Join us for a special event co-partnered by Innovation Agency Azerbaijan, Youth Inc. Entrepreneurship Centre and Barama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre! Great startups are part of building a startup ecosystem, but regional challenges are critical to boost their growth and help local startups get traction locally and penetrate new markets.

David Birman brings a wealth of experience, some good stories, and a real-life sense of the life of startups in the Caucasus. For many entrepreneurs when starting out, the option of raising money from family and friends can seem like the most straightforward. With no banks or institutions to persuade, the flexibility to dictate your own terms and the belief of people who know you, it can look like an easy option. However, failure to communicate and insensitivity can result in falling-outs, bad feeling, and in the worst-case scenario lawsuits and loss of money, whether that’s for you or your loved ones. You will be armed with powerful artillery to keep your family proud and engaged.

Moreover, in this session David will encompass the following topics:

• Experience with the banks: Are they rivals or partners? How can startups challenge the banks? How can banks benefit from startups? Best practices of cooperation (Georgia & International)

• Experience of expansion: How to succeed on a new market? How to identify the need of expansion? How to choose the right market?

• Personal experience: How and why go all in? When is the right moment to startup? Part-time startups?

David Birman served as Chief Experience Officer in Yelo Bank. He spent a year in Azerbaijan and was in charge of digital banking, brand and customer experience. He will continue his work within TBC Bank Group.

David has notable senior executive and consultancy experience, with over 12 years in Banking and 15 years in Marketing and Branding. David holds BBA from European School of Management and is Master Certified in UX Management and Interaction Design by Nielsen Norman Group.