his exclusive expertise developed at the National Revenue Agency (NRA) for 20 years. In the period of four years as CEO, he optimized the processes in the Revenue Agency, made NRA the most innovative digital public administration in Bulgaria and achieved more than 25% increase in tax collection for two years. It is Mr. Atanasov who ranked the NRA as one of the leading revenue administrations in Europe and provoked the highest public trust in a Bulgarian public administration – over 50%.
In 2017, Boyko Atanasov was engaged as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance responsible for the revenue administrations – tax and customs. In the same year, he was nominated and elected Deputy Chairman of the Financial Supervision Commission in charge of the Supervision of the Investment Activities Division.
As Chairman of FSC from 2019, he governs the Commission aiming strict supervision and regulation regarding the supervised entities in the three main areas – capital market, insurance and social insurance, focusing on consumer protection and stability in the non-banking financial sector.
Boyko Atanasov's leadership style is focused on the future of the organization, emphasises on developing the team's potential and positioning FSC in the international map of the best organizations in the sector. His belief is in the extra effort for each project and in the ability of people to find creative solutions in complex situations.

Bozhidar Bozhanov

Minister of e-Governance (2021-2022)

Bozhidar Bozhanov is an IT expert and entrepreneur and a promoter of an information security company. He has significant experience in e-government development; as an expert he has been involved in drafting a number of amendments to laws and strategy papers. He is member of the Da, Bulgaria Executive Council.
Bozhidar Bozhanov is a graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London. He was a member of the group of IT experts Obshtestvo.bg working to develop better digital tools for communication between the Government and citizens. He takes an active part in e-government promotion.
Bozhidar Bozhanov was born in Bourgas, Bulgaria and grew up in Dimitrovgrad. He has lived in Sofia and Amsterdam.
Member of Parliament (47th National Assembly), elected on the ticket of Democratic Bulgaria in the 26th Multi-seat Constituency, Sofia Region.
Minister of e-Government in the cabinet elected by the 47th National Assembly on 13 December 2021.

Andrius Biceika

Deputy CEO and Board member of Revolut Bank

Andrius is a seasoned FinTech expert and enthusiast. He joined Revolut almost from the very beginning and jumped through multiple positions in the company, leading business development, growth and then people department globally. On top of his partnership at the company, Andrius is currently also a deputy CEO and Board member of Revolut Bank where he's responsible for operations expansion across Europe where the company has more than 25 million customers alone.

Lex Sokolin

Chief Cryptoeconomics Officer at ConsenSys

Lex Sokolin is the Chief Cryptoeconomics Officer at ConsenSys, a leading blockchain technology company. His work spans building projects and companies across Web3, DeFi, and Fintech.

Momchil Elenkov

Fintech BD Director Global for Rakuten Viber

Momchil Elenkov is the Fintech BD Director Global for Rakuten Viber. His main goal is to enable key fintech features within the app by establishing a network of strategic partners focusing on BaaS and payment service providers, banks, utility, rewards and cashback providers. Momchil has a strong telco and B2B background, managing mobile products and services, CRM campaigns and implementing B2B2C business development strategies. 

Sergiu Negut

CSO and Co-founder, FintechOS

Sergiu is a reputed entrepreneur, angel investor,  speaker and lecturer. He has an impressive track record of business growth in different roles (adviser, board member, angel investor, manager) and across different industries - IT&C,  Services, Consulting,including successful M&A and Exits. As an INSEAD MBA graduate and a passionate lecturer, Sergiu teaches Growth Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Fintech in various post graduate and executive courses.
Sergiu – together with his partner Teo Blidarus – founded FintechOS (2017), a leader in high-productivity fintech infrastructure (HPFI), helping companies across any domain rapidly launch and manage the next generation of financial products and services. FintechOS solutions also give companies the ability to engage customers across new digital channels,and to service their operations more effectively.

Ben Rose

Co-founder and President of Supercede

Ben is Co-founder and President of Supercede: the reinsurance platform used by dealmakers worldwide to automate the preparation and exchange of deals and data.
When he isn't working closely with cedents, brokers and reinsurers through Supercede, he is interviewing them as Co-Host of The Reinsurance Podcast: a new and popular show for reinsurance nerds around the world.
In both roles, he draws on his prior reinsurance industry experience consulting for (re)insurers at Aon and underwriting natural catastrophe risks in the Lloyd's marketplace.

