Book Review
Lean Startup
By Eric Ries
The Lean Startup is a concept created and mastered by Eric Ries. Consulting Start-ups and established businesses on how most effectively to utilize his teachings Eric Ries has revolutionized the way firms work. Using the Start-up way of thinking even on global scales he has shown how firms benefit from this innovative approach and how much there really is to learn.
So… From the short first paragraph you can probably guess that I will be recommending this book. But the more important question that remains now is – who do I recommend this book to? Well to start off, even though it’s well-written and easy to understand, I would keep it for those who have had maybe at least one or two businesses behind their back at this stage. Why not recommend it to everyone – especially since I always recommend people read as much as they possibly can? Well it’s because the concepts within this book, although capable of being understood on a theoretical level by everyone will have a much more profound impact on those who have actually set up a business before in my opinion.
This book comes in to the top of my favourites when it comes to a list of the best business books I would recommend. The fact that it touches on so many different aspects is key to its success as a well-rounded source. From choosing a team, to management within a large corporation, and all the way down to how we actually learn from mistakes – taking on a Validated Learning approach instead of simply saying “mistakes are good”, the Lean Startup will help you improve. You can take many different books which focus on theory and lead you down a path of how a business should be run, but this is one of those few great reads which helps you apply it all in practice. Having a mentor beside you to guide your development is best, but if you lack such a person in your life, then this book certainly does its fair share of that instead.
Overall, this book would come in as a 4.7 out of 5 for me. I belive the lessons it delivers are crucial to any business owner and most especially to those who are slightly more experienced. Again, not because there is nothing to learn even from a beginner’s perspective, but because of the added value you will receive having had the experiences yourself. As usual, I’ll look to keep a post of this book on one of our social media accounts (if you want to find it, click the buttons below that will take you there) and let us know in the comments your thoughts about it!
Written by Lenard Adanov
ABLE and Icanpreneur Announce Strategic Partnership to Support Bulgaria’s Next Generation of Founders
The Association of Bulgarian Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE), Bulgaria’s leading community for purpose-driven leadership and entrepreneurship, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Icanpreneur, the AI-powered startup platform that guides early-stage founders from concept to traction. Together, the two organizations will work to strengthen Bulgaria’s startup ecosystem by merging values-based founder education with structured, AI-supported execution. This collaboration represents an important step in bridging entrepreneurial mindset with operational strategy, combining ABLE’s vibrant community of leaders with Icanpreneur’s intelligent venture-building platform. A Shared Belief: Entrepreneurship Is Learned, Not Inherited For over a decade, ABLE has done more than build a network – it has cultivated a movement of leaders, changemakers, and founders driven by integrity, collaboration, and impact. With more than 450 alumni, countless ventures launched, and a growing network of mentors and supporters, ABLE continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Bulgaria’s entrepreneurial future. “We’ve always believed that entrepreneurship is something you can learn, nurture, and master – not something you’re simply born with,” said Kremena Dervenkova, CEO of ABLE. “Our programs focus on teaching founders how to lead with purpose, act with integrity, and build meaningful ventures. Through this partnership with Icanpreneur, we’re adding a powerful layer of AI-driven tools and frameworks to help founders turn bold ideas into validated businesses. It’s about empowering them not only to dream big, but to build smart and sustainably.” From Purpose to Progress Thanks to this partnership, ABLE founders and alumni will gain exclusive, long-term access to Icanpreneur’s complete platform – including strategic frameworks, customer validation workflows, investor readiness insights, and personalized AI guidance. It’s a virtual co-founder designed to help entrepreneurs move faster, test smarter, and progress with confidence. Moving forward, Icanpreneur will be integrated as a core strategic tool across ABLE’s entrepreneurship programs – from early-stage ideation to post-program venture development. Over the next two years, the collaboration will aim to improve startup success rates, reduce guesswork in the validation process, and equip every ABLE founder with a competitive edge as they move from idea to market. “ABLE has become a lighthouse for entrepreneurial talent in Bulgaria,” said Vesko Kolev, Founder & CEO of Icanpreneur. “We’re proud to partner with an organization that not only builds programs, but actively shapes a generation of value-driven leaders. We believe that combining ABLE’s founder mindset with our AI-powered platform will turn bold concepts into real, scalable ventures.” About ABLE The Association of Bulgarian Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE) is a leading non-profit organization that cultivates values-based leadership and entrepreneurship through hands-on programs, peer-driven learning, and a thriving community of purpose-driven leaders. ABLE’s flagship accelerator, ABLE Activator, has supported hundreds of early-stage founders in developing impactful ventures with lasting value. About Icanpreneur Icanpreneur is the first AI-powered startup platform acting as a co-founder, guiding early-stage entrepreneurs from raw idea to real traction. By combining strategic frameworks, validation workflows, insight analysis, and adaptive AI support, it aims to radically increase founder success rates and make entrepreneurship more accessible and effective.
