Mariya Valeva's Linkedin Analytics

I didn’t grow up pitching VCs or building apps. I grew up in Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria, where I didn’t speak a word of English and didn’t know anyone in tech. But I knew how to spot opportunity, adapt quickly, and keep going. At 17, I taught myself English. At 19, I earned a scholarship to study in the U.S. I came with a suitcase, less than $300, no backup plan, and did whatever scrappy thing it took to stay afloat. Then on April 15, 2015, something clicked. The startup world found me. And for the first time, I felt like I fit. The chaos, the creativity, the responsibility - it was mine to carry, mine to shape. What started as a leap into the unknown became a decade of building behind the scenes. Since then, I’ve worked with more than 20 early- and growth-stage startups, both VC-backed and bootstrapped, across B2B SaaS, Fintech, and Edtech. I’ve helped scale revenue from $500K to $20M, grow teams from 10 to 200, and build finance and ops functions from scratch. I’ve navigated pivots, layoffs, down rounds, near-bankruptcies, exits, and helped founders get to the other side. In 2024, I launched FounderFirst to do exactly that: support founders and leadership teams with the structure, clarity, and tools they need to grow sustainably. What I Do: - Finance: Fractional CFO support, forecasting, and investor-ready reporting - Strategy: OKRs and operating models that don’t die after kickoff - Coaching: For founders and finance leads navigating the messy middle When I’m not working with founders, you’ll find me planning my next national park hike or deep in a great book (suggestions always welcome). Curious what's possible on your scaling journey? Don't be a stranger. Book an intro call: https://shorturl.at/kjU5J