Konstantin Haralampiev

Co-founder of AgroVAR

Konstantin is a co-founder of AgroVAR, the first Bulgarian Agri-tech start up focused on using AI to analyze agronomical data and helping farmers to transition from conventional to regenerative farming using nature based solutions. He has extensive experience with carbon markets and carbon neutrality in agriculture and with AgroVAR is developing the first carbon program which will financially reward farmers in Bulgaria for their transition to regenerative farming and lower carbon footprint. 

Filip Genov

Co-founder and Managing Director, F27

25+ years in banking, innovations and technology, Founder & MD of Sophia Lab, the leading digital transformation and acceleration think tank in Southeast Europe
Founder & MD of the first banking & FinTech VC operation in the Southeast Europe
Founder and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the FinTech and InsureTech Summit, the biggest industrial forum in the Southeast Europe
Member of the Vienna Initiative, CEE&lead expert on financial instruments for innovative and fast growing companies
Co-Founder of the Strategic Center for Artificial Intelligence for Southeast Europe, based in Sofia
Served on the Executive Committee of the Factors Chain International and Strategy and R&D aide to the Executive Committee of CEDEC
Created and managed three 500+ million euro financial businesses
MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, the London School of Economics and Political Science and HEC Paris

Goran Angelov

Founder and CEO, IBS Bulgaria

Goran Angelov is the founder and manager of IBS Bulgaria (IBS), one of the leading IT companies in the country with a focus on the financial industry, analytics solutions and system integration. IBS is currently implementing key projects in leading banks related to digital transformation, PSD2 regulation, infrastructure modernization and information asset management. Goran Angelov has an engineering degree in production automation. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of information and communication technologies and participation in a number of successfully implemented large-scale IT projects for business and the public sector.

Robert Blatnik

Sustainability SW Solutions Ecosystem Sales Leader, Central and Eastern Territory / CET, IBM

Robert has long experiences in IT industry and huge enthusiast regarding sustainable transformation agenda. He has joined IBM at the beginning of this millennium and has always been engaged in international IT services, IT projects and business development management roles. The topic, Sustainability transformation in the businesses, is his huge passion and therefore he is helping clients digitalizing the ESG and Sustainability agenda.

Paweł Majtkowski

Market Analyst, eToro

Pawel is a recognized financial markets' expert, with extensive experience as an analyst in financial institutions. He has worked as chief analyst for i.a., Aviva - Centrum Finansów, Expander Advisors, Finamo and Poczta Polska. Recently, he was the Financial Director at Mennica Metale Sp. z o.o. Author of numerous publications on investing, personal finance and the economy, Paweł is one of the financial market experts most often cited in the media. He holds a Law degree from the University of Warsaw.

Vanya Manova

Country Manager for Mastercard for Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo

Vanya Manova is a Country Manager for Mastercard for Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo and she’s responsible for managing the development of regional business and market strategy for the highly dynamic Balkan countries. Since March 2019, she has been responsible for developing and implementing the company's strategy to support the growth of card and electronic payments across the four countries, to introduce Mastercard's innovations and technology solutions, and to build long-term partnerships with key customers, government, and public sector.
 
 

Elvin Guri

Managing Partner, CEO, INVENIO Partners

Elvin Guri is an investor and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of successful track record in banking and private equity.
As an investor and adviser, Elvin has been involved in deals in the financial institutions sector (Czech Republic, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia), in technology and biotechnology (Switzerland, Bulgaria), in healthcare and food industry (Bulgaria), and the real estate sector (USA).
Prior to Empower Capital, Elvin and Ivan Hristanov co-founded JetFinance International, the largest independent consumer finance lender in SEE. JetFinance was sold to BNP Paribas Personal Finance in July 2007.
Elvin started his career as an Auditor at Price Waterhouse in Sofia. Later he spent more than five years with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), both in London and in Sofia. At EBRD, Elvin worked mostly on financial institutions’ deals, but also contributed to deals in food processing, pulp and paper, and other industries.
Elvin holds an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford. Elvin is fluent in English, Bulgarian and Albanian. He is also conversational in French and Italian.
Additionally, Elvin supports several educational initiatives in Bulgaria and Albania, including AUBG, Teach for Bulgaria ("Zaedno v Chas") and Junior Achievement.

