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. And did whatever scrappy thing it took to stay afloat. Then on April 15, 2015, something clicked. Startups 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