When I first came to Bansko a few years ago, I probably didn’t realize how important this small mountain town in Bulgaria would become for me. From the very first moment, there was something in the air, in the mountains, and in the energy here that spoke to me. But it’s only now, after being part of Bansko Nomad Fest—a week fully immersed in the digital world together with 800 digital nomads—that I truly understand why I am here.
It’s about so much more than just quality of life or finances. It’s about being in a place where my experience, my life philosophy, and my future align perfectly.
Seeing the World Through a Senior Lens
I am not here as someone who has slowed down in life. On the contrary—I’m still accelerating, just fueled by a different kind of energy than many of those I met this week.
Being 63 among 25- to 35-year-old startup builders and digital entrepreneurs is… interesting. I watched them with admiration. They’re building apps, businesses, and solutions the world didn’t even know it needed. They talk about AI, Web3, SaaS, no-code, automation, and passive income.
It’s easy to think that someone my age doesn’t belong here. But actually—it’s the opposite. The more I listened, the more I realized that these people and I share the exact same core—the desire to create, to be free, and to take ownership of our own lives. We’ve simply taken different paths to get here.
The Power of Experience in a Fast-Moving World
My role during Bansko Nomad Fest was Stage Manager for the Main Stage. On paper, it’s a logistics role: making sure every speaker gets on stage on time, that the tech works, that everything runs smoothly.
But in reality—it’s about people.
I worked with a team I had never met before. No long onboarding, no endless meetings. We met, introduced ourselves—and got to work. For me, this is completely natural. It’s how every tour, every festival, and every film production I’ve worked on operates.
This is a superpower that only comes with experience. I know exactly how to build trust quickly. How to communicate clearly. How to create safety through structure. And most importantly—how to build joy in the workplace by daring to laugh, even when things go wrong.
Communication and Trust – The Invisible Glue
It was fascinating to see how what we built together backstage reflected the exact same principles these young entrepreneurs use to build their startups: trust, collaboration, openness, and solution-focused thinking.
The difference? They do it in a digital space. I do it on a physical stage.
But at its core—it’s the same. And it struck me, over and over again during the week, how crucial the human element is—even in the middle of all this digitalization. No AI in the world can replace what happens when people trust each other in real time.
Entrepreneurship Is Not an Age—It’s a Mindset
What touched me most was the realization that entrepreneurship doesn’t belong to any particular generation. It’s a mindset. A philosophy.
I saw people who had traveled from all over the world to be here. One had quit a high-paying job in London. Another left an engineering role in Singapore. All with the same goal—to build something of their own, to live life on their terms.
And there I was. A 63-year-old man, who maybe on the surface looked like an odd fit among these young tech people. But the truth? I was one of them. I am one of them. Because I live by the exact same life philosophy. I just arrived here through other paths—through festivals, tours, film production, sailing, and a life full of adventure.
Why Bansko?
So why am I here? The answer is simple:
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Because this is a place where people understand that life isn’t about 9-to-5.
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Because here, experience is not seen as outdated—it’s seen as useful.
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Because here, I can combine my background with the tools of the future.
I am more convinced than ever that my place is no longer in a country where, after 60, you are seen as obsolete. My place is here—where I am free to be both a senior and an innovator, a mentor and an entrepreneur, a life enjoyer and a contributor.
From Rock’n’Roll to AI
Looking back, it’s actually not surprising that I ended up here. I’ve always been part of creative, borderless environments. In the 70s, it was the rock scene in Gothenburg. In the 80s, the graphic design world. In the 90s, commercial radio. The 2000s brought festivals and film production.
And now—AI, remote work, startups, and digital nomads. And guess what? It’s exactly the same thing—just with new tools.
All these environments are built on the same foundation: people who dare to think differently, who dare to try, who dare to fail, and—above all—who dare to believe that it’s possible to build something of their own.
The Stage as a Mirror for Life
Standing backstage and watching the next speaker get ready, I realized that the stage is a perfect metaphor for life:
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We all have our own show.
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We step up and do our best.
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We hope the tech holds.
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And when it breaks—because it always does—we smile, solve it, and carry on.
It’s really not more complicated than that.
Experience Generates the Future
And you know what’s perhaps the most exciting part? During the week in Bansko, I realized something that has been quietly growing within me for years. I carry three embryos from my own life and my experiences—three business ideas that could very well become future startups.
Ideas built on real problems, real needs, and solutions that come from a life lived fully—on tours, behind festivals, on the ocean, in productions, and in deep human connections.
And maybe that is my greatest superpower. With a lifetime of solving problems in chaos, building structure where no one else sees it, and understanding people’s needs before they even know how to express them—I now see that my ideas are just as relevant as anything born from AI, apps, or tech platforms.
Perhaps they’re even more relevant. Because the future doesn’t just need technology—it needs experience. It needs human solutions for human problems.
What I Take With Me
This week in Bansko has changed me. Or rather—it reminded me of who I am.
I take with me the realization that my experience is not just valuable—it’s essential. I take with me the understanding that my role as a mentor, an inspirer, and a co-creator has never been more important. And I take with me an even stronger conviction that the future doesn’t belong to any one generation—it belongs to those who dare.
An Invitation
So—to you who might feel like the world is spinning a bit too fast right now. Who wonders if you still have something valuable to offer in a world of AI, automation, and remote work.
My answer is: Yes. You are needed more than ever.
Your experience, your life lessons, and even your mistakes are worth gold in a world where so many are on their way but few know exactly where.
Come. Step onto the stage. It’s never too late.
By Chris...