Thirty finalists across three categories have already pitched their startup ideas to a jury of investors and entrepreneurs. Public voting is now open.
The three finals of Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria 2026, organized by the Fund of Funds under the patronage of the Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation, took place in late May in Sofia. The official awards ceremony is set for June 10, 2026.
Young entrepreneurs aged 18–29 presented their business ideas to expert juries across three categories: Business Stars (small business), Future Unicorns (tech startups), and SDG Dragons (sustainable development). The finals were held at the Sofia Tech Park Incubator and UBB Millennium Center, with judges drawn from the European Commission, Sofia Municipality, the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, the Faculty of Economics at Sofia University, UBB, CleanTech Bulgaria, Vitosha Ventures 2, Ballena Ventures, Innovation Capital, New Vision 3, Silverline Capital, SIS Credit, The Edge, BCause, and others.
A glimpse at what the finalists brought to the table
In Business Stars, the range of ideas was striking: an Airbnb for parking spots, smart B2B business cards, a gamified financial literacy platform, a shared portable battery network, a digital soccer scouting app, solar blinds that generate electricity, eco-friendly reusable wax wraps, and a SaaS solution for verifying EV charging sessions.
Future Unicorns showcased technologies built for global scale - AI voice agents for business calls, a cryptographic copyright protection tool, a personalized AI styling app, interactive educational simulations for schools, a fire-resistant construction coating, a sustainable fashion brand, and a car service history management app.
SDG Dragons tackled real-world sustainability challenges: an arcade machine powered by recycled bottles, a smart rainwater harvesting system for irrigation, water-soluble sachets as a plastic alternative, a heat-sensitive microplastics warning sticker, a digital loyalty system for reusable coffee cups, a food waste reduction app, a sports court booking platform, and an educational card game about Bulgarian history.
The finalists were a diverse group - students and young professionals from across Bulgaria, high school seniors, and Bulgarians studying at universities in the Netherlands, Austria, the United States, and beyond.
What's happening on June 10
The awards ceremony will bring together finalists, partners, media, the academic community, and institutional representatives. The top three startups in each category will be recognized - and for the first time, a Public Spotlight Award will also be presented.
Vote for your favorite project
The Public Spotlight Award is presented by the media partners Net Info and NOVA, and goes to the startup that wins the most audience support. The winner is decided by direct vote on the NOVA PLAY app, where users can watch each finalist's video pitch and choose their favorite.
The winning project takes home a special prize, and its founders earn the opportunity for an exclusive interview and media coverage across Net Info's platforms.
Voting is only available through the Nova Play app, which ensures secure and verified results. Here's how to vote:
Download Nova Play from the Google Play Store or App Store
Find the "Best Youth Startup" section
Browse the three categories and pick your favorite with a single tap - vote here
You can also explore all the finalist projects on vbox7.com in the "Future Builders: Best Startup 2026" section - watch here. Each video includes a direct link to vote in Nova Play.
Voting closes at 12:00 p.m. on June 9, 2026.
