Holoma is the big winner of the TV start-up competition “The Daring” on Bloomberg TV Bulgaria

BBBA was a partner of the start-up competition and Genoveva Christova-Murray, BBBA Board Member and Cristina Dragu, Director, Foreign Direct Investment | Europe Central | North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, were part of the mentors of the participants

Holoma is a revolutionary technology in the field of personalized medicine and orthopaedics which provides a solution for viewing, collaboration, navigation, and compliance for surgeons using 3D holograms and mixed reality. The winner gets an accelerator programme and meetings with potential investors in the UK. The grand prize is provided by DIT (Department for International Trade) UK and the British Embassy in Sofia, partners of the Dash. During the final episode H. Dr. Rob Dixon, UK Ambassador to Bulgaria, awarded the grand prize winner of the TV start-up competition. 

Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, part of Investor Media Group, builds on its mission to benefit business and takes another step towards promoting best practices by providing a platform for innovative business solutions for a better and successful future.

We would like to thank all of you who took the time to send us your feedback in the BBBA Membership Satisfaction Survey. We are grateful that you have evaluated very positively our work and contribution to your business!

We are also inspired by all the ideas and comments BBBA members have given us in the survey. Please, feel free to share your feedback with us not only in our annual survey, but any time through the year, as many of you do already.

Congratulations to Miroslava Alexandrova, Ivaylo Katersky and Tony McMurray!

Wishing you a happy end of the year and a better 2023!

Westfield Health – longstanding partners of the BCC & Chamber Network and providers of the Chamber Primary Health Plan affinity partnership – have a produced a free report highlighting the workplace health and wellbeing trends we are likely to see in 2023.

Their free report should help to give you a head start on your employee wellbeing strategy for 2023. The topics include financial wellbeing, inclusivity, preventative health support and technology. Download it for free here and please share with your members where relevant.

New Year’s Eve with “Тhe Foundation” and a constellation of BG performers! 

Still wondering where to celebrate the New Year’s Eve this year? Why not in the heart of Borovets Resort?

We have prepared a special themed festive program for you “Made in Bulgaria”.

Official gala night in our ballroom “Rila” Hall with a festive gourmet set menu and star guests – the legendary musicians of “The Foundation”, and Vladi Vargala, ensemble “Chinary” and Trio Elena Sirakova.

Party with DJ Radi at the Terrace Lounge with lighter menu and entrance to the NYE’s after-midnight party at our Night Club “After Eleven”.

For more information and reservations, click here.

Dear BBLF members and partners,

Dear Diversity Charter Bulgaria signatories,

Please be reminded of the opportunity to  apply for the 2022 ANNUAL RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS AWARDS, the first and foremost national competition for companies with a purpose!

The 20th edition of the prominent corporate social responsibility, sustainable development and diversity awards is a prestigious platform for your inspiring initiatives in support of people, communities and nature carried out in 2022. Lead by example and share your impactful CSR campaigns that have made a difference to the community!   

Top 5 reasons to apply:

• Entries are free and in just two online steps.
• Benchmark your CSR performance with corporate leaders by sharing your successful CSR projects.
• Get recognized by the Awards’ esteemed judges.
• Reward your team and receive the media and public attention your success deserves.
• Build an excellent reputation of a good corporate citizen and best employer to attract new customers and top talent.

ENTER NOW!

The deadline is 15 January 2023 but we strongly urge you to choose a category and check out details now.

To avail of the visibility of the 2022 Responsible Business Awards campaign and promote your brand, please check out the benefits our sponsors enjoy.

For details do reach out to the BBLF team at office@bblf.bg and 02 986 5202.

Your application will position you among the social impact leaders in Bulgaria. 

Best wishes,

Levon Hampartzoumian

Chair

Sofia Electric Brewing is the big winner of Demo Day – the final event of Endeavor’s growth program – Dare to Scale, which took place on 13 December 2022. Simeon Parvanov, the company’s founder, was awarded by the jury, who evaluated the participants’ performance on three criteria – what the company’s global growth potential is, how clearly defined the company’s strategic goals are, and how strong are the founder’s presentation skills are. The jury members include business leaders from various fields and industries: Asen Yagodin (Postbank), Kalin Radev (Software Group), Boyko Takov (BSMEPA), Miroslav Stoyanov (EBRD), Alexandra Mircheva (VM Finance Group).

Based on their overall performance in the program, the awarded companies include also:

• Appolica with the Straight-A Participant Award – for being the most active company at the workshops, events and sessions.

• C4 Nexus with Dare to Scale Ambassador – for the company that most actively reflects its participation in the program, shares its progress across channels and inspires the next cohort of entrepreneurs.

• Swipe.bg with Collaboration Champion – for a company that successfully used the opportunities of the program to scale its business 

Dare to Scale is a four-month growth program of the international entrepreneurial network Endeavor, which supports advanced-stage startups. It took place for the fourth consecutive year and ran from September to December, with 20 entrepreneurs from 11 companies selected for this year’s cohort. They went through six workshops and individual mentoring sessions led by successful business leaders from the Endeavor network and consultants from PwC. The trainings covered topics where companies most often face challenges – organizational management, marketing, sales, business planning and capital raising. Admissions for the fifth edition of Dare to Scale are expected to open in the spring of 2023.  

