The fifth edition of the national competition “Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria 2026” has officially launched, aiming to support young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and strong motivation to develop sustainable businesses. ICT Cluster is proud to participate as a partner in this initiative, which focuses on strengthening entrepreneurial skills and fostering innovation among young people in Bulgaria.

The application period is open until 24 April 2026. During this time, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a mentoring and training programme, featuring webinars, workshops, roundtables, conferences, hackathons, and other capacity-building events designed to support the development of entrepreneurial and business skills.

The competitive phase of the programme will take place between 25 April and 31 May 2026, in cooperation with Founder Institute. The award ceremony, where winners in three categories will be announced, is scheduled for the first week of June 2026 and will be accompanied by media coverage.

This year, the competition is supported by a new dedicated website, where young entrepreneurs can apply online and access up-to-date information about the programme, events, and key dates:
👉 www.bestyouthstartup.bg

In 2025, the initiative was nominated as a national finalist in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards under the category “Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills”, recognising its contribution to the development of entrepreneurial competences among young people.

As part of the 2026 edition, the competition will be promoted more widely beyond Sofia, including visits to universities across the country during March and April, in order to reach and engage a broader audience of young entrepreneurs.

The official opening event of the competition, Opening Day, will take place on 26 January 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at Videnie Space in Sofia. Interested participants and partners can register in advance via the following link:
👉 https://forms.gle/YLGUjmrPue5bc65o8

Through its partnership in the competition, ICT Cluster continues its mission to support innovation, digital transformation, and youth entrepreneurship in Bulgaria. We encourage all young entrepreneurs with promising ideas to apply or share this opportunity within their networks.