Svetlin Nakov: Sofia Will Be a World Power in Blockchain Training

Svetlin Nakov is a co-founder of the Software University (SoftUni). He is a graduate from the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. He has more than 20 years of experience in the technology industry as a software engineer, manager and entrepreneur. From 2009 to 2013, he was setting the basis and developing the Telirik Software Academy, after which he devoted himself to his dream of creating a software university in Bulgaria.

SoftUni is becoming a global organization that will operate on the world scene. Since its founding, the university has been providing high-quality education for software engineers in Bulgaria, as well as for various digital skills. But now, it is time to go beyond the borders. At the moment, there is a strong demand for blockchain skills, and programmers who understand its technology and development are sought after. Thus, we are provided with the opportunity to prepare specialists who immediately begin to receive almost cosmic salaries.

Synergy

We have a strategic partnership with the Academy School of Blockchain - one of the first organizations in the world that provides a comprehensive training programme for specialists in blockchain based systems. We will organize one-month training camps that will gather highly skilled programmers who will be trained to work with the new technology. The trainings will take place both in Bulgaria and around the world, the European centre being in Sofia. We will prepare specialists who have a good grasp of the technology and know how to apply it; we will also train software engineers who will program data systems that are not on a centralized server, but in a blockchain network. We will train people who will have a knowledge of cryptography, digital signatures and complex techniques for anonymous transactions for mobile and instant payments. We will strive to establish ourselves as the most prestigious organization in the world for blockchain trainings. The first two blockchain trainings in Singapore and in the United States will take place in April; the training in Sofia will be held in May. We estimate that by the end of 2018, more than 1600 people would have attended the courses. Distant learning will also be an option.

Boundless Opportunities

The first step is the training of trainers. Out of all 150 accepted students, 15 trainers will be selected. They will receive American salaries, conduct trainings around the world and in Bulgaria, lead online courses, work on projects and consult. Sofia will provide Bulgarian product on a world level in the field of education. Thus, the common dream for Bulgaria to turn into the Silicon Valley of Europe will come true. I believe that blockchain can take programmers as high as one can go. The market is global, and when it comes to finances, it doesn’t matter where you are located.

Around the World and in Bulgaria

The project is so huge that the IPO is raising USD 50 million initial funding. SoftUni will continue to develop its existing forms of training independently, and all international projects of the University will be under the brand of the Academy School of Blockchain, although they will be implemented by a Bulgarian team. We have the technical know-how and the ability to train people. Not every good programmer can teach other programmers. Training requires teaching methodology, training systems and platforms, know-how, trainers, as well as the skills to educate new trainers. We have proven that we can create specialist at world level. We are convinced that anything that works great in Bulgaria can also work great on the global markets. That is why we need synergy with an authoritative organization.

Directions

We keep our eyes open for everything that has potential and is about to grow, so that we can go in that direction. Blockchain is an industry that is not as difficult as Machine Learning. I am interested in bioinformatics, e.g. genomics research. These technologies, however, are very expensive, and for now, it will be hard for us to go there. Nevertheless, I expect a major development in the coming years. People who have a good knowledge of genetic engineering, Big Data, Analytics, Machine Learning will be in high demand. Bulgaria is becoming a training centre that opens up to the whole world. Bulgarian specialists and methodology will be used in blockchain training worldwide. We have a large quantity of qualitative content that from now on will be used in English. We have not only to catch up, but also to get ahead of the world leaders in this field.