Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

Founder at @PonyTheStudio linktr.ee/stefivanov London, UK Joined November 2009

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

2 days ago

Billionaires ban screens at home while the rest of us automate everything. Why? They know creative thinking is rare ... and priceless. AI won’t care if you think. But the market will. Creativity is the new unfair advantage. Don’t lose it. 🫶

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 days ago

What I wish I knew earlier as a designer👇 → Learn business, not just aesthetics → Storytelling > mockups → Curiosity beats pretending → Brand > portfolio → Taste takes study → Typography lasts decades → Minimalism wins → Feedback = growth → Don’t wait. Start.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

4 days ago

I wasted $$$ on shiny tools. Most died in the graveyard. These 13 run 98% of Pony. Lean team. Big clients. Zero fluff. ✽ Figma ✽ ClickUpcustomized to fit us. ✽ Adobe CS ✽ Cinema 4D ✽ Slack ✽ G Suite ✽ Webflow ✽ Xero ✽ Pipedrive ✽ Loom ✽ ChatGPT, Claude, Replit

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

2 weeks ago

I’ve been running on autopilot for a while. Always rushing to the next thing, rarely present in the one right in front of me. A few messy lessons came out of it - and they’ve already shifted how I live. More here 👇 fnorm.com/p/stepping-off…

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

a month ago

The guy just said it how it is. not saying what’s right or wrong... but it’s mad how things have changed. No wonder so many people feel lonely. Healthy, sure, but disconnected... Safe, but empty. Maybe being a little reckless was part of the magic.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

a month ago

We’ve never been more connected. And never more alone. In 2025, most of our social time is online. Time with family, friends, even neighbours - down to a fraction of what it was. Study after study links real-life connection to happiness, health, even how long we live...

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

a month ago

Substack or X?

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

2 months ago

3 of us replaced 30,000 hours of design work with AI built in just 4 hours. Next week, our new AI also takes clients to lunch and closes deals. Comment ‘AI TO THE MOON’ and I’ll DM you our 3-slide Notion doc on how to become a billionaire by brunch.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

2 months ago

Going to the barber, turning the music on, having a good chat ... that’s not something I’d ever replace with a robot. I don’t care how efficient or precise it is. I’ll always be terrified it’ll misread a prompt and decide to give my ear a fade instead of my hair. No thanks.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

2 months ago

1 person designing, 4 giving ideas. The sacred ritual of feedback. We’ve all sat in that chair at some point, right? 😂

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

2 months ago

How did New Balance go from dad shoes to $4,000+ resales? They didn't change the sneaker. They changed the culture. They brought in Teddy Santis to shift the vibe. The lesson? → You don't always need to fix the product. Try fixing the story first.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

2 months ago

It took me years (and a lot of mistakes) to learn this: In design, business, life - we start by adding. Feels smart… until it’s just clutter. Minimalism is a superpower. That’s why Apple, Tesla, and the best minds keep things simple.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 months ago

Chasing “work-life balance” nearly broke me. Hated Sundays. Thought I was the problem. I wasn’t. The setup was. Now my 9-year-old gets what I do. No divide. No dread. If you’re chasing balance, maybe chase better work. Life’s too short to feel dead 5 days a week.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 months ago

When you're part of and the only ponies you can ride are the sneakers 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 months ago

Everything's freemium now. Even when you're paying. Popups. Locked features. "Go Premium" banners everywhere... Hold up. I am on Premium. Nah. You"re on Pro. Premium’s two tiers above you, peasant. If your paying users feel like they’re on a trial something is not right ...

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 months ago

YC is starting to bet on designers. Used to be- no technical co-founder, no shot. I’ve been there. Rejected. Now? They want taste. Intuition. Design thinking. Some designers are about to get left behind. Others will build empires. It’s bigger than it looks! #yc #designtalks

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 months ago

A few years ago: "How big is your team?" Small = less credible. Now? No one cares. Lean teams are the new cool. But don’t chase it for the hype. You won’t build a billion-dollar company with 5 people .. unless it’s in your DNA. Small only works if you’re sharp, fast, and focused.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 months ago

When you operate from curiosity, everything changes. What feels like play to you is work for others. Most people try to win by doing more. But if it’s not aligned with who you are '- you’ll either burn out or slow down. Once you're aligned, the hustle feels like play.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 months ago

500+ entrepreneurs later… here’s who I’d work with again: Kind > ego Hustle is real They ship No fluff No drama No bias They go deep They listen They move They trust I used to ignore the early signals. Now I don’t. Work with people who make it easy to say yes.

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Stef Ivanov @stefivanov_

3 months ago

Kindness > Ego The sharpest people I’ve met are often the kindest. No flexing. No power games. Just quiet confidence and respect. The arrogant ones? Usually overcompensating. Kindness lingers - it’s what you remember long after the work ends.