Testimonials

Training Days gave us valuable new perspectives to approach our challenges. And since we attended the event together with my co-founder, it was quite easy to take the learnings back to the company and start making changes. I'm surprised how we managed to get further within 2 days than we had managed to get in the last months.

Hristo is that kind of mentor who asks concrete, no BS questions which push me to analyze myself and get to the core of the challenge. At the same time, the feeling is very friendly and empathetic, which created a trustful and open environment. It's great that he always has practical advice that can be implemented right away.

As a mentor, Farhad has the ability to look at your challenges from a completely different angle than what you would expect and provide insights into underlying issues instead of a temporary fix. By pulling from literature, personal anecdotes, and deep experience, he can pinpoint your weaknesses and teach you how to turn them into strengths.
Thanks to him, I've learned to have not only business tasks and challenges but also personal development, self-discovery, and reflection.

Our mentoring session with Farhad was truly eye-opening. Through a number of right questions and even tears, we received answers to many long-unsolved questions. We became more aware of the steps we need to take to grow and develop our business further. Very much recommended!

Last summer, during one of the training programs at Cocoon, my co-founder and I had the opportunity to participate, although we were in different teams and different spots. It was an incredible experience as I joined other leaders in running through the forest, engaging in various activities while constantly debating and disagreeing on the best approach. Should I climb the tree or should you? Who should hold the map? Unfortunately, we failed to delegate and truly understand each other. It was in this natural environment that leadership revealed itself, asking, "Who will take charge?"
The following day, we had a session where coaches shared their childhood stories, delving into their feelings and the challenges they faced. I felt incredibly safe in that space, surrounded by a supportive environment. As the session progressed, other leaders began to open up, sharing their own experiences. And then, it was my turn...
The underlying concept of this exercise was that opening up helps oneself. However, I struggled to rationalize this idea. How could others empathize with my weaknesses if I were to expose myself? But it turned out to be a revelation! The moment I opened up, we achieved remarkable results on the first day, and as a team, we secured the top position. On the second day, my colleague commented, "Hey, you're a completely different person after opening up! I had no idea about this side of you!" It became evident that my vulnerability was, in fact, my strength, and others could indeed sympathize with my weaknesses. I was truly amazed by this realization.
Undoubtedly, it was challenging to expose myself in such a way, and I believe that all founders share similar experiences. I strongly encourage everyone to reflect deeply on their motivations: "Why do you do what you do? How can you become a better person for yourself, your team, your co-founders, and everyone involved? Where is your vision leading you?"

I joined Cocoon Training Days to learn more about myself and about the founders' journey that I am on. I learned to ask more "Why?" from those who reject our offers and wishes.
I learned to be more mindful of coachability.

Our co-founders' communication was in a challenging spot, and we wanted to find a solution to improve our working relationship.

That's when an acquaintance recommended Cocoon, and we decided to try it. Working with mentor Hristo Neiland, we engaged in several group and one-on-one sessions. It helped us to understand ourselves, each other and our interactions much better.

The outcome? It worked! Today, our co-founder relationship is in a much healthier place. We with my co-founder understand and genuinely value each other. This positive shift allows us to redirect our collective energy towards our shared business growth objectives

Farhad has a warm and caring heart. While we were working together, he was the support I needed while also helping me to face some really uncomfortable truths. Farhad enabled me to take multiple steps toward discovering my true self.

I was looking for a clearer vision for my company and a better alignment around it. The results of our workshop astounded me - we uncovered so much about our current challenges and possible steps towards better alignment. I recommend this process for leadership teams looking to uncover and solve misalignments around vision and strategy.

If you would like to be a professional athlete you would probably hire a coach? Cocoon is just that but for a business. If you take building your business seriously you should consider Cocoon. I see the largest benefit in Cocoon’s focus on personal development and not just business. Business is built by people and this is why this kind of coaching should always start from building yourself.

I highly recommend the Cocoon process for all the companies that have multiple founders and they want to achieve big goals together. No team ever works perfectly and it really helps to get outside professionals to coach you to work better.

Farhad is a wizard. His deep understanding of the human psyche will help you look at yourself and your reality in an entirely new, deeply refreshing way. With just a few pointed questions he's able to get to the core of the issue at hand and give valuable advice at multiple levels of analysis.

