14 May 2026, Sofia, Bulgaria

Ivaylo Slavov, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Elevate, participated in ScaleUp Sessions as a special guest and keynote speaker – an event dedicated to entrepreneurs scaling their businesses and navigating the next phase of growth. The event brought together founders and business leaders and created a space for open, experience-driven conversations focused on what it truly takes to build sustainable, high-growth companies.

Entrepreneurship in a Changing Landscape

Entrepreneurship today is no longer defined solely by access to capital or scale of operations, but by the ability to make fast, well-informed decisions and continuously evolve the business. During his keynote interview, Ivaylo Slavov emphasized that while building a successful company starts with the fundamentals – a strong team, clear direction, and validated market demand, but scaling requires a higher level of discipline and adaptability.

“Every entrepreneur needs a real client – someone who believes in you and is willing to pay for what you’re offering. Otherwise, everything may sound great in theory, but at the end of the day, you can’t build a sustainable business if there isn’t real demand behind it.” commented Ivaylo Slavov.

He highlighted that growth is not just about increasing revenue, but about building an organization capable of sustaining it. As companies evolve, the challenge shifts from launching to scaling, bringing increased complexity. Slavov noted that speed is often underestimated as a strategic advantage:

“The pace at which you scale is more critical than most entrepreneurs realize. If you reach the next growth stage faster, the organization is easier to manage. If you delay, complexity builds up, costs increase, and the business becomes harder to move forward. “

At the same time, founders must balance ambition with discipline, making calculated decisions and adapting along the way.

“Direction is what matters most. If your direction is right, you can adjust hiring, investments and timelines along the way. But if the direction is wrong, no amount of optimization will fix it.” emphasized Ivaylo Slavov.

Slavov further emphasized that direction needs to be supported by a clear business case, measurable goals, and continuous monitoring of the market trends – not just outcomes. When the trajectory is right, entrepreneurs can manage risk effectively by adjusting pace, delaying hires, or refining investments without losing momentum.

AI: Lowering Barriers and Expanding Opportunities

A key focus of the discussion was the role of artificial intelligence as a catalyst for entrepreneurship. AI is already reshaping business fundamentals by making capabilities more accessible and reducing operational costs – particularly in areas that traditionally required significant investment, specialized teams, or external support.

He pointed out that this transformation goes beyond productivity gains, fundamentally lowering the threshold for building a business:

“One of the biggest changes AI will bring is that many previously costly capabilities are becoming far more affordable. This lowers the barrier to entry – for people with an entrepreneurial mindset, it becomes easier than ever to start and scale a business.” commented Ivaylo Slavov.

In this context, AI serves as a powerful enabler of faster execution, rapid iteration, and more efficient scaling. Entrepreneurs can now move from concept to operational momentum with fewer constraints than before.

He also highlighted AI’s growing impact on areas such as data, finance, and communications:

“With AI, especially in areas like data, finance, and communications, we are already seeing significant progress. Many things that used to be very expensive can now be simplified.” noted Ivaylo Slavov.

Supporting the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

Held under Chatham House Rules, ScaleUp Sessions fostered open dialogue and peer exchange among entrepreneurs navigating similar growth challenges. Ivaylo Slavov’s participation reflects Elevate’s continued commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation – particularly in a time of rapid technological transformation. As the intersection of entrepreneurship and AI continues to evolve, the opportunities to build scalable, globally competitive companies have never been greater.

About Elevate

Elevate is a Flexible Workforce Solutions company, delivering innovative, end-to-end business solutions. With over 20 years of experience, Elevate operates from 14 offices across 9 countries, with locations in the USA and Costa Rica, supporting global operations in the Americas, and European offices in Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Croatia, driving growth and partnerships across both regions. Elevate serves a wide range of industries such as IT, Engineering, Automotive, Accounting & Finance, Retail, Logistics, Manufacturing, and Hospitality.
The company’s portfolio includes building Shared Service Centers and Centers of Excellence, providing Professional Services and Recruitment Services. By combining advanced technology, processes, know-how and company culture, Elevate ensures excellence at every step of the business journey.