Teodora Georgieva - Developing Emerging Leaders Program

Q: Where is Teodora based?

Teodora is based in Sofia, Bulgaria .

Q: What languages does Teodora speak?

Teodora speaks the following languages: Bulgarian (Native), English (Advanced), Russian (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Teodora have?

Teodora has at least 7994 years of experience. During this time, Teodora has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 10 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 799 years and 5 months . Note that Teodora may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Teodora's latest experience?

Teodora's most recent position is Developing Emerging Leaders Program at INSEAD .

Q: What companies has Teodora worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Teodora has worked for INSEAD , StartupColors , and Start2Group .

Q: Which industries is Teodora most experienced in?

Teodora is most experienced in industries like Education , Professional Services , and Information Technology (IT) . Teodora also has some experience in Banking and Finance , Healthcare , Media, and Entertainment and Publishing .

Q: Which business areas is Teodora most experienced in?

Teodora is most experienced in business areas like Human Resources (HR) , Strategy and Planning , and Project Management . Teodora also has some experience in Research and Development (R&D) , Product Development , and Business Intelligence .

Q: Which industries has Teodora worked in recently?

Teodora has recently worked in industries like Education , Professional Services , and Aerospace and Defense .

Q: Which business areas has Teodora worked in recently?

Teodora has recently worked in business areas like Human Resources (HR) , Project Management , and Strategy and Planning .

Recommended expert

Sofia, Bulgaria

Experience

May 2024 - Dec 9999

7975 years 8 months

Developing Emerging Leaders Program

INSEAD

May 2024 - Nov 2024

7 months

Berlin, Germany

Innovation Consultant

StartupColors

Consulted on a Berlin Senate–funded urban drone logistics project U-Space Berlin.
Analysed trends and engaged global U-space stakeholders.
Authored a white paper on drone logistics and regulations.
Developed case studies on leading urban drone projects in Europe.

Nov 2019 - Apr 2024

4 years 6 months

Singapore

Program Director

Start2Group

Led a platform enabling Singaporean startups to scale into Germany, backed by Enterprise Singapore and the Economic Development Board.
Drove cross-border open innovation, connecting German corporates (Liebherr, Heinemann Group, Meraxis, NETCHZ) with Singaporean startups.
Managed venture clienting for pilots and investments.
Oversaw scale-up programs for startups entering Germany, including S2Bridge (Korea) and MRANTI Park (Malaysia).
Developed innovation programs for governments, corporates, and startups to foster strategic growth.
Built a global network of industry leaders and startup advisors.
Designed and executed accelerators and cross-border innovation initiatives.
Published insights on open innovation and startup scaling strategies.

Jul 2018 - Nov 2019

1 year 5 months

Singapore

Founder & Managing Director

UpVenture

Developed corporate venturing strategies, startup matching, and due diligence for Panasonic R&D Singapore and Omron APAC.
Designed innovation management frameworks and processes for corporates.
Led innovation workshops for Japanese corporate accelerators.

May 2016 - Jun 2018

2 years 2 months

Singapore

Program Director

RIA Venture Capital, AIRmaker

Led government-backed IoT startup acceleration programs in Digital Health and Smart Cities.
Facilitated corporate-startup engagements with Johnson & Johnson, Panasonic, Infineon, and others.
Managed startup portfolios across Singapore, India, China, and Southeast Asia.

Jan 2016 - Apr 2016

4 months

Sofia, Bulgaria

Accelerator Advisor

CleanTech Bulgaria, EIT-Climate-KIC

Provided guidance on accelerator setup, startup screening, and program development.
Delivered entrepreneurship workshops and mentored startups.

Apr 2015 - Nov 2015

8 months

Singapore

Program Manager

SPH Plug & Play Accelerator

Managed the Singapore Press Holdings accelerator program.
Oversaw program development, scouting framework, and startup community building.
Handled portfolio management and investor relations.

Oct 2013 - Aug 2015

1 year 11 months

Chicago, United States

Co-Author

No Startup Hipsters: Build Scalable Technology Companies

Co-authored a book presented at global startup events.
Developed unique frameworks to leverage human, social, and financial capital.
Created entrepreneurship learning modules and designed startup workshops covering topics from ideation to scale-up.
Mentored startups on growth strategies and business development.

