As a startup founder, you know that coming up with a good idea and implementing it is no easy feat. In this blog post, we'll be sharing the story of Boryana Levterova, co-founder of Infinity Toy Box, and the lessons you can learn from her experiences.
Before launching Infinity Toy Box, Boryana worked as a consultant for the Boston Consulting Group in Chicago. She worked across different industries and areas of work, which taught her the valuable lesson that confidence in yourself is key. You can go into an industry you know nothing about, analyze a problem you know nothing about, but with the capability to obtain the information and do the analysis, you can come up with a good idea and suggestion.
Boryana also talked about how the educational system in Bulgaria focused more on learning facts and memorizing dates rather than developing the cognitive part of one's thinking. This is something to keep in mind when starting a business. It's not just about having a great idea, but also about thinking creatively and critically to solve problems and make the business successful.
When Boryana was working as a consultant, she learned the importance of dressing professionally and being perceived as professional. In her first client meeting, she accidentally dressed like an air hostess and was mistaken for one. This shows that first impressions matter, and it's important to be perceived as professional in the business world.
Boryana came up with the idea for Infinity Toy Box during her maternity leave. She noticed that as her children grew, they accumulated a lot of toys and belongings, which resulted in clutter. She researched the concept of renting products instead of purchasing them and found that it was more common in North America than in Europe. With her co-founder, she started working on the prototype and launched the MVP eight months ago.
What can you learn from Boryana's experiences as a startup founder? First, have confidence in yourself and your ability to learn and adapt to different industries and problems. Second, think creatively and critically to solve problems and make your business successful. Third, first impressions matter, so be professional and dress accordingly. And finally, keep your eyes open for opportunities and research new concepts that may apply to your business.
Starting a business is not easy, but with the right mindset and approach, it can be a rewarding experience. Keep these lessons in mind as you work on your own startup and remember that every experience is a learning opportunity.
📫 Find out about each guest and be the first to know when new shows drop when subscribing to the ICL newsletter! (subscribe on right side of page). Catch the podcast interview with Boryana Levterova here.
