Bulgaria is making waves in the European tech scene, and not just for its growing startup ecosystem.
The country has become an unexpected leader in female entrepreneurship, with its capital, Sofia, boasting the highest percentage of female startup founders in Europe—an impressive 25.4%.
Bulgaria is home to more than 30 female-led startups, spanning a wide range of industries.
A few examples include Lubomila Jordanova who leads Plan A, a climate tech platform tackling sustainability challenges; Maya Zlatanova who runs FindMeCure, a healthcare innovation startup improving access to clinical trials; and Valentina Milanova who founded Daye, a femtech company revolutionizing diagnostics and pain management.
The female-focused support began in 2007 when the Selena Association of Women Entrepreneurs became the first organization in Bulgaria dedicated to supporting female founders. Their pioneering work in providing training, mentorship, and networking opportunities laid the groundwork for what would become a comprehensive support ecosystem.
This foundation was strengthened by the establishment of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria (CWBB), which brought a focus on professional development programs and leadership academies specifically designed for women in small and medium-sized businesses.
The Bulgarian Center of Women in Technology (BCWT), founded by Sasha Bezuhanova, addressed a crucial gap by focusing specifically on women’s leadership in the ICT sector and science.
The ecosystem received additional support in 2019 when the U.S. State Department launched the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Bulgaria. This program brought international resources and networks to local entrepreneurs, expanding their access to global markets and expertise.
More recent additions to the support network include:
- Female Entrepreneurship Bulgaria: A platform sharing success stories and challenges of female entrepreneurs, inspiring the next generation of founders.
- Future Females Sofia: Part of a global movement, providing events, workshops, and a supportive community specifically for women entrepreneurs.
- DEA Accelerate: A specialized 3-month accelerator program for early-stage female entrepreneurs, created through collaboration between Future Females and SpaceTree Ventures
Bulgarian Female-Founded Startups Directory
AI & Machine Learning
- Umni.bg (Elitza Stoilova) – No-code platform for creating and managing AI chatbots for business websites, making AI-powered customer support accessible to SMEs.
- Humans in the Loop (Iva Gumnishka) – Data annotation service for machine learning models, providing refugees and marginalized communities with work in AI data labeling.
Environmental Technology
- Plan A (Lubomila Jordanova) – SaaS platform for corporate carbon accounting and sustainability tracking, using AI to help businesses monitor and reduce their environmental impact.
- LAM’ON (Gergana Stancheva, Angela Ivanova) – Manufactures plastic-free, biodegradable laminating film for the printing industry, making print materials environmentally sustainable.
- DiFOLD (Radina Popova) – Produces origami-inspired reusable water bottles that fold compactly, designed to reduce single-use plastic waste.
- FoodObox (Jane Dimitrova) – Mobile app connecting restaurants and shops with consumers to reduce food waste through discounted surplus meals.
- Travel by Electric (Denitza Daverova) – Develops zero-emission journey planning and thematic e-routes for electric vehicle tourism.
- Foody.to (Svetoslava Simeonova) – Marketplace platform for restaurants and stores to sell surplus food at discounted prices during off-peak hours.
Medical Technology
- FindMeCure (Maya Zlatanova) – AI-driven platform connecting patients with clinical trials worldwide, democratizing access to new medical treatments.
- Sqilline Health (Desislava Mihaylova) – Software company specializing in healthcare data analytics and digital clinical trials.
- Re:Gena (Boryana Gerasimova) – Provides genetic testing and personalized health plans to help individuals understand their genetic risks and optimize health outcomes.
- MindFit (Victoria Victorova) – Employee mental health platform providing access to psychologists and psychotherapists.
- Daye (Valentina Milanova) – Develops innovative menstrual products and vaginal microbiome diagnostics, combining biotechnology with women’s health research.
E-commerce
- Sheetly (Ivelina Nikolova) – Product data management platform helping online stores organize and process product information across multiple channels.
Education Technology
- MindHub (Polly Yankova) – Network of coding schools for children aged 6-18 using gamification-based teaching methods.
- Voca Academy (Elitsa Kostova) – Online platform for career and personal development training.
- SmallTalk.bg (Mina Kostova) – Platform connecting digital professionals with mentees for career guidance sessions.
Fashion Technology
- NOLD (Boryana Uzunova) – Peer-to-peer marketplace for curated pre-owned fashion items.
- CONTENTO.tech/Impakt_ID (Eva Vucheva) – Business intelligence tool measuring companies’ environmental impact, plus e-commerce data management solutions.
- By Far (Sabina Gyosheva, Valentina Ignatova, Denitsa Bumbarova) – Global luxury accessories brand focusing on sustainable materials and ethical production methods.
Financial Technology
- elca.bg (Kremena Stoyanova) – Electricity price comparison platform helping customers compare suppliers and optimize costs.
- Rilla (Sonya Bonova) – Mobile application for personal finance management and digital banking services.
Gaming
- Mindset Design (Karina Karagaeva) – Mental training platform for competitive athletes using neuroscience and behavioral psychology.
- Incineration Production (Gergana Gruncharova) – Independent game development studio creating original games and outsourcing software projects.
Property Technology
- Propy (Natalia Karayaneva, Denitza Tyufekchieva) – Real estate transaction automation platform using smart contracts and digital signatures.
- Gaida.ai (Galia Jordanova) – Real estate marketplace and mortgage brokerage platform combining property listings with financing options.
Software & Business Solutions
- Question Base (Yana Vlatchkova) – Platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration between remote teams.
- Childish (Blagovesta Pugyova) – Python software development company supporting NGO initiatives through profit sharing.
- Webdesh (Polly Desheva) – WordPress website development and maintenance service provider.
- Dexycon (Silyana Bojilova) – Business digitalization platform offering chatbots, ERP systems, and digital communication tools.
- Orbiit (Bilyana Freye) – Matchmaking engine for facilitating one-on-one community connections at scale.
- Mentessa (Tina Ruseva) – AI-powered workplace collaboration platform focusing on skill-based connections.
Travel Technology
- ClaimCompass (Tatiana Mitkova) – AI-powered platform automating legal claims for flight delays and cancellations, making air travel compensation more accessible.
