In recent years, the link between sports and technology has moved beyond performance tracking. A growing number of athletes are stepping into the role of investors, putting their money into startups and established tech firms alike. Serena Williams has supported companies like Coinbase and MasterClass, Cristiano Ronaldo has ventured into digital fitness and Shaquille O’Neal was early investor in Google and later in Ring, which Amazon acquired.
In the region, the pattern continues. The renowned Polish footballer Robert Lewandowski invested through Protos Venture Capital, backing startups in e-commerce and websites. He also owns Stor9_, a marketing communications agency; while Croatia’s Luka Modrić, in 2022 invested in the Croatian-American startup Sportening, a sports-focused social app.
Bulgaria also has a great pair. Renowned Bulgarian volleyball star Matey Kaziyski is a long-time supporter of Tiger Technology, Bulgarian hybrid cloud data management solution provider trusted by global clients, including Fortune 500 enterprises.
Great performance attracts great performers
This week, Tiger Technology announced record-breaking results for the second quarter and first half of 2025, alongside significant share increases among existing investors. The growth signals continued confidence in the company’s long-term strategy and global potential.
As part of this round, Kaziyski converted his previously issued convertible loan into equity, becoming the largest individual shareholder in the latest issuance. Several institutional and private investors also expanded their stakes in the company, further strengthening its investor base.
Asked why he chose to double down on Tiger Technology, Kaziyski explained:
“Throughout my career as a professional athlete, I’ve always believed in dedication, discipline, and surrounding myself with people who know how to win. After years of playing for top teams abroad, I wanted to invest in something meaningful — something with long-term potential, and ideally, something close to home.
I’ve known Alexander Lefterov for years — we share a passion for excellence, whether in sports or business — and I fully believe in the direction he’s leading the company. Tiger Technology is right at the crest of the wave in a booming IT industry, and I’m proud to support its next chapter of growth,” said Kaziyski.
Tiger Technology’s leadership welcomed the support. “We are honored by the trust of our investors, including Mr. Kaziyski, whose support reflects the growing confidence in Tiger Technology’s performance and vision,” said Iravan Hira, CEO of Tiger Technology.
“This equity conversion comes at a time of solid growth and positions us strongly as we continue expanding globally.”
Tiger Technology vaults forward
The company’s latest financial results prove that. It has good traction across U.S. subsidiaries Tiger Technology and Tiger Surveillance, as well as growing footprint in the Middle East.
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- +115% YoY revenue growth in Q2 2025 (vs. Q2 2024)
- +101% YoY revenue growth in Q2 2024 (vs. Q2 2023)
- +335% cumulative growth over two years (Q2 2023 → Q2 2025)
With its hybrid cloud data management solutions, Tiger Technology is positioned to help enterprises cut storage costs, ensure compliance, and enable secure global collaboration across healthcare, surveillance, finance, and media sectors. Numbers above indicate they have achieved strong product-market fit, effective go-to-market strategy, and the rising global demand for those solutions.
Tiger Technology shared it will continue to engage with institutional and strategic investors as part of its broader fundraising efforts to support global expansion.
For Kaziyski, the bet is both personal and forward-looking: an athlete at the height of his career placing trust in a Bulgarian tech firm with international ambitions — and in doing so, showing how sports stars can play a role in shaping the industries of tomorrow.
