OUR PROCESS
The Problem We Solve
Strong businesses exist in every community, but many lack the systems, support, and capacity to scale. Without structured expansion models, proven ideas stay local — and the job creation potential is lost. EWB closes this gap by providing the operational framework and support required to replicate successful businesses across regions.
01
Entrepreneurs
Launch and operate a successful, scalable business in your community. We match you with vetted concepts and provide the tools and support needed to start strong and grow sustainably.
02
Startups
Scale your business through a structured expansion model. EWB provides the operational support, market analysis, and franchise-style systems needed to replicate your proven concept in new regions.
03
Investors
Access a vetted pipeline of expansion-ready businesses with validated demand and clear growth pathways. Our structured model reduces early-stage risk and strengthens long-term investment potential.
Celebrating Visionaries
The annual EWB Award shines the light on individuals and their organizations that innovate and lead with purpose and inspire others to dare envision a better future.
Empowering Change
The EWB Award helps accelerate an idea by not only acknowledging the winners but also through the value added services that our award partners offer.
The Team
Our Team and our Mission
Our mission is to build the systems that help proven business ideas scale across borders. We provide the frameworks, support, and local partnerships entrepreneurs need to replicate successful ventures and turn them into engines of job creation.
Donnie SC Lygonis
FOUNDER
Donnie SC Lygonis is a visionary leader and founder of Entrepreneurs Without Borders, where he has been fostering social change and economic empowerment since 2016. With over 16 years of experience as an Innovation Strategist and Business Coach at KTH Innovation, Donnie has guided researchers and students at Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology to transform ideas into impactful products and services. His work is deeply rooted in a passion for global progress, particularly in supporting entrepreneurs to lead and innovate toward a more inclusive future. Driven by his commitment to exponential technologies, Donnie collaborates with changemakers who aspire to reshape and heal our world. His unwavering dedication is the heart of his leadership, inspiring others to pursue meaningful impact.
Deborah Lygonis
CFO
Deborah has more than 30 years’ experience in founding, managing and supporting tech start-ups. She has an extensive knowledge in the art of starting and growing a business, building communities and business development. She divides her time between coaching companies as well as running her own startup Friendbase. Deborah serves as both a board member and the CFO at Entrepreneurs Without Borders.
Jenni Brozena
Executive Director EWB USA
With nearly 20 years in the global sports industry, Jenni has worked with over 150 teams, leagues, federations, agencies, and sports tech ventures, guiding them through strategy, sales, and capital raising. She has managed relationships with high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, overseen multi-million-dollar deal flow, and held financial targets for organizations up to $3B in size. A dedicated startup mentor with experience across leading accelerators, she brings sharp strategic insight and operational discipline to every project. As Executive Director of EWB USA, Jenni leads the organization’s fundraising and growth efforts, driven by a commitment to building stronger, more successful entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Bita Baghestani
Board member
Bita, an Iranian entrepreneur with a background in Industrial Engineering and Entrepreneurship, moved to Sweden to expand her impact and connect with diverse cultures. With extensive experience in scaling startups, she specializes in strategic growth and sustainable business practices, with a strong commitment to female entrepreneurship. At EWB, she is focused on advancing our innovative model across Europe, refining business strategies, and building partnerships with ecosystem builders and sustainability-driven ventures. Through her efforts, Bita supports EWB’s mission to create an impactful startup landscape throughout the European market.
Mitch Miller
Business Development
With 16 years of experience spanning startups, strategy, and education, Mitch is a builder of businesses and communities. He’s co-founded companies in health-tech and gourmet foods, raised early-stage funding, and partnered with global brands—all while championing socially conscious entrepreneurship. As Head of Development at Entrepreneurs Without Borders, Mitch is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs in underserved markets and nurturing the next wave of world-changers. A lifelong learner with degrees in Entrepreneurship and Education, he believes in the power of big ideas, bold moves, and making a lasting difference in communities across the globe.
OUR SPONSORS
Support Scalable Impact
Your contribution is more than a donation; it’s a strategic investment in the foundational pillars of our economy. It empowers established, proven businesses—the bedrock of our national prosperity—to successfully replicate their models and expand into new communities. This direct support fuels the creation of stable, local jobs, fosters vital skills development, and breathes new life into neighborhoods. By doing so, every dollar you give catalyzes a virtuous cycle of opportunity and self-sufficiency, strengthening the long-term economic resilience and shared prosperity of the entire nation. Every dollar strengthens long-term economic growth.
