Dr. Andrey Kostyuk

With 30+ years of experience in fintech, AIF management, entrepreneurship, angel investing, and mentoring, I established AAlchemy Ventures, a business angel network - member of EBAN, EIC Service Provider, facilitator of Growth Lab soft-landing scaleup program and AngelPath business angels' school. I lead Founder Institute Cyprus Core Accelerator which helps startups launch and scale in Europe and North America, as well as Cyprus chapters of VNTR and Expert Dojo.

I embarked on my business and academic journeys back in 1990, as I balanced university studies with entrepreneurial ventures. After graduating as MSc in Accounting and Audit in 1996, in 1998 I pursued Ph.D. in Taxation and Fiscal Policies and defended my thesis in 2001. In the same 1998 I co-founded a "neobank". This journey spanned two attempts and 15 years, culminating in the successful exit in 2013.

In 2014, with more flexibility in my schedule, I joined Global Executive MBA (GEMBA 7) program, facilitated by Georgetown University and ESADE Business School, where I was introduced to angel investing – a moment that sparked a lasting passion. Since then, I have been investing in startups directly and in syndicates.

My ongoing work with startup founders naturally led to the next chapter of my academic journey. In November of 2021, I enrolled in Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Grenoble School of Management, and successfully defended my thesis on the impact of mentoring startup founders on their ventures' progress in April of 2025. In parallel, I started teaching entrepreneurship at bachelor and master levels at Harbour.Space (2020-2022), Grenoble School of Management (2025-2026), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (2026), and ESADE Business School (2026). In 2026 I was recognised as AdvanceHE Fellow.

I am IMA-endorsed consultant and speaker and EMCC- and AC-credentialed mentor and coach, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) certified professional, and holder of multiple diplomas and certifications in negotiations, service design, and appraising. I have been serving as an expert for Research Executive Agency of the European Commission (2017-2022), as a mentor for EIC Women Leadership Program, Cassini, EU-LAC, and as a member of Endowment Board of Big Change, a charitable foundation supporting underprivileged youth (2008-2025).