Our next guest is an entrepreneur in the promising field of circular economy, advocating for the continuous use and reuse of materials.

Mihail Dimitrov is the co-founder and CЕO of Swipe.bg, a Bulgarian marketplace for buying and selling used smartphones. The company recently raised an investment to expand regionally and grow its market share.

Mihail Dimitrov comes with vast experience in e-commerce and business development. He previously worked for the world's largest classifieds platform OLX and Bulgaria’s largest mеdia group Nova Broadcasting Group.

In this podcast episode, Mihail and Irina talk about:

The importance of self-awareness and fast decision-making in entrepreneurship;
The growing demand for refurbished phones and where the market will go next;
The changing consumer behavior toward circular economy practices;
The expansion of Swipe’s smartphone refurbishment business into new markets and the complexity of operations required to sustain growth;
The growth vs. profitability dilemma in the startup world;

*The Recursive Podcast is excited to announce that this episode is released in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of their mandate to support small and medium-sized businesses, The EBRD’s SME Finance and Development Team provides knowledge, network, and skills to help emerging businesses innovate, thrive, and succeed.

Time Stamps:

0:00 Trailеr

01:46 Introduction

02:25 Transitioning from Corporate Security to Startup Uncertainty

08:28 How to Win Your Investors’ Trust and Your Confidence as a Founder

13:03 Fail Fast: How to Deal with Mistakes in a Startup Venture

17:04 Growth Hype Vs. Financial Sustainability in a Startup

22:45 Growth Strategies in the Refurbished Smartphone Industry

31:00 A Circular Smartphone Economy: Drivers of Demand

35:50 How to Plan and Prepare for Market Expansion

45:03 Team Dynamics Amid Rapid Company Expansion

48:56 The Road to IPO or Exit

55:43 Managing Expectations in Founder-Investor Relationship

1:01:18 Outro