Blagomir Yanakiev

Co-Founder, Head of Product

Sofia, Bulgaria

Experience

Feb 2021 - Present
4 years 6 months

Co-Founder, Head of Product

9am

  • As Co-Founder and Head of Product at 9am, I drive user acquisition, product development, and strategy for one of Europe’s largest freelance platforms.

  • Over the past three months, I’ve achieved over a 100x growth in daily signups and a 45x increase in daily paid users, setting new performance benchmarks.

  • I work closely with our CEO and CTO to align business goals with product strategy, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize KPIs like conversion rates, churn reduction, and user reactivation.

  • I lead UX design efforts in Figma, crafting user flows and journeys that drive engagement and improve performance.

  • Collaborating with development and marketing teams, I ensure efficient feature implementation and impactful campaigns, while handling platform curation, user support, and manual testing to maintain high-quality user experience.

  • I build custom dashboards and extract insights directly from production data using SQL, combining strategic vision with a focus on measurable outcomes to drive sustainable growth and user satisfaction.

Jul 2020 - May 2023
2 years 11 months

Product Manager for Internal Product

CodeControl

  • Managed the roadmap and development of internal products to support company operations and enhance team productivity.

  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to define feature requirements, prioritize backlogs, and ensure on-time delivery.

  • Conducted user research and data analysis to inform product improvements and measure impact on key metrics.

  • Worked closely with engineering and design teams to refine user experience and implement scalable solutions.

Jul 2015 - May 2023
7 years 11 months

Project Manager for External Projects

CodeControl

  • Led cross-functional teams to deliver software solutions for clients ranging from industry leaders like Lufthansa, Volvo, and REWE to startups.

  • Managed the development of a customer service app for Lufthansa that reduced service costs by 30% and became the highest-rated Lufthansa app on the App Store, evolving it from an MVP to an SDK integrated into the main app.

  • Led the creation of the world’s first on-demand insurance app solution by a car manufacturer (Volvo Car Protection), developed in partnership with insurers Allianz and Ergo, expanding coverage options and supporting iOS, Android, and middleware solutions.

  • Managed development of a digital trading card app for REWE’s UEFA European Championship promotion, featuring a personalized card builder and advanced image recognition for an engaging user experience.

  • Delivered smaller-scale solutions for startups and emerging businesses, aligning development efforts with client goals, ensuring smooth delivery, and maintaining a focus on quality and innovation.

Feb 2014 - Dec 2017
3 years 11 months

Chairman of the Board

StartUP Foundation Bulgaria

  • Focused on empowering young entrepreneurs in Bulgaria by managing finances, overseeing payments and project budgets, and contributing to planning and execution of key initiatives.

  • Organized over 100 conferences, forums, and workshops since 2007, reaching more than 20,000 young people, and collaborating with startup organizations, business angels, and investment funds to build a sustainable culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Dec 2012 - Jan 2016
3 years 2 months

Project Manager & Producer

Chase a Cloud

  • Managed the creation of animation and VFX projects, coordinating talented artists, defining visual direction, and ensuring seamless communication between clients and creative teams to bring visions to life.

  • Balanced creative strategy with effective project management to deliver impactful visual content that helped startups convey their ideas, products, and services in a compelling and entertaining way.

Jun 2012 - Jan 2016
3 years 8 months

Founder and Graphic Designer

oBlag - Studio for great logos

  • Built a graphic design studio specializing in logos, brand identity, print materials, web assets, and social media visuals, translating client visions into actionable projects and coordinating execution.

  • Crafted logos and visual designs that told business stories, inspired pride, and conveyed the right messages and emotions across various media including T-shirts, business cards, and websites.

Jun 2010 - Feb 2011
9 months

Graphic Designer

1IDEA Ltd.

  • Created promotional materials such as posters, brochures, and flyers, ensuring print-ready or web-optimized deliverables.

  • Developed presentations and 3D visualizations to bring design concepts to life, supporting marketing and creative initiatives.

Jun 2008 - Feb 2009
9 months

Graphic Designer

Virtualis

  • Created design concepts and prepared print-ready files for business cards, flyers, menus, and brochures.

  • Participated in in-house production processes to ensure high-quality outputs for all projects.

Jan 2008 - Jun 2012
4 years 6 months
Sofia, Bulgaria

Freelance Graphic Designer

Freelancer

  • Managed projects end-to-end, handling client acquisition, communication, project planning, and final delivery, coordinating with print houses and web developers for seamless production.

  • Developed broad skill sets in creative design, project management, and client relations, delivering logos, brand identities, and print and digital assets that met client goals and exceeded expectations.

Summary

I am a product leader and entrepreneur with a focus on scaling user acquisition, optimizing KPIs, and building innovative solutions in the SaaS and tech industries. As Co-founder and Head of Product at 9am, I’ve led initiatives that drove over 100x growth in daily signups, establishing the platform as one of Europe’s largest freelance ecosystems.

My expertise spans product strategy, user experience design, cross-functional team leadership, and data-driven decision-making. I’ve also managed and delivered high-impact software projects for global brands like Lufthansa, Volvo, and REWE, ensuring technical execution aligns with business goals and delivers measurable results.

I combine creativity, strategy, and hands-on execution to create meaningful outcomes. Whether scaling startups, managing complex projects, or crafting impactful designs, my work is guided by a commitment to excellence and results.

Languages

Bulgarian
Native
English
Advanced

Education

Oct 2011 - Jun 2011

Cornell University

Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies · United States

Oct 2007 - Jun 2011

University of National and World Economy

Bachelor · Accounting · Bulgaria

Oct 2002 - Jun 2007

Business High School of Varna "G. S. Rakovski"

Economics and management · Varna, Bulgaria

Certifications & licenses

PADI Rescue Diver

PADI

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