Success stories

New entrepreneur:
Boyan Hristov (Bulgaria)
Age: 40
Company name: Vitosha Audio Production House (Start-up)
Sector of activity: Music, theater, events and related cultural and entertainment services

Host entrepreneur:
Karsten Dines (Denmark)
Age: 53
Company name: Sound Matters (5 years of experience)
Sector of activity: Music, theater, events and related cultural and entertainment services

Karsten Dines, the CEO of Sound Matters, knows his way around in all aspects of the music industry. He is particularly knowledgeable on a subject that even very skilled musicians are not necessarily well versed in – how to run a business. He decided to enroll in the EYE programme as a Host Entrepreneur to connect with a young entrepreneur with a fresh perspective and stay focused and relevant in an ever rapidly changing industry. Running a successful business is a tall order and a common threat is the elusive nature of creating in the audio production field. Boyan Hristov, the New Entrepreneur, has travelled the world as a performing musician but didn’t really understand how business works. Being a skilled musician takes serious effort, and keeping balance on the practical side of things can be a real challenge. Karsten and Boyan share a deep love of music and a similar upbringing playing in bands. While Karsten could use a return to his roots and expansion of his network as well as a new set of ears, Boyan could benefit from a fresh perspective, a new set of eyes, and a little knowledge of how to put down roots.

The exchange yielded more than the entrepreneurs had hoped for. While they fulfilled their objective "to-do" lists with technical and legal knowledge and creative goals, it was a revelation for both to discover the strengths and weaknesses in each other's work. They became good friends and had a lot of fun in the process. That can't be underestimated - at the core of the business, they believe there should be a good personal connection, and since the product comes from creating music, it should be fun.

Karsten and Boyan began their exchange at a very difficult time and had to face challenges that no one could have foreseen yet; the closing of the country and music venues in particular did not stop them from working towards their goals. While certain outcomes are easy to measure - such as covering technical audio production topics or connecting their professional networks - others are difficult to quantify, but turned out to be just as important - character, personal connection, and outlook on the world. The exchange in these areas was equally significant and formative for both. The entrepreneurs believe they got the most out of the exchange and probably more than they bargained for. Boyan plans to start his own business in the next 12 months and he and Karsten intend to stay in touch to grow and develop their respective businesses.

For more information, please contact the local contact points involved in the exchange:

New entrepreneur's contact point:
Foundation Cluster Information and Communication Technologies (Sofia, Bulgaria)

Host entrepreneur's contact point:
DTU Skylab (Kgs Lyngby, Denmark)

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