The Better Community Club (BCC) organized "Innovation Station vol.5" at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) in Blagoevgrad from February 28 to March 2. This annual event brings together young talents, business leaders, and non-profit organizations to work together on innovative solutions to real social problems.
This year, Weband was again part of the event, both as a sponsor and through the participation of our CEO, Daniel Lidiyanov, as a mentor. For the second year in a row, Daniel is leading a team, and this year, the team's case was the international NGO "Four Paws", dedicated to animal care. 🐾
What is Innovation Station?
Innovation Station is an event in which 12 NGOs present real-world problems they face. Each team has only three days to research the case of their randomly assigned NGO, devise an innovative solution, and present it to a jury.
Each team has:
✔ Business mentor;
✔ Two representatives from other NGOs, providing an insider’s view of the social sector;
This is a practical challenge that connects young talents with real-world problems and encourages innovative thinking and social entrepreneurship.
Every year, Innovation Station offers participants a unique thematic concept that immerses them in a different era or culture. This year, the event transported us to the world of Ancient Greece 🏛️✨, creating an atmosphere inspired by the mythology and legends of antiquity. Each team was named after an ancient Greek deity, and the team, led by Daniel Lidiyanov, competed under the sign of the goddess Hestia – the guardian of home, family, and hearth.
Weband mentoring and support for the NGO "Four Paws"
This year, our CEO, Daniel Lidiyanov was assigned to mentor the team that was working on the "Four Paws" case.
🌱 What was the team's mission?
"Four Paws is an international organization that works to rescue and protect animals around the world. Team Hestia had to come up with an innovative digital approach that would increase Gen Z engagement with the organization's campaigns.
💡 How did Daniel Lidiyanov help as a mentor?
With many years of experience in web development, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation, Daniel Lidiyanov brought valuable guidance to his team's work. As co-founder and CEO of Weband Studio, a member of the board of directors of SK "Dal Siat" AD, an active participant in the creation of several Startups and a member of the Supervisory Board of the Foundation for Active Web Development, which organizes the "Site of the Year" competition, he shared strategic and practical advice for building effective digital solutions.
Daniel helped the team structure their ideas, understand the real needs of the NGO "Four Paws," and create an innovative concept that would combine web technologies and social media for greater audience engagement. In addition to guiding the participants towards realistic and applicable solutions, he encouraged them to think like professionals in the field, passing on valuable practical experience to them.
The program and jury of Innovation Station vol.5
Innovation Station vol.5 had an intensive and inspiring program, and the organizers took care of everything. During the three days, the participants worked actively on their solutions, and the last day, they presented their final concepts to a jury of established professionals.
Who evaluated the projects?
The Innovation Station vol.5 jury included experts from various fields, including entrepreneurs, marketers, representatives of academia, and the corporate sector. Among them were:
Andrey Hadzhivasilev – TV Director and Producer with more than 18 years of experience. Member of ECFA - European Children's Film Association & EFA - European Film Academy.
Angelina Angelova – Entrepreneur with 10 years of experience as a business owner, Senior Auditor at Microsoft Ireland, and Top Seller Expert at eBay Inc. in Dublin.
Bistra Georgieva – Director of the Children’s Leadership Academy. Her life mission is to support other people in uncovering and fulfilling their potential.
Borislav Donchev – CEO of MAX Digital - Performance Digital Partner. He is an experienced businessman, an expert in digital marketing, and the head of several e-commerce businesses.
Boryana Shalyavska – Deputy Mayor for Education, Business Development, Social and Health Policy of Blagoevgrad.
Magdalena Bernacak – Professor at AUBG's Politics and European Studies Department and Jury at this year's edition of AUBG Innovation Station.
Vanya Ananieva – Visionary entrepreneur and educator with a passion for innovation and lifelong learning. In 2000, she founded Intellect Schools of Languages - one of the well-known language schools in Bulgaria- followed by the establishment of “Intellect” Translation Agency in 2009.
The presentations were innovative and full of creative ideas, and the teams had to not only defend their solutions but also demonstrate their real-world applicability.
Weband’s support for innovation
In addition to mentoring Daniel Lidiyanov, Weband also supported the event as a sponsor. We believe that such initiatives:
✔ Help young people develop their digital and entrepreneurial skills;
✔ Connect businesses with the non-profit sector, creating meaningful partnerships;
✔ Promote innovation by providing a platform for new ideas.
We are pleased to contribute to the creation of such events because innovative thinking and technology are at the heart of our work. We believe that business has a social role and that through our experience, we can help build a better digital future.
Conclusion
Innovation Station vol.5 was yet another proof that when business, technology, and the social sector work together, meaningful solutions are born. 🎯 We are glad that Weband was once again part of this inspiring initiative, and we look forward to the next challenges! 🚀
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