The fifth edition of the competition, organized by the Fund of Funds, crowned its winners at an official ceremony in Sofia
On June 10, 2026, the Fund of Funds (FoF) and Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" celebrated the winners of the fifth edition of Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria at an official ceremony in Sofia. Held under the patronage of the Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation, the event brought together finalists, competition partners, media, the academic and scientific communities, and institutional representatives.
After a four-month program of training, mentoring, and competition, 30 of the more than 330 participating teams advanced to the finals, pitching their ideas to expert juries across three categories: Business Stars (small business), Future Unicorns (tech startups with global scaling potential), and SDG Dragons (solutions addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals).
The ceremony opened with remarks from Ivan Vasilev, Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation; Prof. Dr. Eng. Senya Terzieva-Zhelyazkova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science; Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Bulgaria; and Alexander Nenkov, Executive Director of FoF.
Minister Vasilev reflected on how far the competition has come: "In just five years, the number of participants has grown tenfold - a proof of this initiative's prestige and of the real opportunities Bulgaria has to offer. For entrepreneurship to thrive, three things are needed: talent - and tonight, that talent is clearly in the room; access to capital - which is the role of organizations like the Fund of Funds; and a supportive business environment - that's our job at the ministry. We want the value created here to stay here in Bulgaria. Even if your ideas don't work out the first time - never stop trying."
Yordanka Chobanova said: "Young, bold innovators! I was inspired by everything I saw, including in my role as a judge. You have courage, strength, and out-of-the-box thinking. Your greatest asset is your youth, and you have the full support of the European Commission."
Alexander Nenkov addressed all 600 participants who took their first steps toward building a startup this year: "I hope this competition has been a meaningful next step for each of you. Our goal is to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bulgaria and a space where you can meet like-minded people, critical thinkers, partners, and mentors. Even if your current idea doesn't pan out, you're already starting from a better place for the next one. And this competition has the potential to grow beyond Bulgaria's borders."
Prior to the ceremony, a panel discussion moderated by Ivaylo Ivanov, Director of Founder Institute Central & Eastern Europe, brought previous winners back to the stage. BioBliss (SDG Dragons 2025), Solar Reviver (Future Unicorns 2025), DigitalArtCulture (2nd place, Business Stars 2025), and ReKosh (2nd place, SDG Dragons 2025) shared how the competition had become a springboard for their growth and what they learned from their setbacks along the way. Their message was clear: failure is not the end, but an inevitable and necessary step on the road to building a sustainable business.
The Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria 2026 winners are
The awards in the Future Unicorns category were presented by Minister Ivan Vasilev:
1st place: EduWiseBot - a personalized AI infrastructure for B2B companies that transforms scattered corporate knowledge into a secure, searchable internal system for everyday team use.
2nd place: Blaze Guard - a non-toxic, fire-resistant coating for steel used in construction and rail, with heat resistance up to 1,900°C.
3rd place: StampR - an online platform for protecting and proving authorship through a cryptographic certificate issued in under a minute, legally enforceable across the EU.
The awards in the SDG Dragons category were presented by Alexander Nenkov:
1st place: RainReborn - a smart IoT system for collecting and using rainwater for sustainable irrigation, automatically adjusting watering schedules based on plant needs and weather forecasts.
2nd place: ZeroLoop - a digital loyalty system that rewards coffee customers for bringing their own reusable cups, tracked via QR code scanning.
3rd place: DevHubOne (Arcade with a Mission) - an arcade machine that runs on plastic bottles and cans instead of coins, turning recycling into a gaming experience.
The awards in the Business Stars category were presented by Prof. Sonya Mileva, Vice Rector of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski":
1st place: CAR BNP - an "Airbnb for parking" platform connecting drivers with owners of unused parking spaces through real-time reservations and seamless digital access.
2nd place: Solar Blinds - smart exterior blinds that shade buildings while simultaneously generating electricity through integrated solar panels.
3rd place: Ninja Card - smart business cards and a CRM-lite platform that turns every B2B encounter into a trackable sales opportunity.
Public Spotlight Award
For the first time in the competition's history, a Public Spotlight Award was presented by media partners Net Info and NOVA. The winner was determined by direct public vote on the NOVA PLAY app, where users rated finalists based on their video pitches published on Vbox7.
The award went to READU Interactive - an educational platform built around interactive simulations, 3D models, and language-learning tools designed to make classroom learning more engaging and practical for both students and teachers. As the Public Spotlight Award winner, READU Interactive will receive an exclusive interview and media coverage across Net Info's platforms. Alexander Varev, CEO of Net Info, presented the award.
Beyond the main awards, partner organizations recognized finalists with a wide range of prizes: a visit to the European Commission in Brussels and to EIT Jumpstarter; participation in national and international training programs; meetings with VC investors; an interest-free loan; access to global accelerator programmes; mentoring sessions; professional video and photo productions; organizational memberships; hosting and digital services vouchers; intellectual property consulting; conference tickets and speaking slots; and financial support.
Organizations that presented awards included: Vitosha Ventures 2, Ballena Ventures, BVCA, Innovation Capital, Silverline Capital, the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, BESCO, United Bulgarian Bank, SIS AD and SIS Credit, Sofia Tech Park, Cleantech Bulgaria, the European Commission, Founder Institute, Center for Human Resources Development (Erasmus+), the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences' Unified Innovation Center, the Patent Office, the Council on Innovation, Digitalization and New Technologies and the Investment Council of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Institute of Public Administration, Health & Life Sciences Cluster Bulgaria, AI Cluster Bulgaria, BCause Foundation, JA Bulgaria, Elevate, the Democratizing Innovation Institute, ABLE, WeBand, Pleggi, the Bulgarian E-commerce Association, and the ManEco Foundation.
This year's edition showcased the full breadth of what young Bulgarian entrepreneurs are building. Other finalists that drew significant interest included: AI voice agents for business calls (PrismAI), a personalized AI wardrobe stylist (Tailored), a gamified financial literacy app (Octolio), a shared portable battery network (PowerUP), a digital soccer scouting platform (Scouty.bg), a SaaS solution for verifying EV charging sessions (Web3 Energy), biodegradable wax wraps as a plastic-free alternative (Zikys), water-soluble pouches made from natural ingredients (InnoStarch), a heat-sensitive microplastics warning sticker (SolarStickers), a meal planning and food waste reduction app (Troha), a sports court booking platform (Joga), and an educational card game about Bulgarian history ("Freedom or Death").
Looking ahead
Five editions in, Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria continues to grow. Behind its success is a network of over 70 partner organizations nationwide, and this year's finalist pool reflected the competition's expanding reach - including high school seniors, university students from across Bulgaria, and young Bulgarians studying in the Netherlands, Austria, the United States, and beyond. With that momentum behind it, the competition is setting its sights on the region - with the ambition to become a platform for youth entrepreneurship across Southeast Europe.