Varnapreneurs и ABLE Activator Varna в стратегическо партньорство
С гордост споделяме, че ABLE Activator и Varnapreneurs обединяват сили в стратегическо партньорство, насочено към насърчаване на предприемаческата среда във Варна. ABLE Activator е предприемаческа програма със 7 успешни издания в София, която ще се проведе за първи път във Варна! Тя включва интензивни 5 уикенда, които предоставят на до 30 амбициозни участници знания, менторство и мрежа от контакти, необходими за реализирането на една бизнес идея. Програмата се основава изцяло на учене чрез преживяване и включва практически задачи и симулации. ABLE Activator предоставя: → Практическо обучение в 5 модула включва следните теми: → Работа с ментори, които ще ти помогнат да ускориш пътя си към създаването на успешен бизнес. → Вдъхновяващи срещи с успешни предприемачи и лидери, които ще споделят ценния си опит. → Присъединяване към общността на Асоциацията на Българските Лидери и Предприемачи, в която участниците ще срещнат повече от 450 активни и единомислещи лидери и предприемачи в различни области на икономиката. Таксата за участие в програмата e 890 лв. с опции за стипендии до 75% и гъвкаво заплащане и покрива: Защо това партньорство е важно? Чрез стратегическото си партньорство с ABLE Activator Varna, Varnapreneurs ще подкрепи следващото поколение предприемачи с практически знания, вдъхновение и достъп до водещи професионалисти в сферата. Това е част от нашата дългосрочна визия за изграждане на силна предприемаческа общност във Варна и региона! С вълнение гледаме напред към бъдещи съвместни инициативи и нови възможности за младите таланти! Присъедини се и направи първата крачка към успеха! Ако си амбициозен студент, млад професионалист или изгряващ лидер с интерес в предприемачеството и си под 35 години, програмата ABLE Activator е създадена за теб! Присъедини се към ABLE Activator Варна и дай ход на своя предприемачески път. Кандидатствай до 30ти март на: https://activator.bg/program-varna/
Become the next ABLE Activator’s Program Leader!
THE PROJECT LEADER WILL ULTIMATELY BE IN CHARGE OF EXPANDING AND LEADING A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WILL FACILITATE THE END-TO-END PLANNING, CONTENT CREATION, ACCOUNT AND EVENT MANAGEMENT PROCESS, PARTICIPANTS SELECTION PROCESS, FUNDRAISING, SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND OPERATIONS TASKS RELATED TO ABLE ACTIVATOR AND THE ABLE WEEKEND ACTIVATOR PROGRAMS. Interested? Click on the sections below: WHAT YOU WILL DO: THE PROJECT LEADER WILL ULTIMATELY BE IN CHARGE OF EXPANDING AND LEADING A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WILL FACILITATE THE END-TO-END PLANNING, CONTENT CREATION, ACCOUNT AND EVENT MANAGEMENT PROCESS, PARTICIPANTS SELECTION PROCESS, FUNDRAISING, SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE AND OPERATIONS TASKS RELATED TO ABLE ACTIVATOR PROGRAM. Work with a part-time program coordinator and a team of volunteers to organize and deliver 1 edition of the ABLE Activator program and 3 editions of ABLE Weekend Activator per year. Maintain focus and provide clear direction to both team members and external stakeholders. Manage the development and implementation of the team’s marketing and social media strategy on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Develop the program’s educational content taking into consideration the collected feedback and know-how from the previous editions. Plan with your team the execution of the program:– Concept creation and topics selection for all related events.– Establish new and maintain existing relationships with all the stakeholders involved in the program (speakers, mentors, sponsors, participants, partners, volunteers).– Find and organize people to take the role of a speaker, mentor, selection jury member and others.– Prepare budgets and ensure adherence.– Lead promotional activities in universities and partner companies to attract as many potential candidates as possible.– Align and oversee logistics prior to and during the events and weekend activities in the duration of the program.– Ensure every event and weekend module is conducted smoothly and step up to resolve any problems that might occur. Lead fundraising campaigns that will ensure the sustainability of the programs. Keep team members and stakeholders informed of key developments, program decisions, issues, and changes to the project and the project plan taken on the regular team meetings. YOU WILL GET EXTRA POINTS IF YOU ALSO ARE: ABLE member. Participant in one of the ABLE programs or another NGO. Involved in any way in the Bulgarian startup ecosystem. Have experience in sales or fundraising. WHAT WE ARE OFFERING YOU: А fundamental role in the dynamic and fast-growing ABLE organization and community. Opportunity to improve your project management and leadership skills. Friendly and supportive working environment. Exciting monthly salary. Flexible working hours. Discounts for events organized by our partners. Access to all ABLE events, retreats and seminars. WHAT YOU NEED TO BE: Have approx. 