Farhad really listens and hears what you say. He doesn't just hear what you say but also what is behind the words and things you say. So, he really helps you to get to the root of the challenges and understand them. Farhad is also very genuine and honest with emotions; he knows how to understand and deal with them. As emotions accompany us in everything in life, this is one of the many things I learned from him: to approach emotions with a new perspective and be a better person for myself and the people around me.
As a mentor, Farhad is very caring and is there for you when you need him. He has a lot of experience, so he knows how to approach different challenges. I learnt a lot from Farhad and couldn't be more grateful to him for his dedicated time and genuine support.

I joined Training Days because I had been struggling in my business for too long. I knew that I'm doing something wrong and I even acknowledged most of my wrongdoings, but couldn’t pull myself out of that, so I was looking for some help and advice.
I learned more about my personality, my positive and negative sides and what actions I should take, to change my situation. It was worth it!

We broke 500K in monthly revenue now in September. When we first met with Cocoon about 9 months ago, our monthly revenue record was 230K. It has been an excellent year for us and we feel that Cocoon has helped us a lot in our growth story, thank you!

I have only good words to say about Hristo - warm, compassionate, very patient and listening carefully. I felt he understands a lot about my situation only by listening, looking and staying aware. He is this kind of guy that makes you feel comfortable to share your internal matters without any hesitations or fears. Trustworthy is a good word - although I don’t know him well, but he made me feel like he’s the guy I can trust.
He also knows what he’s doing - his insights were right to the point, he guessed what’s going on quite well. Experienced (he shared some of good and bad things from his life, which helped me to open myself), and has a good theoretical background on how human psyche works.
In general - I felt unstuck and unblocked after our meetings."

A key takeaway for me from the last Training Days was to listen to and trust other people. This especially involves trusting yourself to make those mistakes as a way to learn.

Cocoon teaches you to touch the hot stove and despite knowing you get hurt, it also teaches you how to deal with it in a manner that allows you to not get burnt again by the same thing.

I believe that most challenges in our life and business are directly related to the challenges, limitations, or barriers in ourselves. Cocoon helped me to understand the root cause of my challenges and remove the barriers and limitations that are causing them. At the end of the program, I am a better leader but, more importantly, a better and happier person.

Thank you for mirroring back reality. Thank you for opening other perspective views. Thank you for listening. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for the trust. #growth

I am a CEO and founder of an early-stage startup, and my life revolves around building an ambitious product that impacts billions of people. In the midst of this hectic and chaotic journey, where structure is essential, I’ve realized the importance of delegation, clear communication, team motivation, and personal well-being. These tasks are challenging, and tackling them alone can be even more daunting. That’s why I sought hands-on mentorship and support, and I found exactly what I needed with Farhad and his team at Cocoon. Working with Farhad has been transformative. His guidance has not only helped me navigate anxiety but also empowered me to delegate effectively, communicate with clarity, and connect with my inner self.
Through coaching, frameworks, books, real-life examples, and valuable connections from Farhad’s extensive network, I’ve discovered opportunities to overcome startup founder challenges. Now, 14 months into this journey, I can confidently say that I’m evolving into a better leader.
Thank you, Farhad, for being the mentor and support system I needed on this incredible entrepreneurial ride!

The session with Hristo Neiland was super valuable! While I didn't expect to get any "aha" moments, I got two breakthroughs during the session. Hristo is a professional coach with solid business background.

Farhad's experience and insight were very helpful for us in our growth trajectory. He is incredibly generous as a mentor, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to up their game and willing to hear some potentially hard truths.

I joined Training Days because of a need for an outside view of my own problems. I found out that by looking into other people's problems and trying to help them, I give advice to myself also. So addition to others telling me what to do, I get time and advice for myself also.
In practice, I have a bunch of suggestions from others and from myself to think through and implement in the near future.

He is motivating and encouraging, natural, authentic and fun. He has guided me through various issues.

Martins is a unique person - being honest and with an open mindset to be entirely focused on the discussion to improve the outcome of the initiative he has taken to achieve.

I would wholeheartedly suggest the Cocoon Program to anyone feeling stagnant or in need of growth. Moreover, I highly recommend Martins Bicevskis as a mentor; his expertise spans various domains, and his guidance has been akin to a catalyst for positive change.

In conclusion, the Cocoon Program, coupled with a mentor like Martins, is a powerful resource for those seeking personal and professional development.

I must say that Farhad is so skilled in his technique that I thought he was a shaman! 
It is clear that a strong knowledge system supports his method of helping entrepreneurs gain the most out of the capacity that lies within us. 
It was easy to communicate, which led to deeper discussions, therefore understanding myself - why I react to something in a specific way or why my character influences the situations I find myself in. 
He is a great advisor, a mentor, I want to say even a psychologist and a person you can rely on and talk to if the times inside and out are rough. 
Grateful that I have this person in my life. 

