Head of Spark & Coach

Languages: English, Hungarian, Serbian, German

Previous Education: BA English Language and Literature, MA English Language and Literature with a focus on linguistics

Who am I? I am a motivated, enthusiastic and bubbly person with experience in SEO and digital marketing. I have a glass half-full approach to life, and I do believe that "everything happens for a reason," be it good or bad. I love a good challenge and finding creative and innovative solutions to problems. I constantly seek knowledge and self-improvement, and (I'll admit it) I am a bit of an organization and planning junkie. I love people, and one of my biggest passions is helping others and seeing them succeed. In my free time, you'll catch me traveling, training, singing, and making reels.

I wish I had started… Spotify

What’s my biggest flex? Having lived in 4 countries and speaking 4+ languages

Deputy Head of Spark & Coach

Languages: German, Farsi & English

Previous Education: BA in Real Estate Economics

Who am I? I am a German-Iranian real estate lover, photographer, cinematographer and roadtripper, ready to make a change in the world. Whatever I do, I want to do it different and better. On the one hand I love real estate but also still see lots of potential to be unlocked regarding sustainable practices that I want to promote as an entrepreneur but also as someone that understands the value and greatness of nature. Further, I have a great passion for filmmaking and photography and have even started a company for that in Germany. But there is so much more that I love like food, automotive, rugs.. the list is endless.

I wish I had started… Netfilx

What’s my biggest flex? Mercedes and BMW have used and promoted my automotive photographs

Head of Events & Coach

Languages: English & Czech

Previous Education: BA International Business Management

Who am I? I am 25 years old guy from Czech Republic. Having tried corporate jobs in marketing before I wanted to try something new and finally make step forward to a possible entrepreneurship journey. Here I am, studying the entrepreneurship and innovation. Meeting many amazing people at my course but also in the area of Skåne, it truly is a place with many opportunities. I am a passionate coffee drinker and love photography. I enjoy working on our own business idea and would like to help you kicking the entrepreneurial journey for you too!

I wish I had started… Apple

What’s my biggest flex? I lived in 3 countries in the past 3 years.

Head of Communication & Coach

Languages: English, French, Italian & German

Previous Education: Law, HR-Management and Psychology

Who am I? I‘m about as multi-faceted as the world of start-ups that I’m passionate about - I’m enthusiastic about both impactful and sustainable ideas, but also share a love for nice cars and exciting trips around the globe. If you can’t find me staying active in my free time (aka being forced by my housemates to try every single course offered at the gym), my nose is either buried in book (usually containing some inspirational quotes about entrepreneurship or self-actualization) or reading up on the latest tech, law and political news.

I wish I had started… OpenAI (ChatGPT)

What’s my biggest flex? Being a multiple Karate champion (so better watch out)

Coach

Languages: English, Romanian, Swedish & Italian

Previous Education: BA in International Business

Who am I? I am an extremely curious and open individual who sees the opportunity to learn from and with just about anybody. Being a person who prefers holistic thinking, I always welcome being challenged on my knowledge and becoming exposed to new perspectives. There is no better way for me to do that than constantly exposing myself to people with different views and backgrounds as well as discussing and sharing my learnings with others. Most of my work experience is within sales where I have previously focused on the logistics sector and where I am currently dedicating myself to sustainability.

I wish I had started… HubSpot

What’s my biggest flex? Learning Swedish fluently in 1.5 years on the side of my undergraduate studies.

Deputy Head of Communications and Coach

Languages: English, Bulgarian & French

Previous Education: M.Sc in Aerospace Engineering

Who am I? My name is Ivan Zankov. I'm 27 years old. I'm an engineer who set sail over entrepreneurial ocean last year, and have great findings to share for others coming from non-business-related backgrounds. As an introvert, I take my relationships with my friends, teammates, and colleagues seriously, and take the time necessary to give it my all. I enjoy swimming, composing music digitally, and getting involved in astronomy-based events on campus. :)

I wish I had started… Virgin Galactic

What’s my biggest flex? Half of my class has been to or will visit Kiruna for up to two weeks. I lived there for two years pursuing rocket science.

Co-Head of Finance & Coach

Languages: English & German

Previous Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration & certified corporate account manager (banking)

Who am I? I am an open-minded, curious, and forward-thinking person. I enjoy meeting new people and to learn more about what drives them beyond their limits. In my previous jobs, I was able to learn a lot about banking and financial services in the corporate sector. Most recently, I worked as a startup consultant for digital and tech startups in Hamburg. Inspired by all the entrepreneurs I made the decision to pursue a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the awesome Lund University. When not in Uni you will probably find me doing sports, going for a hike and enjoying nature, or going kitesurfing at the beaches of Skåne and aiming for new heights. I am always down to meet people for a coffee or to make great memories with friends. Let's catch up!

