The market is changing – we are responding

Programme participant

Hristo Popov

Business builder, leader of international teams, and strategist with experience spanning global corporations and his own entrepreneurial ecosystem.

- Father of three extraordinary ladies.
- Founder of over 30 businesses in 7 countries with over 15,000 people.
- Three exits, two bankruptcies.
- Founder and CEO of Fast Track – a global consulting company with over 500 clients in 30 countries. The Fast Ytack program is implemented by over 20 000 executives globally. Fast Track consults and develops strategies for companies like Google, Mango, Ray Ban, Four Seasons,
- Completed over 12 M&A transactions to a total value of 1B
- Education
o Sofia Institute of Economics,
o Cambridge University,
o Harvard Business School,
o London Business School
o Babson College,
o European Leadership Institute
- Employment
o Shell International – Head of scenario planning, Operations Director Bulgaria, CEO Taiwan,
o Interbrew Bulgaria - CEO,
o Intersnack - CEO,
- One year in an ashram in India to study Yoga, Vedanta and Eastern Philosophy
- 3 years in the Bulgarian special forces
- Over 50 publications in Forbes, India Times, Fortune, Manager, HR and Management, and others
- Member of YPO, Chapter Chair, Education Chair for Europe
- Passionate about philosophy, fitness and well-being, Martial arts, cars, Business and human performance, strategy, learning, nature and the human mind.

Programme participant

Yasen Georgiev

Executive Director of the Economic Policy Institute

Yasen Georgiev is Executive Director of the Economic Policy Institute – a Sofia-based think-tank with 29+ years of track record in researching, analysing and explaining economic and multidimensional trends in Bulgaria and South-Eastern Europe.
Yasen Georgiev has been with the EPI since 2006 where he was firstly appointed Research Fellow and then Head of the International Projects and Programmes unit. Prior to that, he worked at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria and Beiersdorf Bulgaria. In 2010-2011 Yasen Georgiev was a visiting fellow at the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry and at the European Policy DG of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology of Germany.
Yasen Georgiev is also a member of the National Advisory Board of the Diplomatic Institute and member of the Public Consultations Council within the Committee on European Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria. He is also a member of Team Europe Direct. Since 2008 he has been the Bulgaria-Coordinator of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship – a flagship leadership development program of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Yasen Georgiev is 2017 fellow of the Aspen Institute Romania within its Young Leaders Program and 2010/2011 fellow of the Robert Bosch Foundation (Germany) within the Carl Friedrich Goerdeler-Kolleg residence fellowship program.
His focus on the intersection of economy, public policy and international relations was sharped during his academic and extracurricular studies at the University of National and World Economy (Sofia), Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski”, Ludwigs-Maximilians University (Munich) and Hertie School of Governance (Berlin). Yasen Georgiev contributes to local and foreign media outlets, such as to the Bulgarian National Radio, Bulgarian National Television, Bloomberg TV (Bulgaria), TV Europa (Bulgaria), Euronews (Bulgaria), Financial Times, Emerging Europe (UK), ORF (Austria), Het Financieele Dagblad (the Netherlands), Visegrad Insight (Poland), Alternatives Economiques (France), Hospodářské noviny (Czech Republic), NE Global, Latvian Radio 1 and Balkan Insight.

Programme participant

Iliya Lingorski

Economist, central banking expert and institutional leader with experience spanning monetary policy, public finance, international financial institutions and academia.

Iliya Lingorski is a member of the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank Eurosystem and a Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Mint. He also serves on the Research and Publishing Council of BNB-Eurosystem. Among other duties, he has served as Deputy Minister of Finance and Head of the State Treasury, Alternate Governor for Bulgaria of the International Monetary Fund, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Encouragement Bank, Chief Economist of the Bulgarian Development Bank, Board Director of the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, and Board Member of the Banking Consolidation Company in Bulgaria. He started his career in fixed income in the 1990s at the EBRD Risk Control in London and later as Manager for Financial Policy and Strategic Planning.

Iliya Lingorski is an alumnus of the Study of the United States Institute in Economics and Business of the Department of State of the United States of America and formerly served as a trustee and a University Council member of the American University in Bulgaria. He graduated with honours from the Sofia University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy and conducted his postgraduate research in Artificial Intelligence at Oxford. He is currently a full time lecturer at the Department of Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

Programme participant

Maria-Alexandra Mihăilă

Head of Policy at CEPI / the European Association of Real Estate Professions /


Maria-Alexandra is Romanian by nationality. She is working for CEPI, the European Association of Real Estate Professions, as Head of Policy. After a bachelor's degree made in Bucharest, Romania, in International Relations, she specialised in European Studies/Affairs in Brussels, Belgium with a master's degree. Now, at CEPI, she is leading the policy and advocacy work, monitoring EU legislative and political developments and drafting position papers on key issues affecting the real estate sector, including housing affordability, anti-money laundering, energy efficiency in buildings, taxation, sustainability and digitalisation.
She coordinates CEPI’s policy committees and working groups, ensuring close cooperation between members and the Secretariat. She is also representing CEPI in meetings, conferences and stakeholder dialogues, promoting the organisation’s positions with EU institutions and external partners.

