From ‘predatory’ IP terms to a lack of smart capital, deep tech in CEE faces unique hurdles. Zagreb’s Liftoff conference wants to rewrite the rules of the game.
More than 120 investors managing over €10B in assets showed up in Maribor this May. Podim exposed a reality shaping Europe’s tech ecosystem: while founders from smaller markets are entering global competition earlier, the infrastructure needed to scale still feels fragmented and relationship-driven.
LAUNCHub Ventures has appointed Zagreb-based Vedran Blagus as its new associated partner, tasked with leading the firm’s expansion across Croatia, Slovenia, and the Western Balkans. "I want to be the first person in the region founders call," he says.
Sofia-based DSS powers the invisible tech behind banks, telecoms, and national schools. As ServiceNow experts, they prioritize strategic partnership over simple vending. From BP to their aIDentix platform, DSS proves that Eastern Europe’s technical hunger is a formidable global edge.
What makes someone a great communicator? Is it talent… or a skill that can be trained?
In this episode of the Recursive Roundtable, we explore the art of communication from multiple perspectives — recruitment, HR, filmmaking, storytelling, and coaching.
Joining the host Teodora Atanasova on this topic are:
Boryana Borisova, Director of Talent Acquisition @ Delasport; ICF Certified Coach;
Konstantin Kunev, Interim CEO @ Future Unicorns Accelerator;
Andrey Andonov, Video Producer & Storyteller @ The Recursive.
Together they discuss:
☑️ Why communication starts and ends every human interaction ☑️ How vulnerability and storytelling build real connections ☑️ The relationship between personal development and career growth ☑️ Why many people avoid training communication skills ☑️ The difference between personal branding and reputation ☑️ How great communicators manage energy, presence, and adaptability
Why Raising Too Late Kills Startups? In this episode of The Recursive Roundtable, we unpack one of the most misunderstood topics for founders: fundraising strategy — not just the “how,” but the when, the why, and the who.
🎙️ GUESTS:
Iliya Valchanov, Co-founder & CEO @ Juma
Konstantin Bezuhanov, Co-founder & CEO @ Evrotrust
Stoil Vasilev, Co-founder & CEO @ Paypercut
They share: 💡 why starting your fundraising too late is the #1 mistake seed-stage companies make 💡 how to structure your investor outreach like a sales funnel 💡 what separates “feature AI” from true AI-powered competitive advantage 💡 how to choose the right investor — not just the one with the biggest check 💡 terms, valuation, control and the long game of capital
You’ll hear real stories about: 👉 outreach strategy and KPIs (77 conversations ≈ 1 deal) 👉 managing rejection and staying confident 👉 the importance of building relationships long before you need capital 👉 why a bad partner can be worse than no partner 👉 practical negotiation lessons and term-sheet wisdom
Whether you’re gearing up for your first round or planning Series A+, this episode gives you the mental model and playbook you need to approach fundraising with clarity and confidence.
Greek venture capital firm Big Pi Ventures led a US $30 million Series B round into Australian robotics company August Robotics, backing autonomous robot fleets that drill and mark floors across hyperscale construction sites worldwide.
With ICT exports hitting a record €4.5B, Serbia is a regional tech powerhouse. But as government ambition and Chinese investment surge, can it overcome the hurdles of being a non-EU nation and turn raw growth into sustainable leadership?
AI researcher Emily Kate Genatowski and her robot Tova are testing the limits of modern society. Through "tangible confrontations," she reveals that the biggest hurdles for humanoid robots are bureaucratic and legal, not technical. Is the world ready for the future?
