Irina Obushtarova is the co-founder of The Recursive, a media platform covering innovation in Central and Eastern Europe. She spent over a decade in Vienna, earning a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Vienna and career experience in media, digital marketing and strategic communications.

In 2018, Irina returned to Bulgaria, inspired by the rapid growth of startup ecosystems in the region. Committed to increasing their global recognition, she co-founded The Recursive to showcase the region’s innovation potential. In 2020, she was recognized as a leading female entrepreneur by La French Tech, and in 2022, The Recursive was awarded “Agent of Change” by the Social Future Foundation.