Programme participant

Dragomir Tzanev

Executive Director of the Center for Energy Efficiency "EnEffect"

Dragomir Tzanev is the Executive Director of the Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect, Bulgaria’s leading NGO in the field of sustainable energy and energy efficiency. He specializes in strategic energy planning, low-carbon transition, integrated building renovation strategies, and local energy governance. Over the years, Mr. Tzanev has led or contributed to numerous high-profile EU-funded initiatives under Horizon Europe, LIFE, and other frameworks. He is a prominent voice in national and regional policy dialogue on the European Green Deal, energy poverty alleviation, and green finance instruments. Through his work, he advocates for innovative partnerships between public authorities, businesses, and civil society to accelerate energy transformation in buildings, cities, and communities. Mr. Tzanev is a regular keynote speaker at international forums, promoting scalable solutions for energy transition and climate neutrality.

Programme participant

Mitko Tsonev

Managing Director, Valkrea Ltd.

Mitko Tsonev graduated from the international business school Rennes School of Business in France with a Master’s degree in Innovation Management. He is fluent in English, French, Spanish and German, and is a certified specialist in areas such as Product Lifecycle Management, KNX integration, Smart City solutions, Design Thinking, Agile Scrum, and others.
He has extensive professional experience with PSA Peugeot Citroën in Paris, Airbus SAS in Toulouse, Airbus Operations GmbH in Hamburg, and Remira GmbH in Hamburg, where he led projects related to digital transformation, process optimisation, and the implementation of innovative solutions. He was awarded the Airbus Award for Excellence for improving the quality of the company’s internal processes.
Since 2020, he has taken over the management of Valkrea Ltd., positioning the company as one of the leading system integrators on the Bulgarian market in the field of smart home systems and building automation. During this period, the company has successfully completed numerous residential projects and developed innovative solutions related to smart-ready configurations and energy efficiency.

Programme participant

Felice Tufano

Founder, Tufano Capital Investments | Real Estate Investment & Asset Management Expert

Real Estate expert, specializing in sale, acquisition and management of real estate assets. He has a lot of experience in fund raising and Real Estate crowdfunding.
Felice is known for his extensive market knowledge and his unmatched passion for his job.
Felice started his career in 1997. Throughout his career, he completed thousands of successful deals. He operates under a strict confidentiality and a total transparency to achieve client's targets.

His passion for languages (English, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, German, French and Arabic) and cultures have projected his career to an international level. In 2001 he founded Proyecto Casa, a real estate agency specialized in residential market in Barcelona.
In 2020 Felice launched a new division, "Tufano Capital Investments" specialized in Real Estate Investment & Asset Management throughout Spain – Hotels, Residential, Commercial and Industrial buildings.

Felice is Fiabci Spain Vice president and Past President of FIABCI Europe,COAPI Joint Committee member, among others responsibilities

Felice Tufano has nearly 30 years of experience in real estate investment, brokerage, and transaction structuring in Spain.
Founder of Proyecto Casa (2001) and Tufano Capital Investments (2020), he has led acquisitions, value-add developments, and investment structures through club deals and participative loans. Today, he focuses on Hospitality Real Estate, specializing in hotels, aparthotels, and camping/glamping projects.

Programme participant

Daniel Holmquist

The Secretary of the Board for GIPE - one of Spain’s oldest leading professional associations for real estate experts in Spain since 1985/ Member if the Board of Directors at CEPI / the European Association of Real Estate Professions/ Тhe Chair of the PTC MMCEPI at CEPI

Daniel Holmquist is a seasoned real estate professional with a diverse background in IT and real estate. Specialist in acquisition, photography and visual communication. Certifications.
Born in Gothenburg, Sweden to a Swedish mother and Welsh father, Daniel speaks Swedish, English, and Spanish fluently. He has lived on the Costa del Sol since December 1999 and transitioned from IT to real estate in 2015. Since 2021, he has been an integral part of StartGroup Real Estate, serving as the Valuation and Listing Manager. StartGroup, with offices in Sitio de Calahonda, La Cala de Mijas, and Torrequebrada, specialises in the vibrant regions of Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Marbella, and Torremolinos. Daniel’s career is marked by his expertise in property valuation, listings, and market analysis, which he has brought to StartGroup. His strategic vision and leadership have established him as a trusted advisor in the real estate industry. Daniel’s commitment to the real estate industry extends beyond his role at StartGroup. His expertise and dedication have made him a respected voice in the real estate community.

