After nearly seven years leading one of Central and Eastern Europe’s most impactful accelerator programs, Pavlina Yanakieva is stepping down as CEO of Future Unicorns, formerly Bulgaria Innovation Hub, the platform that has helped bridge ambitious CEE founders with Silicon Valley since 2019.
What began as an ambitious idea has grown into a globally recognized program, supporting 10 cohorts, 71 alumni companies, and helping startups from across the region secure over $434 million in funding and create more than 2,600 jobs. With 8 successful exits and a network that spans two continents, Future Unicorns has become a cornerstone for founders aiming to scale from CEE to the world.
As Pavlina closes this chapter, Konstantin Kunev, who has been instrumental in shaping the accelerator’s growth from Sofia, steps in to lead the organization into its next phase. In this exclusive conversation, Pavlina reflects on the journey of building a bridge between two ecosystems, while Konstantin shares how the program will evolve to meet the needs of the next generation of founders.
Together, they discuss lessons from seven years of scaling ambition, the values that must remain non-negotiable, and what’s ahead for CEE entrepreneurs preparing to take their companies global.
Part I: Building A Support System for Global Scaling
The Recursive: Let’s start with this moment. Why step down now?
Pavlina Yanakieva: After seven years of building Future Unicorns and its precursor, Bulgaria Innovation Hub from the ground up, from an idea we sketched on a napkin in San Francisco to a globally recognized accelerator, it felt like the right moment to complete my chapter. The organization is mature, the mission is stronger than ever, and the leadership team is ready to carry it forward. My work here is done — the foundation is built, the community is thriving, and it’s time for new energy and perspectives to take it to the next level.
When you started BIH / Future Unicorns, what problem in the region were you trying to solve?
Pavlina: We saw incredible founders across Bulgaria and the SEE/CEE region who were globally competitive but lacked the cultural context and access — to capital, to networks, and to markets like the U.S. We wanted to remove those barriers and prove that innovation from smaller markets can scale anywhere. BIH, and later Future Unicorns, were born out of a belief that talent is universal — opportunity is not — and our mission was to close that gap.
What was the moment you first thought ‘this is working’?
Pavlina: I’ll never forget our first San Francisco cohort in 2019. Seeing founders pitch to top-tier investors from Greylock, USVP, Sequoia and realizing that they belonged in those rooms — that was the moment. When we started hearing alumni stories about raising rounds, hiring globally, and giving back to other founders, I knew the flywheel was turning.
What are you most proud of building that you don’t think outsiders fully understand?
Pavlina: I’m most proud of the community culture we built, one rooted in reciprocity and trust. From the outside, people see an accelerator. But inside, it’s a movement. Of founders, mentors, the diaspora and partners who believe in paying it forward. The invisible glue that keeps Future Unicorns together is the generosity of those who once benefited and now lift others up.
What’s next for you personally?
Pavlina: After seven incredible years leading Future Unicorns/BIH, I’m taking a short sabbatical to pause, recharge, and reflect before stepping into my next chapter. This time is giving me space to refocus and explore new opportunities in venture, innovation, and tech — areas where I can build on what I’ve accomplished and continue creating meaningful impact.
Part II: The Transition
Why Konstantin Kunev? What does he do exceptionally well?
Pavlina: Kosio combines deep operational expertise with a genuine understanding of founders’ needs. He’s been instrumental in driving the program and relationships from Sofia and knows how to build trust across teams and stakeholders. What truly sets him apart is his humility and empathy — qualities that are essential when working with founders and teams, enabling him to connect on a deeper level and understand their fears, challenges, and aspirations. Most importantly, he embodies the same values that have guided Future Unicorns from the start — integrity, commitment, and belief in the people and community we serve. I couldn’t think of a better person to lead the organization through this next chapter.
Konstantin, what’s the hardest part of taking over from someone who built the thing?
Konstantin Kunev: I think the answer is in the question, Pavlina did build this thing, alongside some very impressive people from our ecosystem, so those are rather big shoes to fill! Jokes aside, I think the community that Poli built in the Valley, alongside our mentors’ unique expertise is the fundamental value of our program. In those lines of thought, growing that community in San Francisco, nurturing it and channeling its energy towards not just delivering a stellar program every year, but supporting founders before, during and after their acceleration journey will be the challenge moving forward. Luckily Poli has also worked to build an incredible Board that is locked and engaged and I’m having an unfair advantage with the infrastructure in place, sorry Poli from 2019!
