Dr. Plamen Russev is a distinguished serial entrepreneur, visionary investor, futurist, and dedicated philanthropist with a remarkable career spanning over 30 years in technology and investments. His expertise extends across both direct investments and as a Limited Partner (LP) in impactful ventures. Internationally recognized as a pioneer in innovation, incentive... Read more
Dr. Plamen Russev is a distinguished serial entrepreneur, visionary investor, futurist, and dedicated philanthropist with a remarkable career spanning over 30 years in technology and investments. His expertise extends across both direct investments and as a Limited Partner (LP) in impactful ventures.
Internationally recognized as a pioneer in innovation, incentive competitions, and entrepreneurship, Dr. Russev holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Healthcare Management. His doctoral thesis focused on AI and Digital Solutions for Managing Health and Social Challenges, reflecting his commitment to leveraging technology for societal benefit.
As the Executive Chairman of the Webit Foundation, Dr. Russev is best known for spearheading the Founders Games, a prestigious $6 million award for impact innovation held annually at Grand Finals in Davos and the UN’s COP. His groundbreaking work and achievements have been prominently featured in renowned media outlets worldwide, including The Economist, Monocle, Bloomberg, CNBCe, Forbes, Venture Beat, Arabian Business, Al Jazeera, and CNN.
Dr. Russev is also the Founder & Executive Board Member of the publicly listed investment company Webit Investment Network (BSE: WIN). Under his leadership, Webit Investment Network has transformed hundreds of retail investors into impact investors, pioneering new financial tools aimed at fostering a desirable, sustainable, and resilient future.
A thought leader in regional development strategies, Dr. Russev conceived a groundbreaking concept for the intelligent specialization of Central and Eastern European countries, which was published by the World Economic Forum. His advocacy extends to creating inclusive societies and empowering women, exemplified by his globally supported initiative “No Woman – No Panel,” adopted by the European Commission.
Recognized as a Goodwill Ambassador for Digital Affairs of Bulgaria by the European Union, Dr. Russev is among the few individuals globally to hold such a prestigious title. He has cultivated a thriving Webit community of over 1 million innovators, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs dedicated to driving positive global impact. Annually, Dr. Russev hosts the highly acclaimed Webit forums, which convene influential leaders worldwide.
Dr. Russev’s contributions have earned him numerous awards and accolades from governments, universities, and NGOs. Among these honors are two Doctor Honoris Causa titles from universities in Europe and South America, recognition as one of the top 100 innovators of New Europe by the Financial Times and Google, and awards from the Government of New Zealand, among others.
A founding member of the European Commission’s Blockchain Observatory and Forum, Dr. Russev contributes as an Evaluator and Faculty Member at Harvard University’s Medical School. He serves on several corporate, university, and NGO boards, including his Alma Mater’s Board of Trustees.
Committed to fostering a sustainable and resilient future, Dr. Russev champions the Founders Games startup program and competition. This initiative identifies, evaluates, funds, and supports early-growth impact entrepreneurs who drive social and environmental change while achieving business success. Notably, investments in companies advancing to the Founders Games finals over the past seven years have yielded a remarkable 6x financial return.