Hi there!
I'm Dian Deskov, a former fighter pilot who turned into a passionate engineer. Born in 1988, I've always been driven by two forces - aviation and technology. About 8 years ago, I changed careers from flying fighter jets to innovating in the IT industry.
Wait, what?
You are probably wondering -‘That guy had such a cool job, and he left it to be an IT?’
Yes, I traded the adrenaline of aviation for the passion of innovation. Here is how it happened:
Early Days: A Creative Spark
In high school, while others were just gaming or having a social life, I learned to create games and animations, eventually selling them to companies. A fun way to monetize your geekhood!
There were no tablets back then, so a good storyboard was really necessary.
The games were made mainly in Flash for web browsers. They used to be popular back in 2006.
The Portal to Success
My high school years weren't just about studies; they were about shaping my future and culminated in a triumph at the National IT Olympiad with my educational game, “The Portal”.
Recognized as a laureate, universities vied for my enrollment. But my heart was set on the skies.
Sky High Dreams
Fueled by ambition, I was wondering between launching a software company or becoming a jet pilot - possibly both. Not having any cash for a tech startup, I managed to earn a spot at the National Military University as a cadet.
In 2012 I graduated and became a NATO officer in the MiG-29 Fighter Squadron in Graf Ignatievo Airbase.
A Pilot's Life
For more than six years, I lived my dream, flying actively and embarking on adventures. But this living on the edge came with a cost and I had several accidents in the air. I lost close friends and colleagues as well.
The hard times got me wishing for a calmer life where I could unleash my long-suppressed creative potential. I needed a project to put my thoughts into.
In 2014, I started developing a Pilatus PC-9m flight simulator for the Military University. I wanted to help the cadets fly in a safer environment and are prepared for real scenarios.
Presidential Twist
Maj. General Roumen Radev, the commander of the Bulgarian Airforce, was elected as a president. He was my flight instructor and a fan of the simulator project as well. Thanks to him, I got noticed from the higher commandment, and my service continued in the Ministry Of Defence, where I optimized flight management in the Air Force by developing dedicated software systems.
I started a small company
Working and living in the capital made it easy for new connections and opportunities to arise. I started a small company and began developing hardware and software solutions for the business sector. Soon enough the company grew.
Walltopia bought the company
Walltopiais one of the biggest Bulgarian, companies and it is the world leader in manufacturing climbing walls & active entertainment centers. It has more than 60% of the global market share and develops products and services all over the world. In 2018, I left the Air Force and became the CEO of Techtopia - one of the sister companies of the Walltopia family.
Techtopia was growing fast in the development of software & hardware solutions for the active entertainment industry, redefining the future of the sector and augmenting the experience of the players.
During the COVID pandemic, the active entertainment industry was hit hard. Our incomes could not meet the expectations of the IT industry and it was time to move on to the next big thing.
2023 - Time for a change
After a short dive in the blockchain world, and a burnout I took a break and returned to my initial driving forces.
‘ And the day came when the risk to remain tight
in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ’
Anaïs Nin
Forging Expertise: The Doctorate
That period of change wasn't just a pause; it was a time for deep focus. I channeled my energy into completing my PhD in the field of STEM, a journey that brought my two worlds—aviation and technology—together once more. This is where my moto was born: Flight-inspired. Byte-driven.
My thesis focused on developing a new generation of flight simulators for Air Force pilot training, a project born from my own experiences in the cockpit and a desire to make training safer and more effective. It was more than an academic achievement; it was the official confirmation of my expertise in creating complex, integrated software and hardware systems.
The Spark of Collaboration: TagTrack
With my creative spirit reignited, the next adventure was a collaborative one. Along with four friends, I co-founded a new tech company, TagTrack. We established the company in Denmark, where one of our co-founders lives, putting us closer to key clients in the region.
Our mission: to create an innovative indoor Real-Time Location System (RTLS). This system tracks assets, people, or robots in 3D with a stunning accuracy of 10 cm, opening up huge possibilities for manufacturing industries, automated warehouses, and even the active entertainment sector.
Embracing the Callsign: DESKICH Ltd.
As my work with TagTrack and my academic achievements gained visibility, the industry took notice. More and more requests for consultations and projects began to come my way, and people kept calling me by my old Air Force callsign, "DESKICH". So, I decided to make it official, despite the wierd spelling.