Nikolay Sabev

Founder and majority owner of Econt

Nikolay Sabev is a Bulgarian an entrepreneur, an innovator and a visioner. An expert in logistics and transport, business modelling and strategic analysis. In 1993, he established Econt. The company is an innovative platform for superb logistics and payment services for e-commerce and individual customers. Today, Econt is a recognisable brand by more than 4 million Bulgarians. 
Nikolay Sabev is a main benefactor in the Ruse – Free Spirit City Municipal Foundation. He finances the renovation of emblematic buildings and education programmes in Bulgaria, including Ruse, where he was born. He aids various public initiatives with the main purpose of transforming Bulgaria in a modern and free European country.
Sabev graduated from Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy,and is also a graduate from the University of National and World Economy with a second economic degree. Over the years, he has acquired post-graduate qualification in the marketing, finance, communications and statistical analysis areas. He further expands his expertise with analyses in the fields of innovations and blockchain technologies. 
From December 2021 to August 2022 he was the Minister of Transport and Communications. 

Gergana Dimitrova

Manager "Business Development" at Pollenity

Gergana Dimitrova is a Business development and Corporate partnership Manager at Bee Smart Technologies Ltd. She has an extensive experience in the sphere of managing sustainable development policies and public communications. She is leading the development of ESG practices at Bee Smart Technologies Ltd. In relation with the business in varies fields, creating and implementing strategies for biodiversity conservation in partnership with the company.
She is holding a master’s degree in business management from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.

Boyko Takov

Executive Director of BSMEPA

Dr. Takov has over 18 years of experience in the private sector as well as in government. From 2008 to 2012 he was a managing director and a member of the board of directors at the Bulgarian branch of a leading South Korean energy company which was responsible for some of the largest photovoltaic parks in Bulgaria. Dr. Takov has been a managing director of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) since 2018. In 2021 he became a member of the board of the International Networks for Small and Medium Enterprises, based in Rome, Italy and operating under the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). During the same year the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria elected him Head of the Bulgarian National Affiliate of the OECD for responsible business practices.
Over the years, Dr. Takov has held management and leadership roles in some of the most well-developed industries. Investment management, project management and financing describe only a part of his experience in the mining industry, in the energy sector and in infrastructure development.
Dr. Takov holds a PhD in Economics, Industrial Engineering and Management from the Technical University in Sofia.
He is currently actively involved in teaching as an assistant at the University of National and World Economy, while he is also an honorary lecturer at the University of Insurance and Finance.

Kaloyan Rachev

CEO of Vangavis, Co-founder of the Bulgarian Fintech Association and the AI Cluster Bulgaria

Vangavis’ Founder Kaloyan Ratchev was born in Bulgaria and grew up in Austria. He holds a master's degree in Sociology and Economics from the University of Economics in Vienna and has been working in the field of ecosystem development, innovation and entrepreneurship for the last 15 years.
Kaloyan is a founding board member of the Bulgarian Artificial Intelligence Cluster, a Steering Committee Member of the European AI Forum as well as a co-founder of the Bulgarian Fintech Association. Prior to that he has been active in the media sector as well as in management consulting and market research companies.
Kaloyan is an active startup founder, mentor and investor. In addition, he is the voluntary chairman of the "Iwan Schischmanow" bulgarian school in Vienna.

Petr Baron

CEO, tbi

With his deep knowledge of the financial ecosystem, Petr belongs to the new wave of entrepreneurial bankers. Throughout his career of more than 22 years, he has gained huge experience by taking on a variety of different senior roles in banking in many European countries. He surrounds himself with result-driven people willing to grow and always have the customer in mind. And exactly this is how tbi bank, that he has been leading in the past 7 years, became the innovation champion and one of the most profitable banks in Southeastern Europe. Аs a leader, he believes in team empowerment and extreme ownership as drivers for better business results as well as in internal culture and shared values that create the best environment for talents’ growth. He is often invited to share his experience and vision about the industry at different conferences and events throughout Europe. Petr holds a BSc in Investment and Financial Risk Management from the Cass Business School, UK, and is an active Angel Investor and Mentor of a number of start-ups.