I wish I had started... Patagonia

What’s my biggest flex? Probably to build a VW T5 Campervan from scratch - DO STUFF

Coach

Languages: English

Previous Education: BA Sociology

Who am I? Hi! My name is Melissa and I am passionate about nurturing and developing new ideas. I am originally from Los Angeles, where I worked for 6 years to expand financing for underserved businesses. During this time, I wore many different hats and worked closely with many executives and funders to grow intiatives in new markets all over California, United States. Most recently, I've started working as a fundraising and operations consultant for microfinance and entrerpeneurial organizations in Southern California. I joined Spark as a coach because I want to develop my experience working directly with entrepreneurs, and can bring my background in strategy, media and communications, fundraising, organizational development, and sales and data management (i.e. CRM) to help develop your business idea :)

I wish I had started… Kiva

What’s my biggest flex? I can make a mean beef ragu!

Coach

Languages: English & Vietnamese

Previous Education: BSc Psychology

Who am I? As a curious and open-minded individual, I enjoy learning new things and sharing my experiences to help others. I have lived overseas since I was 19, spending eight years in Singapore before moving to Sweden last year to further my studies. While leaving my comfort zone and starting anew is not an easy decision, I know something is missing that I want to uncover. Entrepreneurship always sparks my interest and inspires me to become the captain of my career one day. I value freedom and growth. As someone who has supported the people and culture team in two fast-growing start-ups, I hope to provide some insights into the start-up journey from both the business and people perspectives. Good luck! :)

I wish I had started… Notion

Coach

Languages: English, Dutch & German

Previous Education: BA Industrial Product Design, MA Management

Who am I? As everyone here, I am curious and try to look for new things to learn. As I studied a bachelor in industrial product design, I missed the business perspective to see if my problem solving skills can be used there. Besides this I always try to stay positive and make sure everyone is feeling good! I am passionate about sustainability and therefore I always say that I see myself as a problem solver with the focus on sustainability and the circular economy. I like to look at things with a new perspective and questions why things are the way they are. I love being in nature and going for long hikes with my backpack. Going on adventures that are outside of my comfort zone. But don’t get me wrong, I also like to spend time in front of the tv ;)

I wish I had started… Patagonia

What’s my biggest flex? Being 22 and almost being finished with my second master

Coach

Languages: English, Bengali, Hindi & Nepalese

Previous Education: BSc in Computer Science and Business, MBA (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities)

Who am I? Hello There! I am Niaz. I am originally from Bangladesh, lived most of my adult life in different continents for education and work. I am an ex-consultant with Ernst and Young. I also taught for a number of years in Bangladesh, Australia, Scotland. I was a Kiva Fellow in India. My work has evolved around small business. I co-founded a technology startup in 2017, which was a global top ten impact startup in SLUSH 2018. I am an open minded person with a genuine interest in people and culture. I like problem-solving, critical thinking and exploring. Good amount of my time is spent discussing comic strips with my 9 year old son, Neil.

I wish I had started… Apple

What’s my biggest flex? I have climbed 4 of the 7-summits of the world. I got the opportunity to travel to 50+ countries and 48 states in the USA.
I am the recipient of Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professional, Commonwealth Fellowship and Australian Endeavour Fellowship.

Coach

Languages: English & Slovak

Previous Education: Master's degree in software engineering from Czech Technical University

Who am I? After few years of software engineering work I have decided to pause my career and grow my entrepreneurial self. Therefore, currently I'm a student of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lund University. I like outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, rafting but I also enjoy a good book - past few years I mainly read about human thinking and behavior. I also have passion for music I even organized a music festival in a city for 500 people. So in general I'm interested in a lot of things and right now I'm interested in your idea and how I can help you to push it to next level!

I wish I had started… Tesla

What’s my biggest flex? Getting leadership position in a corporate within the first year of my career and helping with launching a new branch (of another company) within the 3rd year of my carrier

Strategy & Coach

Languages: English, German & Spanish

Previous Education: B.A. International Business Studies with a focus on Marketing & Sales

Who am I? I am Chris and since I participated in a 'Techstars startup weekend' in 2017, I am passionate about start-ups, business models, and the idea of making things worth making. I believe that the journey to build and design your start-up is the biggest adventure one can embark on and I'd love to help other people during this exciting process. Before starting my Master's degree I gained a lot of experience in Marketing & Sales and most recently was part of an early-stage start-up and a corporate venture builder. Apart from that you can find me at raves, festivals, in the soccer stadium, at sports activities like fitness or surfing, or jamming on the guitar.

I wish I had started… Headspace

What’s my biggest flex? I have friends all over the world - from the US to England to New Zealand

Co-head of Finance & Coach

Languages: English & German

Previous Education: BBA Business Management, Banking

Who am I? Always looking to learn something new, getting in touch with new people and learn from each other. I've started my carrer with a traineeship at a bank for 2.5 years before moving to a Start-up in Berlin. Afterwards, I moved to the Netherlands for my studies in International Management and was able to also live in Latvia and Spain. With my thesis I have also moved to a more sustainable direction of doing business. I am looking forward meeting you and to help you with your idea, while learning from each other.

