Welcome to the Ascending World

At the beginning of this journey, I wasn't sure what I wanted to write about. However, I always recognized the value of writing. Not just as a way to convey ideas but also as a means of developing them. Writing, like engaging in thought-provoking conversations or reading, allows you to delve into your thoughts and explore them in greater depth. But I do have to admit that it's not always easy to use writing to encourage clarity of thought. It requires research and deep thinking about a topic, and even then, many of your ideas may still feel imprecise and incomplete.

Despite all that, the effort is worth it because it helps you learn, change your perspective, connect with like-minded strangers on the internet, and improve your communication skills.

As I thought more and more about starting a consistent writing practice, it felt like the right thing to do. But then I worried about what would happen when my inspiration ran out. We are all familiar with the feeling of getting excited about a new idea, only to lose interest and give up on it a short time later.

So, instead of making a goal to write more, I announced the idea to all my friends. I called it “learning in public,” and launched this newsletter.

Who writes the Ascending World?

Hey there, I’m Viktor 👋

I was born in Bulgaria, but have lived and worked in various countries around the world, including Denmark, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

My career journey was anything but straightforward.

When I was just starting, my goal was simple - secure a job and work hard to make ends meet. Coming from a blue-collar background in an industrial part of Sofia, I took on various construction, cleaning, and hospitality jobs.

But the one decision that changed everything for me was pushing myself to study abroad. In turn, I ended up moving to Denmark. This gave me a chance to break out of my comfort zone and connect with like-minded people worldwide. It also allowed me to experience a new culture and immerse myself in the Scandinavian way of living. Lastly, it allowed me to benefit from one of the world’s leading education systems focused on problem-solving, critical thinking, and group work.

One thing led to another, and I eventually started my own startup. It was a truly rewarding experience. I went through a wide range of emotions, from feeling elated because of my potential impact on the world to feeling like a complete failure when things didn't go as planned. However, I found startups to be the most merit-based form of organization I have ever encountered. So I spent the past decade honing my skills and growing my knowledge of the tech sector.

Over time, I advanced and secured senior roles at larger and better-funded startups.

Today, I am the Chief of Staff at Docquity.com a healthcare startup based out of Singapore. At the same time, I work as an Entrepreneur in Residence for Big Bang Angels a VC based in South Korea.

In my spare time, I work with many accelerators across the region, coaching startup founders on expanding to new markets and raising capital.

Who reads the Ascending World?

All sorts of smart and cool people.

Here you go a few things my readers have shared about the newsletter:

“Love reading this tech newsletter every Sunday ✨ “

Michelle Teo, Head of Marketing at Dwell

“A fantastic newsletter for anyone in the startup space - fascinating insights on a weekly basis shared by the thoughtful Viktor”

Rebecca Craig, Founder, and CEO at Be-X

“Another great post by an informed, connected, and inspiring leader. If you are an entrepreneur or startup enthusiast, I highly recommend subscribing to his newsletter. You won’t regret it.”

Drew Calin, CEO, and Co-founder of Greenhouse.co

“Just wanted to say I really like your posts on The Ascending World.”

Robin Vander Heyden, CEO and Co-Founder at ManyRequests

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy my reflections, and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any feedback 🙏

Onwards and upwards 🚀