Jose Saloio

CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Bulgaria

Jose Saloio is the CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, SA, Bulgaria Branch. His entire career has been associated with Europe's leading consumer lending company BNP Paribas Personal Finance, part of the BNP Paribas Group, where he began working after graduating from the prestigious Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris with a degree in Information Systems.
For almost 20 years, Mr. Saloio has held various international positions such as: Manager of BNP Paribas Personal Finance in Bulgaria, Chief Operating Officer of BNP Paribas Personal Finance for Central and Eastern Europe, Regional Risk Management Director for Poland, Ukraine, China, Turkey, Serbia, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, Risk Management Manager in Romania.
As a manager, Jose Saloio is focused on developing innovative financial products and progressive solutions for a multi-channel approach to customers. It is also dedicated to the development of cooperation between BNP Paribas Personal Finance with fintech companies, startups, retailers and online retailers. His vision and ambition are for each client to get the best possible experience in working with the bank and to feel it as a trusted partner in various life situations.
The CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Bulgaria speaks French, Portuguese and English. He is a dedicated skier and in his free time he practices Bulgarian folk dances.

Piergiorgio Vittori

Spitch US CEO and GM Bulgarian and International Market

Spitch is a Swiss provider of solutions based on Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Voice User Interfaces (VUI), natural language voice data analytics and voice biometrics. Its technologies are focused on facilitating knowledge work automation — one of the most promising IT trends of the next decade. Piergiorgio has rich international experience in technology and telecommunications companies. He has been a part of multinational companies for over 20 years, such as Ericsson, Nuance, Verbio in Sweden, USA, Italy, and other European countries. He holds a master's degree in electronic engineering from the Sapienza University in Rome.

Mila Taneva

CEO and Co-Founder of iUX

Natural born risk killer. International Business Consultant specialized in Risk Analytics and one of the most dedicated and skilled executives in the FinTech world. Led numerous successful teams and projects in data science, political analysis, effective project governance and new product development for international markets. 
Passionate about delivering facts, truth, and rational decision-making.
iUX is the risk intelligence startup to watch in 2023. Delivering unmatched depth of user-friendly risk intelligence to clients. Endorsed by EIB in its first fintech investment in the CEE. Making risk controllable & transparent. Partner with IBM. Born international, Born in the cloud. Reduces notification periods in the economic environment by 90 times.

Svilena Stoyanova

Commercial Director, Ablera

Experienced professional in Marketing&Sales, with a proven track record in relationship management and sales negotiation.
15+ years of experience in Private Banking in two leading European Banking Groups. Professional with a strong focus on the client's needs. The step taken in Insurtech is driven by: the passion to be contributed more in the B2B segment, eagerness to explore new market opportunities, and ambition to bring Ablera's solutions from brand vision to brand evaluation.
Svilena holds a Professional MBA in Marketing&Sales from WU in Vienna and is currently in charge of Ablera's commercial activities, business development, and marketing activities.

Svetoslav Angelov

Majority shareholder and CEO of ITF Group

Svetoslav Angelov is the majority shareholder and CEO of ITF Group – a fintech company specialized in non-banking consumer lending. He holds a BA in International Business and Finance from the European Business School in London and an Executive MBA from the University of Sheffield. He was part of the management of companies such as "Rubin" AD, "Srabska Fabrika Staklo" AD and "Republika Holding" AD. He also invests in companies from sectors as real estates, technology and development, and in art.
In February 2015, Svetoslav Angelov acquired a stake in "ITF Group" AD and took a position in the management of the company. Subsequently, he increased his share, became the sole owner of the capital, and after the listing of the company on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, he is now the majority shareholder.

Preslav Raykov

Senior Commodity Risk Manager, Cargill

Preslav Raykov is currently a Senior Commodity Risk Manager at Cargill, one of the giants in the global commodities trading industry. He has worked as a Senior FX & Commodity Analyst for one of the major financial services brokers (FXCM), which is part of the Jefferies Financial Group, and has 3 years of experience in the Corporate & Investment Banking division at the Societe Generale headquarters in Sofia. He holds a Master's degree in Financial Management and Forecasting and Planning. He specialized in international economics in Barcelona and Edinburgh, as well as in trading on financial markets in Bucharest. He has interests and experience in the world of commodities, finance, financial market trading, Fintech and DeFi.

Alexander Tsankov

CEO, Truvity