Freedom, Responsibility, and a Knock on the Door

Ask Roberta Pushkarova what it’s like to work at a venture capital fund, and you won’t get a pitch. You’ll get a story - one that begins with people, continues through community, and circles back to trust.

As Marketing Manager at Eleven Ventures, Roberta supports founders from across Central and Southeastern Europe. Since 2012, Eleven has been investing not just capital, but also time, experience, and belief in teams building for something better.

One of the constants in that story? Campus X.

“Campus X has played a big role in our growth and in the story of Eleven,” Roberta says. “We were one of the very first teams to move into the Campus. And in many ways, we helped shape the tech ecosystem that exists here today.”

After them came Payhawk, Dronamics, and more startups from the Eleven portfolio. Over time, the walls filled up - not just with desks, but with momentum.

“That’s why we truly feel the Campus is our home. It’s our place.”

There’s something in her voice when she says it - not nostalgia exactly, but recognition. The kind you feel when a space mirrors your values back at you.

“I often tell my friends and family that Campus X is like a university,” she smiles. “It reminds me of the environment I had at the American University in Blagoevgrad.

You feel a real sense of community, of family. And everything you need is literally within arm’s reach.”

That sense of shared energy is something she also sees reflected at Eleven.

“One of the first things I learned on my first day was our internal motto: freedom and responsibility. You have complete freedom to come into the office when you want, leave when you want - or not come at all - as long as you own your commitments and take responsibility for your work.”

It’s a principle that extends to the way the fund supports others, too - through initiatives that go beyond investing.

She mentions Eleven’s accelerator program, built in partnership with the American University, to help students and young entrepreneurs develop their ideas. And their collaborations with organizations like ABLE Mentor, Tuk-Tam, and Teenovator - all part of a long-term belief in nurturing talent early.

But when asked what message she wants to leave with the Campus X community, Roberta doesn’t talk about programs.

She talks about people.

“My message is for all the startups and entrepreneurs that are part of the Campus - and I know there are many! Just come talk to us. Knock on our door - we’re in Building 1. We’d be happy to give you feedback, chat about the challenges you’re facing… or just be friends.”

Sometimes, in a space built for bold ideas, the most powerful thing you can do is simply knock.

Watch the full conversation with Roberta Pushkarova, filmed in the professional podcast studio at Campus X — Mute Madness Studio.

Written by  Visibilio.ai