Thirteen companies from Bulgaria and the Western Balkans showcased their businesses during Demo Day, the final event of Dare2Scale – a four-month growth program by Endeavor Bulgaria. This program targets entrepreneurs and businesses that have moved beyond the early stages of development and are beginning to scale their operations.  

The evening’s top honor, the Jury Award, went to Epix.AI, a company offering comprehensive, personalized prevention packages. These packages are based on biochemistry, genetics, and epigenetics, incorporating biological age and risks of aging-related diseases.  

Two additional awards recognized participant achievements:  

• Aqtos received the Endeavor Ambassador Award for actively engaging in Endeavor’s events and educating its community about the organization’s mission.  
• Epix.AI also won the Dynamics and Progress Award (Momentum award) for effectively applying feedback from Endeavor’s network and establishing key connections and improvements.  

This year marked a milestone for Dare2Scale, which included companies from the Western Balkans for the first time. Six companies from N. Macedonia and Kosovo, represented by nine entrepreneurs in industries such as software, transportation, media, and entertainment, participated.  

The program’s regional expansion was highlighted during the joint Demo Day, showcasing Endeavor’s role in fostering a unified entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. Participants demonstrated strong mutual support by sharing challenges, exchanging ideas, and forming new partnerships.  

An expert jury of established business leaders evaluated the participants on three criteria: global growth potential, clarity of strategic goals, and presentation skills. Jury members included Angel Mateev (Postbank), Boyko Takov (Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency), Milena Radeva (PwC Bulgaria), Manuela Nessl (EBRD), and Diana Stefanova (BrightCap Ventures).  

Participants underwent an intensive program featuring 12 group workshops in Sofia, Skopje, and Pristina, led by regional entrepreneurs and business leaders such as Mergim Cahani (founder of Gjirafa), Simeon Stoichev (VP of IT at Progress Software), and Ivo Dimovski (Senior Director of Strategy and Operations at Castor). Each company also accessed up to 10 individual mentoring sessions with consultants from PwC and Endeavor network leaders.  

For another year, PwC Bulgaria’s partners and directors worked individually with all participating companies, sharing their expertise to help them overcome challenges and seize growth opportunities.  

The synergy between the two entrepreneurial ecosystems was evident in the companies’ active involvement across events and sessions held simultaneously in three countries. This engagement underscored a shared enthusiasm for exchanging ideas and creating partnerships.  

Endeavor Bulgaria Executive Director Momchil Vassilev stated, “The sixth edition of Dare2Scale set a new standard by bringing together companies from Bulgaria and the Western Balkans in a shared program and joint Demo Day, highlighting our vision for developing the Balkans as a region with immense entrepreneurial potential. It has already yielded tangible results – from new partnerships to accelerated growth for participating companies. We are proud to have supported 15 ambitious businesses from Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, providing them with access to mentors and resources to help them establish a presence regionally and globally. This initiative is a significant step toward building a sustainable and united entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region, which we will continue to support with dedication.”  

Angel Mateev, Executive Director of Retail Banking and Management Board Member at Postbank, commented, “Ambition, courage, and innovative ideas are among the key factors for developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and Dare2Scale participants have proven they possess these valuable qualities, enabling them to grow and develop businesses of global scale. The Bulgarian economy needs this healthy growth energy, and we at Postbank are proud to be the main partner of the program for the sixth consecutive year. This allows us to share our valuable experience and expertise with young entrepreneurs, encouraging them to realize their potential and continue their path to success. For us, this is an investment in the future with immense returns.”  

Applications for the seventh edition of Dare2Scale will open in spring 2025.  

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