Astghik Zakharyan (Dilijan, Armenia, 1996) is a passionate investor and ecosystem builder. Driven by entrepreneurial innovation and leadership, and fascinated by cultural dynamics and interpersonal connections, you could easily imagine her either presenting at a conference or participating in one of Tech Barcelona’s numerous afterworks.

With a LEINN degree and a background in entrepreneurship, she’s cultivated projects in China, the USA, the Netherlands, and currently in Spain. Serving as the regional manager of SIA-Startup Investor Accelerator, she is now dedicated to empowering new business angels and assisting startups in their growth journey.

TB: What is the purpose of your project?

AZ: Bring more and better angel investors into the startup ecosystem.

TB: Where do you see yourself and your projects in two years?

AZ: We have now grow from USA into Europe, have trained 763 business angels, who have collectively invested over 250M in startups. We would like to reach further areas across Spain and Europe, to help more ecosystems have their strong investor communities.

TB: A good idea you’ve had.

AZ: Like many others, I come up with a few ideas a day. But the key is execution. I dream of a more harmonious and sustainable world. When something comes up, we will know.

TB: What is the greatest challenge you have faced?

AZ: Keeping a balance is a never ending art: balance between ambition and satisfaction; balance between rest and drive; balance between peace and chaos. If i have to pick an event – closing a startup I have worked on for years is perhaps the most demanding process I have gone through. It was harder than building it up.

TB: The best advice you’ve been given.

AZ: Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

TB: A professional role model who inspires you.

AZ: I take inspiration from many people. I have been looking for an exact role model for a long time, but I haven’t found an example that is exactly where I want to be. I guess my future self is my role model for now.

TB: A technology that will shape the future.

AZ: I see we are going towards a world where a combination of AI/Machine learning, IoT/ robotics, accompanied by Cybersecurity will assist our lives.

TB: In-person or remote?

AZ: A mixture. I love human interaction, being with people, and working together, but I also find it overstimulating sometimes, and thrive in peaceful uninterrupted working environments.

TB: How do you unwind?

AZ: High-intensity workouts, spending time in the wilderness, and through time spent with people around whom I can let my guard down.

TB: A book to recommend.

AZ: «Ego is the enemy», by Ryan Holiday.

TB: A series, movie, or song that defines your life right now.

AZ: Hard to pin down one. I am currently taking a lot of inspiration from Bruce Lee’s life documentary series. I feel quite identified with his passion, drive, clarity of priorities, and strive to his level of commitment to cause.

TB: A recipe, a restaurant.

AZ: Depends on who’s cooking! Love spending time in the kitchen, and creating something new (I rarely follow a recipe to the detail), but don’t often make time for it. As for restaurants, I care about the ambiance more than the food (I’m not a big foodie).

TB: A place in the world.

AZ: My childhood home. I grew up in a big house, surrounded by nature, big mountains, and purity. There every season is well defined, has it’s natural sounds, dishes, and costumes. So much nostalgia, so much happiness left in that far-away place.

TB: Where would you invest 100k?

AZ: I would divide it into 20 pieces, and invest in different startups.

TB: If you weren’t an entrepreneur…

AZ: I could be anything. chineses traditional medicine doctor; teacher; biologist; business advisor, linguist, travel agent… anything!

TB: What does Tech Barcelona mean to you?

AZ: It’s like a center, that has been there for so long, that gives the impression that it’s always going to be there. It is a long-term partner.