Programme participant

Stanislav Popdonchev

Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) and Chief Financial Officer of BIA.

He holds a Master's degree in Accounting and Control from the UNWE, and is a certified consultant in organization and optimization of work systems and processes according to the REFA-Germany methodology.
He represents BIA in the Advisory Council to the Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency. He is a member of Working Group 27 "Financial Control and Accounting" of the Council for European Affairs at the Ministry of Finance.
He has experience in consultancy projects under various operational programmes.
He has been a member of the Economic and Social Council since 2021 and chairs the Economic Policy Committee of ESC.

Programme participant

Asen Dimitrov

Fix&Flip Entrepreneur

20 years of experience in the furniture industry, holding senior management positions in various companies and being responsible for the development and commercialisation of different products.

He has participated in the delivery of more than 500 completed projects, covering the entire process from design to the finished product.

He is the owner of the interior design studio ImotO, which completes over 50 individual projects annually.

Asen is also an active real estate investor, working with both the fix-and-flip strategy and the long-term and short-term rental of properties.

He is the author of the book “From €0 to €6,000/m² – The Fix & Flip Bible.

Programme participant

Ivo Dimovski

With over 200,000 followers, Ivo is one of the most popular real estate investors in Bulgaria.

A graduate of the University of Cambridge, he owns properties in four countries and has more than 10 years of experience in real estate investing.

Programme participant

Ivan Ivanov

Digital specialist with over 10 years of experience at global technology companies such as Meta and Google.

After more than a decade at global technology giants such as Meta and Google, where he led teams of over 150 engineers in London and Silicon Valley, Ivan Ivanov returned to Bulgaria with a new focus — real estate investment.

Today, his portfolio includes assets in Sofia, London, and along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

Programme participant

Simeon Spasov

Marketing Strategist and Business Development Specialist. Co-founder of the digital marketing agency CreateX.

A marketing strategist with experience in real estate, digital marketing, and building sales systems. His focus is on practical solutions that help brokers and companies adapt more quickly to a changing environment.

In his work, he combines marketing strategy, content, automation, and artificial intelligence to turn new technologies into practical tools for greater efficiency, better communication, and stronger business results. He believes that AI will not replace a good real estate broker — but brokers who know how to use it will have a significant advantage.

Programme participant

Dobromir Ganev

Economist, real estate entrepreneur and investor, B2B consultant, business trainer and mentor, arbitrator, and established expert in the real estate sector.

Dobromir Ganev is one of the most recognizable and respected figures in Bulgaria’s real estate industry, with more than 32 years of managerial and hands-on experience.
Throughout his career, Dobromir Ganev has founded and managed successful companies in the fields of real estate, investment, and consulting services. He holds prestigious international professional qualifications and served as Chairman of the Management Board of the National Real Estate Association (NREA) from 2018 to 2023.
He is frequently invited as a speaker, analyst, and moderator at some of the country’s most prominent economic and real estate forums.
Beyond being a business leader with a strategic mindset, his contribution to the development of a more ethical and professional business environment in Bulgaria is widely recognized.

Programme participant

Simeon Mitev

He advises Bulgarian and international companies on leasing, purchasing, selling, and selecting suitable locations for their business operations. BGSKLAD.BG is a leading specialized platform for warehouse and industrial properties, supported by a partner network covering almost the entire country. Simeon Mitev actively monitors and analyses market trends and regularly participates in professional forums and discussions focused on the development of industrial real estate and logistics in Bulgaria.

A detailed biography and photo will be added soon.

Programme participant

Svetozar Fachedzhiev

Svetozar Fachedzhiev is a real estate broker, entrepreneur, and active property investor.

Since 2015, he has been working in the Sofia real estate market, with a focus on acquiring, renovating, and reselling residential properties. He has been involved in more than 90 investment projects and develops partnerships for joint investments using his own capital.
His experience covers the entire process — from assessing a property’s potential and arranging financing to managing the renovation and bringing the property to market.

Programme participant

Alexander Bochev

A detailed biography and photo will be added soon.

Programme participant

Ivan Velkov

A detailed biography and photo will be added soon.