Last summer, my co-founder and I joined Cocoon's Training Days. Despite different teams and locations, it was an amazing experience. We engaged in activities, debates, and explored leadership. During the session, I discovered the power of vulnerability. Sharing my weaknesses led to remarkable results and improved teamwork. It was a revelation. Founders often face similar challenges. Reflect on your motivations and strive to become a better person for yourself, your team, and your vision.

At one moment I realized I'm stuck – I'm not sure which direction to go, how to deal with challenges, from who to ask for advice, because CEOs are usually lonely people.
Participation in Cocoon Program has helped me to solve challenges in my business and also on a personal level.
I learned whatever challenge I will meet, most probably someone has already experienced it and there are at least several solutions.

Cocoon Training Days helped to bring my attention to something I am not seeing myself - something that is stopping me from moving forward. I like that Cocoon is not only business-focused, but also personally focused - that is usually the root of business problems. I have been attending regular business training events but Cocoon Training Days was level higher.

Hristo is a peculiar individual, in the best possible way. His method of discovering the circumstances by asking seemingly unrelated questions at first, and then precisely pinpointing the core issue truly amazes me. Hristo's constructive suggestions have a noticeable impact already after a few days of following them. Powerful!

Farhad has been my mentor for more than a year now, alongside a few others from my team, and his guidance has been amazing. Farhad has a unique ability to navigate both the business side and the personal side of decision-making—two areas that are often intertwined in unexpected ways. He asks the right questions and doesn’t stop until he uncovers the deeper layers of any issue, which has helped me identify blind spots I wasn’t even aware of.

I’ve told this to Farhad before—there are moments when I feel genuine discomfort when he's digging deep into a question. That discomfort is a clear sign that he's on to something important. His approach has challenged me to think more critically and make more informed decisions, which has been invaluable for both my personal and professional growth.

Farhad’s mentorship has been an incredible asset to me and my team, and I can't recommend him enough to anyone looking for a mentor who can help them elevate their thinking.

Cocoon group mentoring has been ridiculously effective for me. Every session I discovered many unknown unknowns about myself and got deep insights from multiple perspectives that boosted the process of solving my personal and business challenges.

When running a company, collecting data about performance is an essential practice, but we rarely even think of assessing human relations. Cocoon Assessment was exactly about this - studying relationships to find what works and what does not.
Together we went over touchy subjects, our future plans, our fears and opinions and by the end of the assessment we were closer, more aligned, and had better knowledge of each other than we had before. Cocoon Assessment does not magically fix teamwork, but it gives you the data you need in order to improve it.

I had the pleasure of having conversations with Farhad about my challenges on where to focus on our journey, making Wavepiston the leading wave energy company in the world. Farhad is very good at getting to the root of the problem with his direct questions and comments. This has given me some tools and made me more conscious of choosing the right battles and tasks to focus on and being better at delegating to other colleagues.

We began working together in the Cocoon Program in 2021, where he connected me with a valuable network of mentors and played a pivotal role in helping me address some of my deepest challenges. The mentors he introduced offered incredible insights into solving both personal and professional struggles.

Later, I had the opportunity to work with Farhad personally as my mentor for over a year. During this time, his high-quality questions and thoughtful approach helped me uncover the root causes of my issues and provided valuable solutions. Farhad’s ability to listen and challenge me to think critically was invaluable in helping me gain clarity and direction.

I commenced mentoring with Farhad in the middle of 2023, shortly after assuming the role of CEO from one of our company's co-founders. At the time, I grappled with confidence issues, anxiety, and internal fears, prompting me to seek external assistance in understanding and overcoming these obstacles, both in my professional and personal life.

My gratitude towards Farhad as my inaugural mentor knows no bounds, as his guidance illuminated the profound value and enriching experience of mentorship. Farhad's wealth of experience in both business and life, coupled with his adept ability to listen attentively and pose incisive questions, significantly facilitated my journey of self-discovery and growth. I wholeheartedly recommend connecting with Farhad for mentorship, regardless of your level of leadership experience.

I joined the Cocoon Training Days to get some neutral feedback from people who don’t know me or my business and talk about some of the issues I have been dealing with. I was surprised by how much useful and practical information I received from other team members and mentors throughout the 2 days. I am going to process the information, take the necessary steps and apply it to my everyday life. I am very thankful for the opportunity.

The mentors are asking the right questions and directing you to ask honest questions about yourself. This experience has definitely left a mark on my personal development and self-discovery. I highly recommend the program if you are stuck and feel that you need someone to figure out deeper meanings behind your actions, wishes, and thinking.

