Happy holidays from your friend in Bucharest, Romania.
In this issue: highlights from 2022, Irina Obushtarova from The Recursive, most popular shows of the year, and more!
Innovators Can Laugh
If you thought you knew Irina Obushtarova from the Recursive, think again.
In this conversation we learn about her days working as a waitress while wearing something provocative to her first gig at a media company in Vienna. We touch on her first startup (this story about it sounds like a script from a Telenovela) to why Eastern European startups are so admirable. We even dive into a story about a hilarious bad date she had!
One hell of a conversation that I think you’ll like! Listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or other media player.
Show highlights
- 1:05 – what is a quid thinker? (her twitter profile)
- 3:15 – your most embarrassing waiting tables experience?
- 6:15 – how Irina got her first media/sales job
- 11:05 – experience in creating platform for expats in Vienna
- 14:35 – how did you get trending topics off the ground in Sofia?
- 16:40 – what is the startup ecosystem like in Eastern Europe?
- 20:20 – the Bulgarian and Romanian brain drain 🇧🇬🇷🇴
- 22:15 – the entrepreneurial mindset
- 23:00 – where did the name Recursive come from?
- 26:50 – what do the next 3-5 years look like for the Recursive?
- 29:30 – an unusual food that you consume?
- 30:40 – tell me about a hilarious bad date you were on 💔
Highlights from 2022
This year has been amazing. We moved to a different but fun neighborhood where there is a beautiful park and cafes nearby. My kids switched schools. I left Bonjoro and started working at OptiMonk. My wife and I traveled to Spain and we had our first real vacation without the kids in six years. I took my mom to Paris (her first time). I grew my podcast via YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
However, what I appreciate most about this year are the new relationships I’ve made. This includes co-hosting ‘cocktail lunch parties’ and meeting lots of new people here in Bucharest who are in the startup and marketing community. And of course all the wonderful guests I had on my show and people I’ve come to know via LinkedIn.
Thank you for helping make this year fantastic and being a part of my journey! 👊
Most Popular Shows of 2022
Most popular podcast interview: Brand Design for your Startup in 5 Minutes with Dagobert Renouf, co-Founder of logology.co.
Most popular YouTube video: #32: Instead of a Degree, Graduates at Turing College get a Job
Most popular YouTube short video: Instead of flowers for Valentines Day
Most popular TikTok video: Your favorite brand that had an emotional connection
Interviews this year where I recall laughing A LOT: 😆
Beauty Startup is translating science with Aleksandrina Ikonomova
How Bulgarian Startup founder Eva Vucheva is empowering producers to reduce their environmental footprint
Marc Schillinger: Digitalizing Account Receivables
The digital memory album for you and your family
Bootstrap Startup Lessons
The End
These penguins are heavy! Wishing you and your family a wonderful New Year and 2023. Here’s me and my daughter learning how to ice skate this past week in Bucharest.
Eric M.
Ps If you enjoy this newsletter, can you share it with someone you think might also enjoy it? Thanks!