From First Bulgarian Astronaut to Space Unicorns: 45 Years of Bulgarian Space Innovation

The first Bulgarian astronaut was launched into space in April of 1979, marking the 6th country ever to have a citizen in outer space.

The past decades haven’t been fruitful for space travel here, but in 11 hours from now, I’ll attend a panel with Delian Asparouhov and Raycho Raychev on opportunities for deployment of advanced space infrastructures.

Delian runs Varda Space Industries, a microgravity life sciences company with three successful capsule launches in space (and many more to come). W-3 launched on March 14 this year, boarding on the SpaceX Transporter 13 mission, returning successfully to Earth.

Raycho is the man behind EnduroSat, engineering and operating 60+ satellites in orbit and THOUSANDS of modules, antennas, and computers past the atmosphere. Graduated from the International Space University with additional degrees and diplomas from Singularity, Stanford, Harvard, and 16 years in space exploration and R&D roles since.

To top it off, Svilen Rangelov will jump in right after. Dronamics got awards for “Sustainable Drone Technology Company” as the world’s first cargo drone airline.

For a practically invisible country like Bulgaria, with under 7 million people living on its premises, incredible talent has been born and nurtured in this chaotic, Eastern European ecosystem.

Feeling gratitude and honor toward these incredible founders. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Digitalk Conference presents incredible opportunities for the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. I wouldn’t be surprised if new monumental businesses are founded thanks to this cooperation.