The BeamUp Lab growth program once again brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and partners during its second annual meeting, organised by the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. The event was hosted by the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB), one of the main partners of the beamUp lab program, and the discussions focused on financing growing companies through the bank's instruments.
Anna Yordanova and Krasimira Boteva from BDB Microfinancing presented the practical aspects of access to financing for small businesses. They emphasised the advantages of more flexible terms, lower collateral requirements, and a faster decision-making process. As a real-world example of the impact of this type of support, Radostina Nikolova from Marmot Publishing shared how financing from BDB Microfinancing helped the development of her company.
Teodor Gunev from the Capital Investments Fund at BDB presented the topic of equity financing. He highlighted the fund's role as a minority investor in companies with growth potential, without requiring collateral and with a focus on long-term development. In addition to capital, companies gain access to expertise, a network of contacts, and support in subsequent investment rounds.
Ekaterina Borisova, founder of URBO, presented her company as an example of a business that has successfully gone through this process and used the fund's investment to accelerate its growth.
Special emphasis in the program was on the hidden potential of the data and its added value to business development. Gergana Papadopulu, Manager of Financial Market Services, a subsidiary of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, examined the relationship between non-financial data, sustainability, and company performance, stressing the need for more structured and targeted use of this resource.
As usual, the presentations of the participating companies attracted strong interest:
• Womeno - an online platform supporting women in preparation for and during menopause;
• LimeChain - a Bulgarian technology company and one of the leading players in Web3 and blockchain development;
• NIKI Rotor Aviation - the first Bulgarian manufacturer of gyrocopters with an international presence;
• Neopak - the company behind the Isosport brand, developing beverage production with a focus on quality and innovation;
• Volt Premium Taxi - a premium taxi service with a higher standard of quality in urban mobility;
• VIDAS - a brand for natural beverages without sugar or additives, with ambitions for international expansion.
The companies received valuable feedback on their development and plans from investors Pavel Velkov (Morningside Hill), Nikolay Mavromatis (Baiiena Ventures), and Teodor Gunev (FCI).
The moderator of the event was Hristo Nikolov from Bloomberg TV Bulgaria.
Photos from the meeting: Here
Anna Yordanova and Krasimira Boteva from BDB Microfinancing presented the practical aspects of access to financing for small businesses. They emphasised the advantages of more flexible terms, lower collateral requirements, and a faster decision-making process. As a real-world example of the impact of this type of support, Radostina Nikolova from Marmot Publishing shared how financing from BDB Microfinancing helped the development of her company.
Teodor Gunev from the Capital Investments Fund at BDB presented the topic of equity financing. He highlighted the fund's role as a minority investor in companies with growth potential, without requiring collateral and with a focus on long-term development. In addition to capital, companies gain access to expertise, a network of contacts, and support in subsequent investment rounds.
Ekaterina Borisova, founder of URBO, presented her company as an example of a business that has successfully gone through this process and used the fund's investment to accelerate its growth.
Special emphasis in the program was on the hidden potential of the data and its added value to business development. Gergana Papadopulu, Manager of Financial Market Services, a subsidiary of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, examined the relationship between non-financial data, sustainability, and company performance, stressing the need for more structured and targeted use of this resource.
As usual, the presentations of the participating companies attracted strong interest:
• Womeno - an online platform supporting women in preparation for and during menopause;
• LimeChain - a Bulgarian technology company and one of the leading players in Web3 and blockchain development;
• NIKI Rotor Aviation - the first Bulgarian manufacturer of gyrocopters with an international presence;
• Neopak - the company behind the Isosport brand, developing beverage production with a focus on quality and innovation;
• Volt Premium Taxi - a premium taxi service with a higher standard of quality in urban mobility;
• VIDAS - a brand for natural beverages without sugar or additives, with ambitions for international expansion.
The companies received valuable feedback on their development and plans from investors Pavel Velkov (Morningside Hill), Nikolay Mavromatis (Baiiena Ventures), and Teodor Gunev (FCI).
The moderator of the event was Hristo Nikolov from Bloomberg TV Bulgaria.
Photos from the meeting: Here