Martins has helped me recognize certain patterns in my behavior and decision-making. When I started working with Martins, I was seeking other perspectives, and he showed me how to understand and see male and female energy for example.

While I often rely on my gut feeling to make choices, Martins has taught me how to substantiate those decisions, which has given me greater confidence. I now have the words to articulate the strong feelings behind my actions and decisions. Martins has been a mirror for me—challenging me, confronting me, and offering alternative perspectives.

I genuinely enjoy our sessions. The combination of humor and a direct, no-nonsense approach works incredibly well for me.

Group mentoring was kind of like therapy, but with people that actually understand tough business challenges. Very good for guided introspection into your personal life but also your company. I highly recommend it.

I joined Cocoon Training Days to learn more about myself - how to be happier and more successful. During those two intensive days, I was able to meet wonderful people with somewhat similar problems and I was able to clear up some of the mess that was going on in my mind. Thank you!

For me personally, the most valuable workshop during the INO Innovation incubator was the one on founder relations conducted by Farhad. I thought that I already know a lot about communication, relations and psychology behind, but it exceeded my expectations. I got new insights and it gave me a lot of food for thought. Thanks a lot, Farhad!

Cocoon group mentoring has been ridiculously effective for me. Every session I discovered many unknown unknowns about myself and got deep insights from multiple perspectives that boosted the process of solving my personal and business challenges.

Farhad Niyoz has been a truly insightful mentor. He has a unique ability to understand the core of any challenge and offer practical, actionable solutions. His vision goes beyond solving problems—he helps you understand why they arise and how to navigate them effectively. I’ve worked with Farhad both in group sessions and individually, and his guidance has consistently motivated me to make meaningful changes and gain a deeper understanding of the situations I face. His professionalism and approach are remarkable, and I highly appreciate his mentorship.

The format of Cocoon Training Days is good. It opens up and engages different people for one task in a short time. The most valuable aspect for me is to see myself through the eyes of the other founders.

After Leverage, I'm not confused anymore, what I want in my private life. I feel more grounded and centered from day to day. I have less concern about my fears. I learned abut my negative core beliefs and how they make me behave in situations -- for the first time in my life I've changed my approach to such situations.

I joined Cocoon program because I saw that I and my company need a change to get better results. Since then I have brought many learnings from Cocoon back to my company - we make sure that everybody in our team has the right job for them and that team members trust each other. I have met brilliant people through this program and gained a lot of food for thought for many months to come. Thanks Cocoon!

At first, I was sceptical of being mentored through a video call and sharing personal information in a group setting. But hearing other members share their thoughts was actually very valuable, as I could relate and learn from them. Chatting on Zoom wasn't an issue either, everyone was focused and connected.
I got tons of value from each session, which positively impacted my business and relationships. Helping me make better decisions and feel better every day, what more could I ask for

The initial thought of having to do it all virtually seemed like a disappointing outcome. However, not only did it all come together magically, but we became the first "new wave" and perhaps learned things differently because of this.

A key takeaway for me from the last event was to listen to and trust other people. This especially involves trusting yourself to make those mistakes as a way to learn.

The virtual stress that was induced was also different, but a great challenge to overcome.
I feel proud to have been working together with great mentors and founders. It was an unforgettable experience with a lot more to process in days to come.

Cocoon helps me phrase the ideas I don’t know I actually know.

I joined because I've heard good things about Cocoon Training Days.
I learned that others can have similar problems as I have. My thinking has definitely changed.

The experience was good - I feel a bit drained, but happy that I got this experience. Let's go to work and put these experiences into our life.

I joined because I felt there is an obstacle standing in the way and that obstacle was within me – therefore too close to see, let alone tackle or address it.
I wasn’t really aware of the female leadership being so prominent in me. But TBD - reflection is needed.

My co-founder sold me the idea to take part in Cocoon Training Days. It was organized very well and I'm pleased that the experience was as good as I was hoping. And I was hoping a lot! :) Really great was that I was pulled out from the game and I got immediate feedback during the game and I could change my behaviour and see right then how that affected the team dynamic.

I joined the Mentoring Group without huge expectations, but I was already amazed at how good group sessions were with the first session. Most of the time, you are not speaking, but actually, that is good. You have more time to think and reflect. This group is suitable for everyone who wants to move to the next level in their entrepreneurial journey. One caveat is that you have to be open to sharing and reflecting. In that case, it works the best.

When extraordinary people get together with love and trust, magic can happen.