Transforming CFO Strategy with AI: Interview with Zhivka Nedyalkova, Founder of FinTellect AI

Bulgarian entrepreneur and visionary Zhivka Nedyalkova, a LinkedIn Top 30 Women in AI leader and former crypto CFO, lives by the philosophy that “Vision holds the map, action takes the journey.” This guiding principle now shapes FinTellect AI—a platform that transforms raw financial data into intelligent, actionable insights. With over a decade of entrepreneurial experience and a track record of turning complex challenges into elegant solutions, Zhivka represents a new generation of leaders who bridge traditional finance with cutting-edge AI. We spoke with her about her journey and vision for the future of financial intelligence.

TechBullion: What inspired you to create FinTellect AI?

Zhivka Nedyalkova: The inspiration came from my frustrations as a CFO in crypto and fintech. I spent countless hours wrestling with scattered financial data—spreadsheets, accounting tools, bank statements everywhere. Despite having all this information, making confident strategic decisions still felt like navigating in the dark.

The breaking point was realizing that while the world was digitizing, we were still making million-dollar decisions based on gut feelings and fragmented Excel models. I saw brilliant businesses failing because they couldn’t answer basic questions like “What’s our burn rate?” quickly enough to adapt.

Traditional financial tools show you what happened—they don’t help you decide what to do next. That’s the gap FinTellect AI fills.

TechBullion: How does FinTellect AI change the way businesses manage finances?

Zhivka Nedyalkova: We’re shifting from reactive to proactive financial management. Instead of spending weeks on historical reports, our platform lets you ask natural language questions about your future: “What if I hire three developers next quarter?” or “How does seasonality affect cash flow?”

The key difference is we’re automating decision-making itself, not just data collection. Most financial software focuses on dashboards and digitizing documents. We answer the strategic questions that keep CEOs and CFOs awake at night.

Our AI doesn’t just process historical data—it understands business context, identifies patterns you might miss, and provides personalized insights with clear explanations. You get strategic intelligence you can trust and act on immediately.

TechBullion: What are the most common problems you solve for clients?

Zhivka Nedyalkova: Three major challenges: time, visibility, and confidence.

Time: CFOs spend 60-70% of their time on data gathering instead of strategic thinking. We had one client go from two weeks preparing monthly reviews to comprehensive insights in under an hour.

Visibility: Most businesses operate in financial silos with puzzle pieces scattered across systems. We help identify hidden cash flow patterns, spending inefficiencies, and understand which initiatives actually drive profitable growth.

Confidence: Our software creates a sense of security through real-time data integration and comprehensive sanity checks. When businesses have access to live, connected insights across all their financial touchpoints, they naturally feel more confident in their decision-making. This integrated approach helps companies move forward with certainty rather than second-guessing themselves.

One impactful case: a fintech startup discovered they were spending 40% more on customer acquisition than realized across channels. Our AI identified the inefficiency and helped reallocate budget to channels with 3x better ROI.

TechBullion: As a Top 30 Women in AI leader, what’s the future of AI in finance?

Zhivka Nedyalkova: We’re moving toward AI becoming the strategic partner every business leader needs but few can afford. The future isn’t replacing financial professionals—it’s augmenting human decision-making with intelligent, explainable insights.

I see three trends: democratization of sophisticated analysis—small businesses accessing intelligence only large corporations could afford before; real-time decision support—continuous data-driven adjustments instead of quarterly cycles; and ethical, explainable AI becoming standard. Business leaders demand transparency—understanding not just what to do, but why.

Companies that thrive will blend human intuition with AI-powered insights for faster, more informed decisions.

TechBullion: What distinguishes you as a leader in AI and FinTech?

Zhivka Nedyalkova: My advantage comes from living in both worlds—making difficult financial decisions as a CFO and building AI solutions as an entrepreneur. This dual perspective means understanding both technical possibilities and real-world constraints.

Too many AI solutions are built by technologists who’ve never explained budget variance to a board, or by finance professionals who don’t understand AI capabilities. I’ve sat in both chairs.

My approach is “problems first, technology second.” We don’t build AI because it’s cool—we solve specific pain points I’ve personally experienced. Every FinTellect AI feature exists because a real CFO told me, “I wish I could ask my data this question and get a straight answer.”

TechBullion: How does operating from Sofia influence your growth strategy?

Zhivka Nedyalkova: Bulgaria offers world-class technical talent and cost-effective innovation. Sofia is recognized as the world’s most cost-effective fintech city, letting us build sophisticated solutions without Silicon Valley overhead.

It’s not just cost—it’s talent density. Bulgaria has an incredibly strong AI ecosystem. We attract PhD researchers and experienced developers who choose Sofia for quality of life and groundbreaking opportunities.

Operating from Sofia gives us perspective on European market needs while maintaining technical capabilities for global clients. This local insight with international ambition is reflected in everything we build.

TechBullion: What’s next for FinTellect AI?

Zhivka Nedyalkova: We’re focused on sustainable, strategic growth. Our next phase involves deepening AI capabilities while establishing reach across business segments through strategic partnerships with financial consultants, CFO firms, and accelerators.

Technically, we’re advancing predictive modeling alongside capabilities that support long-term value creation and responsible business practices. The goal is becoming the central nervous system for business financial intelligence.

Long-term, I see FinTellect AI as the standard for financial decision-making. We want every business leader—regardless of size—to have access to intelligent, explainable financial guidance.

The ultimate vision: transform business ambition into clear strategy, complexity into clarity, and data into decisions that drive sustainable growth.

For more information about FinTellect AI, visit www.fintellectai.com or connect with Zhivka on LinkedIn.