What has to stay non-negotiable in Future Unicorns going forward?
Pavlina: The community-first ethos. The belief that our work isn’t just about scaling startups, it’s about building bridges, creating a sense of belonging, and amplifying underrepresented voices. That spirit of generosity, excellence, and global ambition has to remain at the heart of everything Future Unicorns does.
Konstantin: Most importantly, the core value remains unchanged: Future Unicorns continues to deliver an exceptional accelerator experience, consistently achieving an NPS of 100 from alumni across its ten editions over the past six and a half years. That level of trust, impact, and founder satisfaction is rare — and it’s something we must protect and sustain. Any company that has the opportunity to participate should consider itself fortunate to be selected to join the program and its exceptional community.
Part III: What Comes Next – Future Unicorns’ Next Chapter
What should founders expect for the upcoming cohort of the program?
Konstantin: First and foremost they should expect the excellence that previous groups have seen from our Mentors, who are the backbone of our program. In 2026, we’re looking to expand our cohort, so more peers to challenge and support your ideas, more feedback and oh so many more pitches to each-other, ripping your decks to shreds. We’ve also been busy in 2025 and brought on board more partnerships and resources that will be piloted in 2026, but we’ll definitely make available for alumni as well, but more on those as the program closes in.
What stays the same (mentors, Silicon Valley immersion, focus on CEE founders going global, alumni support model)?
Pavlina: Everything that makes Future Unicorns unique — the mentorship model, the Silicon Valley immersion, and our unwavering focus on helping CEE founders go global. The DNA of the program doesn’t change; it evolves.
What’s the long game?
Pavlina: Future Unicorns is not just an accelerator; it’s a platform for creating the next generation of globally minded entrepreneurs from emerging markets. The next step is scaling that impact sustainably — ensuring the bridge between CEE and Silicon Valley grows stronger every year.
Konstantin: In addition, we are looking into ways of supporting even earlier stage entrepreneurs on their journeys and demystifying the US market as early as possible, so more founders start thinking globally much earlier.
What’s your message to founders and the community reading this interview?
Pavlina: To all our founders, alumni, mentors, donors, and partners: thank you. You turned a bold idea into a lasting community. My wish for every founder is to remember that your roots are your strength, and to always stay curious, collaborative, and generous with your time and knowledge. That’s how ecosystems grow.
Leading this journey has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I step away with immense pride and gratitude, and full confidence in the team and community to carry the mission forward.
I’m deeply grateful to my co-founders — Bogomil Balkansky, Vassil Terziev, and Ivan Dimov — and to our Board of Directors for their trust, support, and dedication throughout this journey. My heartfelt thanks also go to Kosio, for stepping into the Interim CEO role with such energy and determination to build even greater things for the CEE entrepreneurial ecosystem.
As Future Unicorns enters its next chapter, I invite our global community to continue supporting the team and mission, by opening your networks, sharing your expertise, and contributing resources that help founders thrive. I’ll be doing the same, because sustaining and expanding the impact we’ve created together depends on all of us.
I’m very grateful for the continuous support of our amazing donors and sponsors, starting with the America for Bulgaria Foundation, who continues to contribute tremendously to our mission, as well as BrightCap Ventures, Eleven Ventures, Launchub, Morningside Hill Ventures, SiteGround, The Bridger Network, alumni like Ampeco, Storpool, Evrotrust, TrueInsights and many others who believed in our vision from the very beginning.
The Future Unicorns Accelerator is in the best possible hands, and its brightest days are still ahead.
Konstantin: Let’s start with the obvious, we are bringing a truly unique value proposition to not just the Bulgarian but also the wider CEE market. Resources for access to the US in our region are scarce and if the US is in your sights as a founder there is no time like the present or in our case, no time like April 2026.
We talked throughout this interview about the people that make up Future Unicorns and they are truly some of the brightest people in not just the CEE but the US ecosystem as well. Hearing their stories and how they’ve built their success in the US, drawing from their experience, hearing their feedback about your own company, getting their guidance for your challenges is an invaluable opportunity, no matter where your business is now or where you want it to go.
Last but not least, numbers speak the loudest and our alumni have experienced growth, funding, exposure that we’ve measured in results we know are staggering. Those alumni have benefited from the program’s network and continue to do so. If that’s a crowd you’d want to be in, 2026’s program is the best place to start and the best first step is reaching out to me.
