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Teodora Georgieva

Innovation Strategist | Open Innovation | Venture Cleinting I Startup Scaling

About Me

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.

Jurisdiction

Bulgaria | Germany | Singapore | South Korea

Experience

Seniority LevelDirector
Years of Experience10-15 years
Current StatusActive
Innovation AdvisorStart2Group
2024 - Present

- 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.

Innovation ConsultantStartupColors
2024 - 2024

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

Program DirectorStart2Group
2019 - 2024

- 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 with Singaporean startups for pilots and investments. - Managed scale-up programs for startups entering Germany for asian companies ( e.g Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea) - Developed innovation programs for governments, corporates, and startups, fostering strategic growth. - Built a global network of industry leaders and startup advisors. - Published insights on open innovation and startup scaling strategies.

Founder & Managing DirectorUpVenture
2018 - 2019

- Developed corporate venturing strategies, startup matching, and due diligence for Asian corporations. - Designed innovation management frameworks and processes for corporates. - Designed and led innovation workshops for Japanese corporate accelerators.

Program DirectorRIA Venture Capital, AIRmaker
2016 - 2018

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

Program ManagerSPH Plug & Play Accelerator
2015 - 2015

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

Co-AuthorNo Startup Hipsters: Build Scalable Technology Companies
2013 - 2015

- 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.

Technology Transfer ConsultantARC FUND/Enterprise Europe Network
2005 - 2012

- 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

Skills

Core skills0
Languages1

Languages

English