The program is implemented with the main partner Postbank and is supported by Software Group and the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA). This year, Endeavor partnered with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with whose financial support the consultancy company PwC provided experts to assist the entrepreneurs. Partners and directors from PwC Bulgaria worked individually with all participants to help them with their experience and expertise in overcoming challenges and developing opportunities in their businesses. The program was also joined by an equity partner, Seedblink, which provided an additional opportunity for the participants to access funding. Partners of the Demo Day event are Enira Estate Winery, Sofia Electric Brewing, who are also a participant, and Trastena wines, whose founder – Olya Malinova – was a presenter at the event and was a finalist in a previous edition of the program.

What are the actual changes that have come into effect for employees and what inflation factor did businesses considered when changing their remuneration and structure in 2022? Are there any more changes planned for the first half of 2023 and for how many of the employees? 

These and more questions can be answered in our regular survey “Salaries, benefits and financial incentives – trends”, which measures changes that have occurred and makes a projection for planned changes in various business sectors across the country. 

Join us for our fifth consecutive exploration of the topic! The survey takes only 5 – 7 minutes. 

Eurobank Ergasias Services and Holdings S.A. (“Eurobank”) announces that it has reached an agreement with BNP Paribas Personal Finance for the acquisition by Eurobank Bulgaria AD (“Postbank”), its subsidiary in Bulgaria, of BNP Paribas Personal Finance Bulgaria. 

Specifically, Postbank signed a put option letter for the benefit of BNP Paribas Personal Finance providing for the sale of BNP Paribas Personal Finance Bulgaria, based on the agreed terms.

Since 2007, BNP Paribas Personal Finance has developed a strong presence in the Bulgarian consumer finance market. BNP Paribas Personal Finance Bulgaria operates through a network of 44 branches. As of end of September 2022, the business had total assets of €450mn and deposits close to €100mn, and showed strong profitability. 

This transaction strengthens Postbank’s position in the Bulgarian retail sector, while it also provides significant opportunities for cross-selling, given BNP Paribas Personal Finance Bulgaria’s clientele.

The planned transaction is subject to the consultation with the relevant employee representative bodies at BNP Paribas Personal Finance. It is expected to be completed during the first semester of 2023 subject to approvals by all competent regulatory authorities. 

Mr. Stavros Ioannou, Eurobank’s Deputy CEO – Group COO & International Activities, said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with BNP Paribas Personal Finance, for the acquisition of BNP Paribas Personal Finance Bulgaria. This is a bolt on acquisition fully aligned with our strategy to further strengthen Postbank by adding valuable assets with significant upside. BNP Paribas Personal Finance has maintained a significant presence in the consumer finance sector in Bulgaria for many years, offering top-notch services to its clientele. The acquisition further strengthens Postbank’s position as a bank of choice for retail customers, providing service at the highest standards. We trust that after the completion of the deal, we will further improve customer experience and strengthen Postbank’s position in the Bulgarian market by joining our expertise with BNP Paribas Personal Finance Bulgaria’s excellent staff. This agreement is another proof that Eurobank delivers on its growth-focused, value-creating strategy in the region.”

Ms. Nesrin Gonin – CEO of Central Europe Region – BNP Paribas Personal Finance said: “We are delighted to announce this agreement with a strong and solid local player like Postbank. BNP Paribas Personal Finance Bulgaria is among the leading banks on the local market, focused on consumer financing with a long track record. This agreement gives a strong opportunity to our teams and their development, as well as for our partners and stakeholders. With this acquisition, Postbank will also benefit from expertise in data, digital processes with the best international consumer finance market practices we’ve been developing across Europe”.

With the help of Avalant Nexo acquired the office building “M2” in “Lozenets” and made the biggest office deal of the year. Nexo acquires 100% of the company of the Majed family – owner of the office building with underground garages, a transformer station and photovoltaics for its own needs and infrastructure.

The fast growing innovative company Nexo needs new space for its growing workforce of 650+ professionals. The project involves creating inspiring spaces with added value thanks to the involvement of international architects and interior designers. “M2”, the company’s new home, is set amidst extensive green spaces and a stimulating environment and impresses with energy efficiency, innovative high-end technological solutions and state-of-the-art security systems. The land area of over 7500 sqm allows for the creation of a healthier working environment and a large number of apartments and provides good transport connections and accessibility. 

Read the full article in Bulgarian here and here.

IFE Manufacturing is the UK’s largest and most successful product sourcing platform for senior food & drink manufacturers and brand owners to do business. Our visiting audience have direct purchasing authority and are seeking products and services to help them increase their capacity, update their facility, and source new ingredients and sustainable packaging to help improve their existing product line or launch new products into their range.

Exhibiting at IFE Manufacturing 2023 provides a unique opportunity to:

• Secure wider distribution and engage with UK and international buyers
• Build brand awareness and launch new products to the largest group of food and drink manufacturers and brand owners in the UK
• Interact and engage face-to-face with key buyers with serious purchasing authority
• Place your products in the hands of industry leaders

BRAND NEW FOR 2023 – The Trends & Innovation Stage. This will be the go-to place to hear from industry influencers and prominent expert voices to discuss , debate and share ideas on the trends and innovations that are taking the food & drink sector by storm. Position your business as a trailblazer by sponsoring the stage and gain additional brand awareness in the lead up to IFE Manufacturing.