Jan 2012 - Dec 2012

1 year

Innovation Advisor

Infodev (World Bank)

Drive cross-border open innovation, connecting corporates with startups.
Build a network of German corporates for startup partnerships.
Define innovation challenges, facilitate ideation, and deliver market insights.
Lead startup scouting, due diligence, and strategic matchmaking.
Structure PoCs, investments, and venture clienting opportunities.
Advise Asian scaleups on market entry into Germany.

Jun 2005 - May 2013

8 years

Sofia, Bulgaria

Technology Transfer Consultant

ARC Fund/Enterprise Europe Network

Advised on technology commercialisation, innovation policy, and R&D collaborations.
Built networks among European technology transfer centres.
Led EU projects, consortium management, proposal writing, and implementation.

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Education (7975.5 years), Professional Services (15.5 years), Information Technology (4 years), Banking and Finance (2 years), Healthcare (2 years), and Aerospace and Defense (0.5 years).

Education

Professional Services

Information Technology

Banking and Finance

Healthcare

Aerospace and Defense

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Human Resources (7975.5 years), Strategy (18 years), Project Management (15.5 years), Research and Development (10 years), Product Development (4 years), and Business Intelligence (1.5 years).

Human Resources

Strategy

Project Management

Research and Development

Product Development

Business Intelligence

Summary

Innovation strategist with extensive experience in corporate open innovation, strategic technology collaboration, and startup scaling across Asia and Europe. A proven connector between corporates, startups, investors, and governments, driving high-impact innovation initiatives. Expertise in designing and executing innovation programs, scaling business models around emerging technologies, and advising on go-to-market strategies. Strong track record in building and managing cross-border innovation networks, including R&D centres, startup hubs, venture capital firms, and corporate partners.

Skills

Corporate Innovation: Strategy Development; Open Innovation; Venture Clienting For Pilots And Investments.
Startup Scaling: Market Expansion; Growth Strategy.
Innovation Programs: Design And Execution Of Accelerators; Cross-border Innovation Initiatives.
Technology Commercialisation: Emerging Technologies; R&d Commercialisation.

Languages

Bulgarian

Native

English

Advanced

Russian

Intermediate

Education

Oct 2010 - Jun 2012

University of National and World Economy

Master’s Degree of International Economic Relations · International Economic Relations · Sofia, Bulgaria

Oct 2001 - Jun 2005

University of National and World Economy

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management · Human Resources Management · Sofia, Bulgaria

Certifications & licenses

Certified Trainer Of Incubator Managers

INFODEV (WORLD BANK)

Profile

Created

December 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Teodora based?

Teodora is based in Sofia, Bulgaria.

What languages does Teodora speak?

Teodora speaks the following languages: Bulgarian (Native), English (Advanced), Russian (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Teodora have?

Teodora has at least 7994 years of experience. During this time, Teodora has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 10 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 799 years and 5 months. Note that Teodora may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Teodora be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Teodora would be well-suited for roles such as: Developing Emerging Leaders Program, Innovation Consultant, Program Director.

What is Teodora's latest experience?

Teodora's most recent position is Developing Emerging Leaders Program at INSEAD.

What companies has Teodora worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Teodora has worked for INSEAD, StartupColors, and Start2Group.

Which industries is Teodora most experienced in?

Teodora is most experienced in industries like Education, Professional Services, and Information Technology (IT). Teodora also has some experience in Banking and Finance, Healthcare, Media, and Entertainment and Publishing.

Which business areas is Teodora most experienced in?

Teodora is most experienced in business areas like Human Resources (HR), Strategy and Planning, and Project Management. Teodora also has some experience in Research and Development (R&D), Product Development, and Business Intelligence.

Which industries has Teodora worked in recently?

Teodora has recently worked in industries like Education, Professional Services, and Aerospace and Defense.

Which business areas has Teodora worked in recently?

Teodora has recently worked in business areas like Human Resources (HR), Project Management, and Strategy and Planning.

What is Teodora's education?

Teodora holds a Master in International Economic Relations from University of National and World Economy and a Bachelor in Human Resources Management from University of National and World Economy.

Does Teodora have any certificates?

Teodora has 1 certificate: Certified Trainer Of Incubator Managers.

What is the availability of Teodora?

The availability of Teodora needs to be confirmed.

What is the rate of Teodora?

Teodora's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.