Stefan Grigorov, co-founder of Dreamix, a bespoke software development company, may not be an AUBG alumnus, but he certainly shares its core values of cultivating free-thinking individuals and encouraging entrepreneurial spirit.
“The mission of everything I do is to make the world a better place by investing in institutions and products that help people grow into more aware and free-thinking individuals,” he says.
That’s why AUBG resonates with him. “I donate to the factory of free-thinking people, not to the people themselves. I believe in this mechanism, this system, that’s why I donate,” he adds.
Grigorov’s generous contributions, made as part of the ABF $1 Million Matching Challenge, support the development of forward-thinking and entrepreneurial individuals. He believes there are three key pillars to building an aware and engaged society: creating institutions that nurture independent thought, supporting such organizations, and developing start-ups, products, and services that embody these values.
Building organisations that cultivate values
“AUBG is a mechanism that cultivates free thinkers. It gathers them in one place, forms a community, and encourages them to question, reflect, and grow,” Grigorov says.
That’s his view as an “outsider”, shaped through his work with several AUBG alumni, including his business partner Stoyan Mitov (‘11).
“To me, AUBG helps Bulgaria,” says Grigorov. He believes one of the country’s biggest missing pieces is an entrepreneurial mindset – something AUBG is actively addressing. “The values of freedom of thought and the ability to thrive independently are crucial,” he adds.
Grigorov notes that AUBG fosters this mindset through its liberal arts model and extra-curricular activities. “This type of education promotes multi-dimensional thinking,” he says.
At AUBG, students participate in a range of extra-curricular activities, from theatre to sports, all “produced at a very high level,” according to Grigorov. Similarly, at Dreamix, employees have the opportunity to create clubs around their interests, from art and investment to sports.
“To me, a well-rounded person is a free person. If you’re narrowly specialised, your worldview becomes rigid. But when you’re exposed to different ideas, disciplines, and experiences, you become capable of understanding others. That’s real freedom.”
Supporting other institutions that share the mission
Stefan Grigorov believes that “cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset can place Bulgaria on the world map as a creative, capable, and forward-thinking nation”. And he sees AUBG as an essential player in that mission.
What motivates him to give back is AUBG’s ability to produce free-thinking individuals and empower them to turn their ideas into start-ups and initiatives that contribute to society.
“It’s a system that works,” he says – and that’s why he chose to support it.
Grigorov also finds inspiration in other impactful donations. He shared the story of his Dreamix business partner, Stoyan Mitov, whose first project – Grajdanite – was supported by the America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) through a promotional video that introduced the concept to the public.
“An American foundation supporting Bulgarian initiatives created to benefit Bulgarians, without expecting anything in return – that’s incredible,” Grigorov says.
Creating start-ups and products that embody these values
When Grigorov co-created Dreamix 18 years ago, he built it on the foundation of shared values, and this approach has been carried out throughout the years.
“It’s best to work with people who share your values, even if you have different personalities. In fact, it’s better to be different – that way you complement each other,” he says.
At Dreamix, it’s the values that lead the company – not the founders’ personas. They have formed a type of democracy, where the person best equipped to lead today takes charge. Grigorov sees this as rare in the corporate world, and being part of such a company makes him feel that his contribution to the world truly matters.
He sees Dreamix and other ventures he’s involved in, such as AhaPlay and The Caringers, as universities for future leaders. They instill in people the same values cultivated at AUBG. For Grigorov, it’s no coincidence that several of the people he’s worked with, including Mitov, are AUBG graduates. These values flow from person to person, and from institution to institution, driving meaningful change.
Stefan Grigorov is one of the many who support AUBG in its mission to educate ethical and democratic leaders. Other inspiring stories of giving back include AUBG alumni paying it forward to student clubs, as well as staff and faculty supporting the institution beyond their day jobs.