I wish I had started… Patagonia

What’s my biggest flex? Went to Australia before it was mainstream.

Coach

Languages: English & German

Previous Education: BA Industrial Design

Who am I? I am from Germany and passionate about everything related to design, innovation, economics & stocks. With my background as Industrial Designer I worked over the last years for several Accenture companies for clients in diverse industries (healthcare, household appliances, retail etc.). I am curious, open-minded and always interested in people and innovative ideas, especially how they work in a business context. So if you have any questions in that regard, feel free to reach out to me.

I wish I had started… Shopify & Berkshire Hathaway

Content Creator & Coach

Languages: English & Polish

Previous Education: MA Business Management and Psychology

Who am I? I am very curious and like to ask a lot of questions. During my bachelor's, I was part of the entrepreneurship society which let me meet a lot of inspiring people. This taught me that building a network is very important in making an idea become a reality. Other than that I love animals and traveling.

I wish I had started… Airbnb

What’s my biggest flex? I was one of the creators of an online talent show based in Aberdeen

Brand Ambassador & Coach

Languages: English & Swedish

Previous Education: BA Communication & Media Production

Who am I? Like all of us, I am a person who wants to help others realize their own entrepreneurial aspirations. Growing up around people who forged their own way in life, I realized early that I wanted to do the same thing. Being the captain of your own ship, setting your own schedule, working for something you believe in, and being creative is truly what motivates me to pursue the adventurous journey that is entrepreneurship.

I wish I had started… Canva, because it is genius and simple.

What’s my biggest flex? I have won three “Best Sportsmanship” Awards.

Strategist & Coach

Languages: English & Finnish

Previous Education: BA European Studies, MSc Business Administration (Strategy)

Who am I? I am driven by a general curiosity for new and innovative ideas. To me, entrepreneurship is the best way to drive these ideas forward and to improve the world around us. I enjoy problem-solving and thinking about different future scenarios. My interests include nature, interior design, and business strategies. In the future, I hope to work as a start-up consultant and an entrepreneur. I have past work experience in consulting with start-ups in various industries from travel and food to dating and furniture. It is very rewarding for me to help others realise their entrepreneurial dreams and I am eager to support you in your entrepreneurial journey!

I wish I had started… Kickstarter.

What’s my biggest flex? I am a native speaker of one of the most difficult languages in the world.

Content Writer & Coach

Languages: English, French, & German

Previous Education: BA Business Management

Who am I? My name is Geoffroy (call me Jeff). I forged an interest in entrepreneurship during my bachelor’s degree and discovered the potential of the democratization of entrepreneurship. Since then, I’ve always wanted to increase individuals’ opportunities to start a venture. Entrepreneurship represents a pathway to freedom and spreading it has become a life goal for me. Besides that, I’m a huge fan of adventures and outdoor sports.

I wish I had started… GoPro

What’s my biggest flex? I walked the PCT (4800km)

Toolbox Developer & Coach

Languages: English & German

Previous Education: Dual BSc Business Administration & Banking Professional

Who am I? I am an open minded and creative person and always happy to share my thoughts and discuss with the people surrounding me. My friends would probably describe me as a good listener and supporter based on my easy going and empathetic nature. Thinking entrepreneurial and visionary first and then identifying possible challenges and the respective (mostly digital) solutions brings me joy. In my spare time I love a good laugh with my friends and nothing is better than a dinner with wine and pizza.

I wish I had started… Spotify

What’s my biggest flex? Over 700 followers on my Spotify playlist!

Content Creator & Coach

Languages: English & Turkish

Previous Education: MA Marketing Communications Management, BA English Language and Literature

Who am I? I have had 9 years of professional life including experiences in marketing, corporate communication, CSR, social media, PR, project management, change management. After a short entrepreneurial experience back in Turkey, I decided to develop my knowledge in this field. I got the Swedish Institute’s Global Professionals Scholarship and here I am, ready to share what I have learned with you.

I wish I had started… Airbnb, because traveling is my passion and they sure disrupted the way people experience their journeys. Thanks to Airbnb, people connect more by sharing each other's lifestyles. I wish to create such a business that will increase mutual understanding and empathy between people.

What’s my biggest flex? I see myself as someone who always aims to achieve more, learn more, wonder more, and dream more. I am happy that I was not stuck in corporate life and started school in Sweden at the age of 31. Always be open to new experiences and don’t be afraid of change!

