Her entire business got shattered by COVID, she pivoted and exited within 4 years | Bilyana Freye
Bilyana Freye, Co-founder of Orbiit.ai, on Building AI-powered Connections, Pivots, and Acquisitions
In this episode of Everyday Founder, Bilyana Freye, co-founder and CEO of Orbiit.ai, shares her entrepreneurial journey—from launching a job-shadowing startup, navigating a pandemic-induced pivot to AI-powered 1:1 connections, raising venture capital, and ultimately leading Orbiit to a successful acquisition by Hivebrite.
Bilyana opens up about career-changing moments, building a company while raising a family, and why determination and community make all the difference for founders. Tune in for insights on startup pivots, VC fundraising, and scaling impactful businesses.
📌 CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction to Bilyana Freye and Orbiit.ai
00:30 - What is Orbiit.ai?
01:50 - From Job Shadowing to AI-powered Matching
02:40 - Pivoting the Business During COVID-19
06:00 - The Early Career & Inspiration for Orbiit
10:30 - Taking the Leap: Resigning to Build Orbiit
13:00 - The First Customer: A Shadowing Experience
15:40 - Getting Early Traction and Founders Fund Investment
19:55 - Raising Funds as a Female Founder
23:00 - VC Traction and Expansion into Community Platforms
27:00 - Navigating the COVID Pivot and Going Digital
31:00 - Lessons on Fundraising and Value-Aligned Investors
35:10 - The Acquisition: Joining Forces with Hivebrite
39:30 - What’s Next for Hivebrite and Orbiit
42:00 - Balancing Entrepreneurship and Motherhood
44:10 - Talent vs. Luck: The Key to Success
🔗 Connect with Bilyana:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilyana-freye-6b4140a/
🎧 About the Podcast:
Everyday Founder brings you candid conversations with entrepreneurs who are transforming industries. Tune in for startup stories, actionable advice, and founder tips.
📢 Sponsored by Opus
Join the community that connects ambitious entrepreneurs. Learn more at joinopus.org.
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Let us know in the comments: What’s your biggest takeaway from Bilyana’s story?
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