Milena Stoycheva is a global technology and innovation evangelist and a recognised leader in entrepreneurship and education. Formerly Bulgaria’s Minister of Innovation and Growth, she has shaped policy and built ecosystems at the intersection of technology, youth empowerment, and business.
As CEO of Junior Achievement Bulgaria for over 15 years and a long-standing member of the JA Worldwide leadership, Milena has inspired thousands of students, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers. Her professional path spans support for startup creation through mentoring, advising, and building investment opportunities for visionary new ventures and disruptive technologies.
Milena has taught and contributed to educational programs at the EIT Digital Master's and Doctoral Schools and is a regular speaker at major international forums, including the Web Summit, SLUSH, EIT Deep Tech, EdTech Conferences, the European Space Conference, COP28, GITEX Europe, and the SIM Conference. Through these platforms, she actively contributes to initiatives that empower female founders, support deep tech ventures, and strengthen strategic innovation ecosystems.
A board member of the European Female Founders network, Milena is a dedicated advocate for advancing gender-conscious investment and empowering female entrepreneurs. She also hosts the HER FUND Talks podcast - part of a pan-European initiative focused on raising visibility and opportunity for female founders and investors.
Milena represents a new generation of policy-preneurs, deeply involved in shaping startup and scale-up strategies and innovation ecosystems across Europe and beyond. Her mission is clear: to help societies evolve through future-focused education and technology-driven growth.
Milena Stoycheva's official speaking topics are listed below:
Future-Focused Higher Education & University Transformation:
Milena explores how universities can evolve into innovation-driven ecosystems—connecting education, entrepreneurship, and public policy. Her talks examine the shift from content delivery to capability-building, the role of universities as orchestrators of societal change, and the need for bold policy frameworks to align higher education with Europe’s innovation and sustainability goals.
Open Innovation, AI & Deep Tech for Business Transformation:
With a focus on strategic technologies and long-term value creation, Milena speaks about the convergence of AI, open innovation, and science as drivers of economic resilience. She shares how organisations can harness emerging technologies, cross-sector collaboration, and research-to-market pipelines to build sustainable growth and innovation ecosystems
Inclusive Innovation & Women in Leadership:
Drawing on her experience as a founder, policymaker, and host of HER FUND Talks, Milena addresses the systemic barriers facing women in entrepreneurship and investment. Her keynotes challenge conventional capital flows, spotlight underrepresented talent, and provide actionable strategies to build inclusive, gender-smart innovation systems across Europe and beyond.
Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
"Milena Stoycheva delivered an engaging and insightful keynote talk on entrepreneurship and deep tech skills at the ETI Deep Tech Talent Initiative event in November 2024 in Warsaw , expertly blending complex concepts with relatable stories, real-world examples, and compelling statistics. Her dynamic presentation not only captured the audience’s attention but also provided practical, data-backed strategies that inspired and informed. I highly recommend her as a speaker for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship in the tech space." - Natalie, Leading EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative
- 2025 - Board Member at the Bulgarian Ministry of Innovation & Growth
- 2024 - Speaker at the Deep Talent Tech Initiative, Warsaw
- 2024 - Chair of the Board of Innovation at the Ministry of Innovation & Growth
- 2024 - Podcast Host at HER FUND Project
- 2024 - Venture Network Builder at JA Europe
- 2023 - Speaker at COP28 Impact Nest, Dubai
- 2023 - Bulgarian Minister of Innovation & Growth
- 2022 - Interim Action Programme Director INNOVATION at EIT Culture & Creativity
- 2022 - Board Member at European Female Founders
- 2021 - Received JA Worldwide “Soraya Salti” Award
- 2020 - Partnership & Ecosystem Advisor at Kelvin Health
- 2018 - Co-Founder of The Edge
- 2017 - Chairperson at Digital Health & Innovation Cluster Bulgaria
- 2013 - Visiting Professor at EIT Digital
- 2008 - Chair & Member National Council at JA Worldwide
- 2000 - Project Manager & CEO at JobTiger
- 1998 - CEO at Junior Achievement Bulgaria
- 1997 - Anchor at AP Television
- 1996 - Consular Section at British Embassy Sofia
- 1994 - Educational Advisor at the Fulbright Commission, Sofia
- 1991 - Dean of Student Affairs at American University in Bulgaria
How to hire Milena Stoycheva
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Milena Stoycheva for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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