Spark Ambassador

Languages: English & Spanish

Previous Education: BA Industrial Psychology, MSc in Public Image Consultant and Communications Strategic Planning

Who am I? I am a Guatemalan girl passionate about networking and helping people. I started my professional life more than six years ago as a trainer for salespeople helping them to develop soft and hard skills. My next step was being part of the Human Resources department of the #1 Great Place To Work in Central America. Also, I volunteer with Start-up Grind by Google. Now, I want to apply my previous experience helping entrepreneurs to enhance their business idea and find support in their journey.

I wish I had started... Canvas.

What’s my biggest flex? I got the opportunity to host two important events for a multinational telecommunications company for more than 600 people. Also, being able to achieve my personal goal of studying entrepreneurship in Europe.

Finance Assistant & Coach

Languages: English & Mandarin

Previous Education: BSc in International Business Administration

Who am I? I am a down-to-earth business development personnel who thrives on decreasing costs, handling finances and increasing sales. Apart from that, I am a huge sports fan. In my spare time, I play Chess and Dota 2.

I wish I had started… Uniqlo

What’s my biggest flex? My sneaker collection

External Relations & Coach

Languages: English & Mandarin

Previous Education: BSc Engineering & Landscape Architecture

Who am I? I am a multi-passionate person. I like traveling, photography, and meeting all kinds of interesting people who always inspire me and jump out of my original cognitive model. I also like literature and art, and I always come up with many crazy-looking ideas. I am not a very realistic person. I place half of myself in reality and put the other half in adventure, fantasy, meditation, or other spaces away from realism. For me, every day is a new adventure. I have worked on a farm in Sweden, a rose garden in Germany, and a "music island" in Denmark. I also worked in a large design group company, a small architecture studio, and was a core member of a start-up team when I was in China. My previous work and experience trained my creative thinking skills and made me know many professionals who love nature, care about the environment and sustainable development.

I wish I had started… WhyStory

What’s my biggest flex? Staying alive.

Strategist & Coach

Languages: English & Dutch

Previous Education: BSc Marketing and Sales with a focus on sports marketing

Who am I? Having lived in several different countries I am always curious to discover more and innovate where possible. Needless to say that I like to travel and learn new languages. I am currently trying to learn Swedish however that proves to be difficult. So far I manage to order coffees and food in Swedish but that is about it unfortunately.

I have experience in project management, logistics, marketing, public speaking and innovation and am very passionate about those subjects. Having a diverse background has provided me with different perspectives and approaches which I apply to entrepreneurship and innovation.

I wish I had started… Bux Zero

What’s my biggest flex? My drawing once hung in the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.

Coach

Previous Education: BSc Business Administration in hotel management

Who am I? I am very passionate about traveling and experiencing different cultures, their food, and seeing what drives all of these people. So far I have already seen a lot of countries and even quit a great job as Hotel Manager to travel through South America for a few months. I always go for the local experience and made it my mission to avoid tourist traps.

I wish I had started… Booking.com, but in such a way that the commission is not too pressing on hotels.

What’s my biggest flex? I can move the upper Phalanx of my index finger while keeping the rest of my finger straight

Co-Founder & Coach

Previous education: Hospitality Management

Who am I? My name is Maguy, an alumni from Lund University from the Master's program Entrepreneurship and Innovation. I graduated last year from the program and as an entrepreneurial project I set up Spark Lund together with Anthi to encourage and support every student to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

I wish I had started… Oatly! Having a big passion for cooking, baking and eating, it has always been one of my dreams to have my own (healthy) food product. I think Oatly is a very cool company that is making a worldwide change, encouraging people to eat/drink plant based and opt for healthier food options.

What’s my biggest flex? My cooking and eating skills. I live to eat.

Co-Founder & Coach

Previous Education:

BA English Language and Literature at Aristotle University, School of Philosophy

MSc Special Educational Needs Teaching Practices at University of Thessaly, School of Education

MSc Preschool Teaching and Educational Toys at University of Thessaly, School of Education

MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lund University

Who am I? I am a graduate and alumni of the MSc program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Moving to Lund 6 years ago I realized the dynamic entrepreneurial mobility and blooming in the area of Skåne. My teaching experiences in the public and private educational sector along with the great networking opportunities that appeared in the way were more than convincing about the opportunities in the entrepreneurial field that has the power to change the world. Entrepreneurship is a powerful tool to shape the businesses of today and tomorrow towards a sustainable, innovative, inclusive, and kind future. Through Spark* Lund I see the opportunity of creating this future together.

I wish I had started… Facebook, a great, innovative, and groundbreaking idea that reminds us that need creates entrepreneurial opportunities and that networking and human connection bring the greatest of results.

What’s my biggest flex? My biggest flex is my risk-taking, positive, loyal, curious, and adaptive personality, along with the pedagogical approach and stance in life I developed during my previous career in teaching. Also, completing my thesis project in "circular economy and sustainability in the fashion industry" with the highest possible grade.

Individual Contributor