The final stage of the Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria 2026 competition, organized by the Fund of Funds under the patronage of the Minister of Innovation and Growth, has successfully concluded. At the end of May, 30 young entrepreneurs and teams presented their startup ideas to a jury of investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts during three finals held in Sofia.

Participants competed in three categories:

• Business Stars – Small Business;
• Future Unicorns – Technology Startups;
• SDG Dragons – Sustainable Development Projects.

The finalists showcased a diverse range of innovative solutions, including AI voice agents for business communications, financial literacy platforms, intelligent resource management systems, eco-friendly reusable products, educational technologies, and initiatives focused on waste reduction and environmental sustainability.

The finalists included students, high-school pupils, and young entrepreneurs from across Bulgaria, as well as Bulgarians studying at universities in the Netherlands, Austria, the United States, and other countries.

The official award ceremony will take place on June 10, 2026, when the top three startups in each category will be announced and recognized.

Public Choice Award to Be Presented for the First Time

This year, the competition introduces the special Public Spotlight Award, which will be presented by the media partners Net Info and NOVA. The award will recognize the startup that receives the strongest public support through online voting.

The winner will be determined through a public vote in the NOVA PLAY application, where users can watch video presentations of the finalists and vote for their favorite startup.

The team receiving the highest number of votes will earn the special distinction, along with the opportunity for an exclusive interview and media coverage across Net Info's platforms.

How to Vote

Voting is available exclusively through the NOVA PLAY application. After downloading the app from Google Play or the App Store, select the "Best Youth Startup" section and support your preferred project.

View the finalists and cast your vote here:

https://play.nova.bg/tvshow/startup-bulgaria-2026/662296

Detailed information and video presentations of all finalists are also available in the special "Future Builders: Best Startup 2026" section on Vbox7:

https://www.vbox7.com/beststartup2026

Voting is open until 12:00 PM (EET) on June 9, 2026.

Support your favorite startup and become part of the public vote for Bulgaria's best youth startup of 2026.