3-4 years of experience in project management or any other leadership positions with similar responsibilities. Have good knowledge about the Bulgarian startup ecosystem and/ or entrepreneurship program design. Highly organized. Proactive. Focused. Communicative. Team player. Autonomous. Excellent English-speaker. Computer proficient. Able to work from home. WHO WE ARE: We are a very active and supportive community of leaders and entrepreneurs. We started in 2011 with 15 people. Now we are 450+. We did only 1 project in the beginning. Now we run 6 active ones and have 13 behind us. We founded ABLE while being university students. Since then our members have founded/been involved in 70+ startups. But that’s going to change quickly. Because we’re growing at a rapid pace. HOW TO APPLY? Impress us with your CV and a motivation letter by sending them to director@ablebulgaria.org.
The Benefits of Intrapreneurship
Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Article The Benefits of Intrapreneurship What we often see is that the only definition of Entrepreneur in people’s heads is of someone who takes risks, leaves their job, starts up a business and most often fails at it. Or maybe someone who works 24/7 for their business idea or somebody else who takes on a lot of credit and financing to start a business. Those people may be classed as entrepreneurs, sure, but those are a subset of the title which is entrepreneur. You can have an innovative business mindset without having the need to fulfil any of those criteria above. And no, we’re not talking about taking on a small loan of a million dollars from your parents… Intrapreneurship means acting in an entrepreneurial way within an organization. From improving efficiencies by finding a better way to do your job or fill out reports, to creating brand new products even if that isn’t your job. A lot of companies promote this by having specific clauses in contracts which lay out how an employee’s idea will be rewarded should it prove useful to the company. The giant company 3M for example would not have invented the Post-it Note had it not been for an employee! Dr. Spencer Silver was researching adhesives at his job when he created a glue which attached to objects but didn’t create a solid bond with them and from there his idea to create Post-it Notes came to be. Corporations should encourage, not fear entrepreneurship. A corporation which promotes a culture of innovation and growth in the workplace will thrive and be a lot more competitive than a stagnant firm believing that they would “lose” their employees should they show any sign of ambition or creative ideas. There is a reason why companies have began giving more people time off work to focus on ideas which they may present to their bosses at any stage. Organizations which stifle this form of growth won’t have it set out on paper that no innovation is wanted of course. They discourage it by not encouraging it. They’re standing by and doing nothing to help their employees become the best versions of themselves. There are exceptions to this of course as with everything. Innovation typically involves trial and error or resources such as time or money spent in wrong directions at first until you find the correct path. Some industries find it tough to allow mistakes in the same way as others. In aviation for example, rigorous in-house tests have to be passed for every innovation made by aircraft manufacturers followed by strict government certification. Innovation still exists there and it’s prevalent to making the industry more efficient and ecological, however it takes a lot longer than for example, a typical tech-firm in Silicon valley can test a model of a new business using a pop-up store or a prototype and a field-study. Entrepreneurship is a trait which anyone can possess and can learn. As with most things, starting early in life helps a lot, however an important thing to remember is that it is never too late to decide to try. A lot of people are risk-averse and that is completely okay! You don’t have to risk your job’s security and wonder how to pay bills for the next couple of months just so you can try and set up a business. That’s never something I would recommend. Helping your firm internally can help you in the long run with your career if you have someone to pitch your ideas to whom you can trust. One thing I will recommend and leave you with is that even though you may not be in a company where the culture supports those who share but instead steals their ideas, do not stop coming up with them. If you don’t see the freedom to share them in the workplace, then at least write them down. Who knows? A new business opportunity could present itself from those notes. Poor corporate culture shouldn’t stifle your creativity so don’t stop the flow of ideas! Written by Lenard Adanov Apply! Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn