Gerond Begolli

Gerond Begolli

Finance Consultant & Startup Advisor

Gerond Begolli is a finance expert and startup advisor with a strong track record in helping early-stage ventures build financial clarity and long-term sustainability. With years of experience in corporate finance, business modeling, and startup consulting, he specializes in turning numbers into strategic tools for growth.

At Growpreneur, Gerond leads the Financial Planning module, equipping founders with the skills to manage their finances, project cash flows, understand key metrics, and prepare for funding with confidence. His sessions provide practical insights that help startups not only become investor-ready but also financially resilient as they scale.

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Hélène Mariette

Hélène Mariette

CEO of Vivinov | Marketing & Brand Strategy Expert

Hélène Mariette is the CEO of Vivinov and an accomplished marketing strategist with a global career in brand development, market positioning, and business storytelling.

With experience across France, the Netherlands, and the Western Balkans, Hélène has advised early-stage and scaling startups on building impactful campaigns, identifying ideal customer profiles, and creating growth-focused messaging.

At Growpreneur, she leads modules on Marketing and Sales Strategy, helping founders craft brands that connect, campaigns that convert, and messages that move.

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Boris Golob

Boris Golob

Innovation & Business Model Expert

Boris Golob is a seasoned expert in product, service, and business model innovation, with over two decades of experience working with startups, researchers, and companies across Southeast Europe and beyond. Known for his practical, hands-on approach to innovation, Boris has trained and advised entrepreneurs through accelerator programs, academic institutions, and international development organizations including UNDP, Swiss Contact, and GIZ.

He is one of only 28 certified trainers worldwide for the Business Model Canvas by Strategyzer, and an official European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator expert evaluator. His focus areas include commercialization strategies, service innovation, and outcome-driven business design. Through his work, Boris empowers startups to move from ideas to validated business models ready for growth and investment.

At Growpreneur, Boris helps founders rethink how they deliver value and guides them in building innovation-driven, sustainable business models that are grounded in real customer needs.

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Kushtrim Xhakli

Kushtrim Xhakli

Entrepreneur & Startup Strategist

Kushtrim Xhakli is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and startup strategist with over 15 years of experience building and scaling digital products globally.

As the co-founder of several successful ventures, including IPKO and FLOSSK, Kushtrim combines deep startup know-how with an ecosystem mindset.

At Growpreneur, he delivers key sessions on Business Case Development, Product Strategy, and Growth Mapping, helping founders identify real market opportunities and build foundations for sustainable growth

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Kitti Jakab

Kitti Jakab

Incubation Leader at Lunar Program | Founder & Strategy Consultant at Klariti

Kitti Jakab is an entrepreneur passionate about innovation and organizational excellence. As Co-Founder & CEO of the Lunar Program, she supports startups from idea phase, through product and business model validation until first fundraising and international go-to-market strategy.

She also leads Klariti, a boutique consultancy focused on enhancing operational efficiency, team performance, and customer experience through data-driven and human-centered solutions.

With experience at McKinsey, Kitti has a strong background in digital transformation, strategic consulting, and business development.

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Vlad Gliga

Vlad Gliga

Investment Readiness & Startup Growth Expert

Vlad Gliga is the CEO and Co-Founder of Rubik Hub, one of the most influential startup support organizations in Eastern Europe. With a background in business development, ecosystem building, and early-stage venture strategy, Vlad has spent the last decade empowering founders to build scalable companies and become investor-ready.

At Growpreneur, Vlad leads several of the most crucial modules in the accelerator, guiding startups through the real expectations and mindset of investors. His sessions cover Investor Outreach & Negotiation, Understanding Investors, Investment Terms, as well as Product-Market Fit Evidence, Product Demos, and Competitor Analysis — helping founders not only refine their strategy but also position their startup confidently in front of the right investors.

With deep experience both in working with founders and engaging with VCs, Vlad provides a practical and candid perspective that bridges what startups want to say and what investors need to hear. His goal is to help founders become fluent in the language of investment, prepare strong narratives backed by real data, and negotiate with confidence.

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Nuriona Berdica

Nuriona Berdica

Entrepreneurship & Risk Management Expert

Nuriona Berdica brings deep expertise in entrepreneurship, risk management, and early-stage startup development.

With years of experience supporting young founders and guiding them through business uncertainty, Nuriona equips Growpreneur participants with the tools to understand, assess, and manage risk, both strategically and operationally. Her sessions help founders build resilience, think long-term, and confidently navigate the unpredictable journey of starting and growing a business.

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David Trayford

David Trayford

Pitch Coach & Communication Expert

David Trayford is a globally respected pitch and communication coach, startup advisor, and former BBC radio presenter. With a dynamic career spanning media, entrepreneurship, and startup ecosystems, David has helped hundreds of founders across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. craft and deliver high-impact messages.

David’s workshops are known for being highly engaging, practical, and transformative, empowering founders to move from simply explaining their product to truly inspiring their audience.

David has worked with accelerator programs like Singularity University, Startup Wise Guys, and Impact Hub, and brings to Growpreneur not only his technical communication know-how, but also his unmatched ability to unlock founders’ authenticity on stage. Whether it’s Demo Day or a 1-on-1 investor meeting, David helps startups shape their narrative in a way that gets results.

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Thomas Kösters

Thomas Kösters

Acceleration Advisor

Thomas Kösters is a seasoned startup ecosystem builder with over 12 years of experience designing and executing high-impact accelerator programs and investment initiatives across Europe and beyond. He has played key roles in launching the European Venture Program, managing Microsoft Ventures Germany’s national startup program, and leading investment schemes through EIT Digital across 20 countries in Central and Southern Europe.

As the Managing Director of DEEP Ecosystems, Thomas now advises leading ecosystem actors globally — from Europe’s top innovation hubs to emerging startup communities in Latin America and Africa. With more than 100 capacity-building events under his belt, he brings a unique mix of strategy, international perspective, and grassroots experience to every initiative he supports, including Growpreneur.

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Gerion Treska

Gerion Treska

Community Manager

He plays a central role in building and maintaining meaningful relationships across the startup ecosystem.

With a background in startup support, community engagement, and ecosystem facilitation, Gerion acts as the primary connector between founders, mentors, and partners throughout the program. From onboarding new teams to ensuring founders stay supported and informed, he is the go-to person for all things community inside Growpreneur. His energy, empathy, and commitment help shape the collaborative spirit that defines the accelerator.

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Applications for the Flexible Track
are open all year round!

Work with leading experts and get your startup investment-ready.

APPLY NOW!