Programme participant

Hristo Hadzhiev

Hristo Hadzhiev is an established strategic leader in the real estate sector with more than 25 years of professional experience.

As Managing Director of HH PROPERTIES, he specializes in the sales and marketing management of large-scale projects in the residential and premium segments, having led the successful market realization of entire buildings and landmark developments.

In his role as Vice Chairman of the National Real Estate Association (NREA), Mr. Hadzhiev is a key driving force behind the promotion of ethical standards and professionalism within the industry. His work is focused on building a sustainable community of trustworthy market participants — a mission that is becoming increasingly important in the context of Bulgaria’s economic transformation.

An expert in building brands for real estate developments, Hristo Hadzhiev has a distinctive ability to navigate market cycles and turn challenges into strategic advantages.

Programme participant

Daniela Grozeva

A detailed biography and photo will be added soon.

Programme participant

Eng. Econ. Irena Perfanova

Established real estate expert with more than 32 years of professional experience in the industry. Founder of ASK URBAN ACADEMY. Entrepreneur and Generation X investor. CCIM, CPM, CLHMS, CIPS, ABR, SRS, FIREC, TRC, Realtor, Broker Owner, Appriser, Мediator, Personal & Business NLP Coach, Life & Group Coach, Business Trainer, Mentor & Consultant

Chair of the Real Estate Market Advisory Group at UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe); Chair of the Digitalisation Working Group at CEPI (European Association of Real Estate Professions); Chair of FIABCI-Bulgaria from 2011 to 2014; Chair of NREA from 2014 to 2018; and a member of the international boards of FIABCI and CEPI between 2014 and 2025.

Programme participant

Kristiyan Kostov

Kristiyan Kostov is the founder of Profit.bg and the organizer of the “Noise of Money” and “Digital Trends” events.

From 2024 until mid-2026, he served as CEO of Darik Digital and Commercial Director of Darik.

Since July 2026, he has served as Commercial Director of Pigeon Express

Programme participant

Svilen Kolev

Dr. Svilen Kolev has served as Deputy President of the National Statistical Institute since July 2022.

He is responsible for the Macroeconomic Statistics Directorate, which produces statistical information on gross domestic product, inflation, house price indices, government finance statistics, the environment, energy, agriculture, and other areas.

Since January 2025, he has been a member of the Executive Board of the Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics (CMFB).

Previously, he worked as an expert in Banking Policy and Analysis at the Association of Banks in Bulgaria. He has also worked as an editor at Investor.BG AD, as the author and host of an economics programme broadcast on Bulgaria ON AIR television and radio and Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, and as an analyst at Bloomberg TV Bulgaria.

Dr. Svilen Kolev obtained his PhD in 2019 from the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Department of Finance, Faculty of Finance and Accounting. His doctoral dissertation focused on the effects of unconventional monetary policy implemented by central banks.

He is the author of more than 40 academic publications in Bulgarian and international scientific journals in the fields of central banking, monetary policy, the banking sector, macroeconomics, debt management, and fiscal policy. He is also a co-author of six collective monographs.

Dr. Kolev has participated in numerous conferences and seminars as a keynote speaker, both in Bulgaria and abroad.

Programme participant

Plamena Toteva

Managing Director, Mortgage Lending Market, DSK Bank

A detailed biography and photo will be added soon.

Programme participant

Аnton Andonov

Anton Andonov, CEO of ERA Bulgaria AD

Holds a Master’s degree in Economics and has over 30 years of business experience in the financial sector and real estate brokerage.
ERA Bulgaria AD operates over 40 offices across Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Yambol, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Burgas, Pomorie, Varna, Silistra, Dobrich, Shumen, Targovishte, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, and Lovech. It is part of ERA Real Estate — a leading global franchise network specializing in residential real estate transactions and financing, with over 50 years of experience in developing customer-oriented products and services.
A leading credit intermediary registered with the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), operating under the Creditera.bg brand.

Programme participant

Ivan Velkov

Chair of the Management Board of BGFMA – Bulgarian Facility Management Association, President of FIABCI Bulgaria, and Vice President of the FIABCI World Council of Experts. Chair of the Management Board of Sofia Knowledge City Cluster and member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Industrial Association.

He has previously served as Managing Director of Colliers International, Regional Partner at Colliers Southeast Europe, and Regional Director at Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria. He has also been an adjunct lecturer in Real Estate Management at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Chair of the Management Board of the National Real Estate Association (NREA) from 2011 to 2014, Chair of the Professional Ethics Committee at NREA from 2014 to 2016, and Deputy Chair of the Sofia Municipal Council from 2015 to 2019.