launchlabs Sofia

🚀 Last month our CEO participated in Japan Innovation Week delivering a Design Thinking introduction course to young entrepreneurs from Hakodate University. Every workshop we deliver teaches us something important in return, especially when it is in an environment as fascinating as Japan. Here’s the journey Elina went through and the main lessons we learned: ⛔ When designing a workshop for an audience that’s culturally very different there’s gonna be things you need to acknowledge and adapt to. For Japanese culture the biggest difference turned out to be the fear of failing and losing face, especially in public. A typical introduction to Design Thinking, however, involves a false start - a design task meant to ‘fool’ participants into failing by following the ‘wrong’ design process - starting with a solution first. And only then do we start showing them the ‘right’ design process - starting with asking questions and focusing on the human needs before designing a solution. ✅In order to overcome this cultural difference we designed a workshop that doesn’t have this element and instead leads participants into reviewing different Japanese innovations like the Sony WalkMan🎧, Instant noodles🍜 or the Capsule hotel🏨 and analyzing what human need they were addressing. This not only helped participants open up to the workshop, but also helped them build confidence in their own innovative culture, opposite to the common saying that “Japan lives in the 2020s since the 70s”. Together we saw that the Japanese DNA is about creativity and playfulness. And that this DNA is still active today! Doing this introduction helped start on the right foot and from there on the workshop flew smoothly. Almost. 🌐Of course there were things we needed to adapt at the last minute and even during the workshop like addressing the difficulty of some participants to express themselves fluently in English, but hyper agility is our mantra. And we were lucky that with the help of technology, a few visual prompts and a few changes to the presentation format - everybody could understand each other and communicate seamlessly. 🙏We are grateful to the organizer so Hokkaido Innovation Week for inviting us, for all the lessons learnt and the opportunity to immerse ourselves in Japanese culture and get to know the entrepreneurship mindset and vision for the future of Japan. There are some amazing things happening in Japan in the fields of SpaceTech, FoodTech, EnergyTech, to mention just a few, that are positively not stuck in the 70s. Unless we speak about the 2070. Stay tuned! 🚀

🤝 Collaboration is the beating heart of Design Thinking and in the age of AI, that heart is expanding. At launchlabs Sofia, we’re exploring how this new kind of partner — Artificial Intelligence — can help teams connect ideas, move faster, and think deeper together. Here’s how AI supports our collaborative flow: ✔ Between the group: 🌐 AI bridges language and cultural barriers, enabling international teams to communicate in real time, while capturing the nuance behind what’s being said. Cross-lingual collaboration becomes smoother, smarter, and more inclusive. 🗒️ It can also boost team productivity by taking over tasks like note-taking and quick research, allowing participants to stay present and fully engaged in the discussion. ✔ AI as a collaborator: 💡 AI supports on-the-spot research and rapid prototyping, accelerating co-creation and empowering teams to test and iterate ideas quickly. 🪞 It can also give feedback, challenge assumptions, catch biases, and sharpen the group's thinking. 🗣️ AI can take on any persona — simulating missing perspectives/ stakeholders/ groups — to enrich conversations and broaden the scope of collaboration. But AI is no miracle worker. Its power unravels only if you know how to prompt it, how to frame the challenge, and how to fold it into your team’s rhythm. 📩 If you want to learn how to collaborate with AI in your next Design Thinking project, don’t hesitate to contact us: hello@launchlabs.bg #AIinDesignThinking #Collaboration #FutureOfWork #DesignLeadership #launchlabsSofia

🐣 Happy Easter from us at launchlabs Sofia! Before heading into the holiday weekend, we celebrated with a cozy lunch in the office — complete with warm kozunak, a glass of milk, and Japanese sweets 😉 Wishing you a holiday filled with kindness, connection, and joyful little moments! #HappyEaster #launchlabsSofia #TeamTraditions #EasterLunch #PeopleAtTheCenter

🌿Още имате възможност да попълните проучването “Зелени решения за България 2025” 🌍✨ Участвате в проект, който създава иновации за по-зелено бъдеще? Част сте гражданска инициатива за опазване на природата? Искате да допринесете за по-добра среда за развитие на устойчиви решения? 📢 Попълнете второто поредно издание на проучването “Зелени Решения от България! Търсим: ✅ Зелени стартъпи ✅ Зелени граждански инициативи ✅ Зелени научни проекти Вашето участие ще помогне за: ✅ По-добро разбиране на нуждите на зеления иновационен сектор чрез данни ✅ Подобряване на условията за развитие на устойчиви проекти ✅ Свързване на новаторите с подходящи ресурси и подкрепа 🔗 Попълни анкетата тук: https://buff.ly/0xstTXc 📢 Сподели и помогни да изградим по-добра среда за зелени иновации в България!🌱

