The Stars Over Bulgaria
I’ve always loved the story of the Michelin star system. It began as a clever trick by a tire company, which tells you almost everything…
ADJ
Aric is a co-founder of This is Bulgaria, a futurist, and a professional troublemaker. With over two decades of experience, he explores the intersection of technology, business, and human behavior, turning complexity into actionable insight.
Bulgaria’s Path Forward: Learning from Patterns, Not Places
When a former foreign minister recently told me that “those who have power have no imagination and those with imagination have no power,” I realized…
Circles of Identity: A Conversation with Natanail Stefanov
How choosing constraint created freedom — and why betting on Bulgaria is a bet on possibility. The Paradox of Choice Most stories end with tears….
The Coherence Conspiracy: Lessons from a Culture That Still Touches
I had the honor of giving a talk at the Sofia Tech Park event Pro during September. The topic was how authentic experiences create lasting…
From Accidental Vlogger to Animation Entrepreneur: How Ina Built an 85,000-Strong Creative Community
At 28 (and 24 month:-) Ina leads Kashu, an all-women animation studio based in Bulgaria, and commands a dedicated community of 85,000 followers. Her journey…
Walking Through Time: Bulgaria’s Ancient Cities That Changed the World
If you ever visit Bulgaria, make sure you hit Plovdiv, take your shoes off and walk barefoot on the stones in the old city –…
Infinite Presence – An Unexpected Journey to Our Forgotten Selves
As we’re getting closer to the end of the post-production of our first documentary, it feels right to explain how the documentary came to life….
The Bulgarian Exception: When Everything Wrong Becomes Everything Right
Here is a paradox for you: A country consistently ranked among the top three nations where people are “least likely to become entrepreneurs” has somehow…
Driving Past Yesterday – How Bulgaria’s Integration Is Reshaping Europe
On a blazing August morning, the road to Greece hums with the rhythm of summer. Cars snake southward through sun-baked valleys, windows rolled down, the…
The Bulgaria Advantage: How to Monetize Being Different in a Standardized World
I gave a talk once about falling in love with a Bulgarian woman, then falling in love with Bulgaria itself. At 51, I find myself…
From Brain Drain to Brain Gain – Bulgaria’s €6.3 Billion Answer
Bulgaria has more developers than Estonia, world-class technical universities, and cheaper costs than Poland. So why are we the only ones without a unicorn? Last…