Tsvetozar Ugrinov (Lord of Dark) – founder of LOD Corporation

Tsvetozar Zaprinov Ugrinov (Bulgarian: Цветозар Запринов Угринов) is a Bulgarian IT specialist and entrepreneur from Pazardzhik, founder and managing director of LOD Corporation. Online he is known by the alias Lord of Dark (LOD) – the name the LOD brand comes from. For more than two decades he has worked in software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and training, while running long-standing charity and civic initiatives.

At a glance

The early Bulgarian internet and IRC (2000 – 2011)

Tsvetozar Ugrinov has been active since the very beginning of the modern Bulgarian internet. In the years when IRC was the main way Bulgarians talked online, he created LODirc (Lord of Darkness IRC) – an mIRC script that became one of the most widely used and customised IRC scripts in Bulgaria during the era of the UniBG network.

At the same time he administered his own IRC servers on several networks – experience that laid the foundations for his later work with server infrastructure, networks and hosting.

Cybersecurity: virusinfo-bg.org and the Bulgarian Security Research Center (2004 – 2011)

In 2004 he founded the portal and forum virusinfo-bg.org, which grew into the largest cybersecurity portal in Europe – a leading centre for malware analysis. Members discussed and analysed viruses, worms (such as Conficker) and trojans, compared antivirus solutions, and users with infected computers received free help from the community.

Alongside the portal he created the independent Bulgarian Security Research Center and developed his own specialised heuristic system for detecting and analysing computer viruses – an approach that recognises a threat by its behaviour rather than only by a known signature. This experience is behind LOD Corporation’s cybersecurity and heuristics services today and the SASS – Security Advisor System Stinger technology.

Artificial intelligence: LOD ASAAP (2004 – present)

Since 2004 Tsvetozar Ugrinov has been developing LOD ASAAP – a long-term Bulgarian artificial intelligence project conceived as the first Bulgarian AI. It has been continuously extended for twenty years and laid the groundwork for many later automations and products. The administration panel of today’s LOD systems also carries the ASAAP name.

That experience is now applied in the AI agents and automations that LOD Corporation builds for businesses.

Social network and publications

The first Bulgarian social network (2012 – 2017)

He created and ran the first Bulgarian social network – an independent platform for sharing content and communicating.

The first Bulgarian online magazine on computer security

Author and publisher of the first independent Bulgarian electronic magazine in PDF format dedicated to information security, data protection and network safety.

Publications

• analyses and educational material on computer threats on platforms such as Softvisia (including detailed reviews of security products such as BitDefender Total Security 2008) and Kaldata (the educational article “What is a virus”);
• analytical articles on the emergence and growth of e-commerce, consumer behaviour and digital business in Bulgaria.

Lecturer and trainer

• Cybersecurity and cryptography – lectures and seminars on applied cryptography, encryption algorithms, information security, personal data protection and preventing cyber attacks.
• Photography – author and leader of practical courses in art, reportage and studio photography for amateurs and professionals.
• Corporate training – through Pandora Universe he runs courses, team-building events and team training.

Business and software products (LOD Group)

Through his companies LOD Corporation EOOD (UIC 204881820, registered in 2017), LOD Technology EOOD (registered in 2010) and Nova International EOOD, all based in Pazardzhik, Tsvetozar Ugrinov is the sole owner and managing director of a group that develops software, online services and trade.

Charity

Computer donation programme (2010 – present)

For more than 14 years Tsvetozar Ugrinov has run a continuous campaign to collect, repair free of charge, refurbish and configure old computers and peripherals. The fully working computers are donated directly to children from low-income families, orphans and pupils who cannot afford equipment for learning.

“Lend a hand to a person in need”

Every year he takes part in and coordinates the Christmas campaign to collect, pack and personally hand out basic food supplies. Each year the campaign helps dozens of lonely elderly people and citizens in need across the region.

“My Pazardzhik” and civic initiatives

Tsvetozar Ugrinov is the creator of the regional online community and civic initiative “My Pazardzhik” and of the platform “Citizens of Pazardzhik” (mypz.bg) – an independent media outlet for Pazardzhik and the region and a system for reporting problems in the urban environment.

“Happy Pazardzhik” (April 2017)

Initiator and director of the Pazardzhik version of Pharrell Williams’ worldwide hit “Happy”. More than 700 hours of raw footage were shot with over 100 residents, the acrobats of Heaven Stunt Team, dancers and fire-show groups. The video shows iconic places in Pazardzhik – the “Torta” fountain, the “Svoboda” island park and the Vasil Levski monument – and ends with a traditional Bulgarian horo dance.

Free photo sessions in “Ostrova” park (May – July 2017)

Together with photographer Dimitar Angelov he launched a campaign of free professional outdoor photo sessions. The idea was to support expectant mothers at a financially demanding time. The initiative grew into a Saturday series of sessions for pregnant women, families with children, couples and people with tattoos.

Eco, youth and city campaigns

Tree planting, city water fights, a street column of positive portraits of fellow citizens, recycling and repairing computers for disadvantaged children, and Pazardzhik’s first city social network.

Civic engagement

Tsvetozar Ugrinov takes part in the public life of Pazardzhik and the region, including as a candidate for municipal councillor and member of parliament on electoral lists registered with Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission. His priorities are digitalisation, support for youth initiatives and the development of the local economy.

From IRC to artificial intelligence

Tsvetozar Ugrinov’s path leads from the IRC scripts and computer security forums of the early 2000s, through photography and civic initiatives in Pazardzhik, to building a sustainable technology business – with CRM/ERP systems, SaaS platforms, hosting in its own data centres, e-commerce, corporate training and artificial intelligence. What connects it all is the idea behind LOD Corporation: technology should be accessible, understandable and useful to people.

Contact: info@lod.bg · contact page · about LOD Corporation