✔ Can AI make Design Thinking more human? We think so. Human-centeredness has always been the core of our work at launchlabs Sofia. But what if AI could support that principle instead of threatening it? We’re starting a series exploring how AI can empower each of the core Design Thinking principles — starting with this one. Here’s how AI is already helping us strengthen our human-centered approach: 🧠 It makes research more accessible — empowering even non-researchers to collect, process and analyze data with rigor, that sometimes is lacking without the appropriate degree; 🎭 It can “embody” user personas in conversation, enabling teams to remember the voice of the user even when they're not in the room; 🔍 It detects unseen patterns in qualitative data and helps surface new hypotheses; 🎯 It accelerates user scenario testing, helping teams validate (or discard) ideas more quickly. Of course, AI is just a tool. It’s our curiosity, empathy and commitment to people that ensures it serves the right purpose. 💬 How are you combining AI with empathy in your work? #DesignThinking #AIinDesign #HumanCenteredAI #Innovation #UserExperience #FutureOfWork #launchlabsSofia

✔ Sometimes the best ideas aren’t born in boardrooms — they’re sparked by the smell of pine needles and a shift in altitude. At launchlabs Sofia, we believe inspiration comes from changing perspectives — and that includes the literal ones. Once a month, we take our team to the mountains for what we call a “Hut Day” – a full workday spent together in nature. In March, we headed to the beautiful Boeritsa hut in Vitosha. The fresh air, tranquil scenery, and incredible hospitality from the hutmen helped us reconnect and reflect. 🌄 This time, we used the day to start a very exciting project you will hear more about soon — staying true to our values of co-creation, experimentation, and recharging through nature. Because great design starts with presence. #launchlabsSofia #WorkCulture #TeamInspiration #DesignThinking #PassionProjects #FutureOfWork #Innovation

🌱 “Partnerships for sustainable development” was the theme of a powerful conversation between our managing partner Elina Zheleva and Nikolay Bogdanov, Sales Manager at Shell Bulgaria, during this year’s Forbes ESG Summit. Because when it comes to sustainability, we know one thing for sure: real change doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes collaboration across sectors, bold imagination, and a shared commitment to creating long-term value—for people, planet, and business. It was a pleasure to join the summit for the third year in a row and connect with so many business leaders that share our passion and vision for sustainability and innovation. It fueled our hope that together we are driving the corporate world in the right direction. 💬 Want to be part of this journey? Reach out at hello@launchlabs.bg. #Sustainability #ESG #PurposeDriven #ForbesESGSummit #InnovationCulture #launchlabsSofia

We are proud to share that Elina Zheleva—CEO, founder, and the heart of launchlabs Sofia—has been nominated for Top 100 Women in Business 2025! 💼🌟 Elina has spent the past decade helping organizations rethink, redesign, and reimagine. She brings bold ideas to life and leads with both strategy and soul. Now we have the chance to support her back. 🗳️ Voting takes under 2 minutes and is open until March 30. 👉 Cast your vote here: https://lnkd.in/dByihQeT Let’s recognize the women who are building the future one meaningful innovation at a time! #Top100Women #launchlabsSofia #LeadershipInAction #EliZheleva #FutureOfBusiness

✨ "The more people who co-create the future, the more people whose concerns will be addressed from the foundational level in this world." — Adrienne Maree Brown This Women’s Month, we celebrate powerhouse women who are reshaping how we think, connect, and build the future—one conversation at a time. Adrienne Maree Brown is a facilitator, author, and movement strategist whose work centers on emergence—the idea that small interactions, collective action, and deep listening create real transformation. Through her book Emergent Strategy, she reminds us that the future isn’t something we control—it’s something we nurture into being. 🌱 Facilitation is the art of making space for emergence—for new voices, bold ideas, and the wisdom already present in the room. When we listen deeply and design with inclusion, we create futures where everyone thrives. 💡 Who are the powerhouse women inspiring you this month? #InspiringWomen #WomensMonth #EmergentStrategy #Facilitation #CoCreation #DesignThinking #AdrienneMareeBrown #TheFutureIsEmergent

🔍 Sustainability is a team sport. At launchlabs Sofia, we believe that true sustainability happens when businesses, institutions, and communities join forces. That’s why we’re excited to be part of this year’s Forbes ESG Summit, where our Managing Partner, Elina Zheleva, will discuss the power of partnerships in sustainable development. She’ll be in conversation with Nikolay Bogdanov, Commercial Director at Shell Bulgaria, to explore how organizations can co-create lasting impact. 🌍 📅 11:50 – 12:00 | Forbes ESG Summit Let's talk about sustainability beyond the buzzwords—through collaboration, innovation, and action. See you there! #ForbesESG #SustainableInnovation #FutureOfBusiness #launchlabsSofia #PartnershipsForImpact