EWA Programme for the first time in Bulgaria

Within 5 months, programme participants receive personal mentoring and are included in a tailored training programme, through which they will be able to acquire the skills and knowledge for overcoming specific challenges in the Agrifood sector.

Recruitment process

EWA Bulgaria 2021 Call for applications was open from 11th May until 13th June 2021.

Intensive Dissemination Campaign was carried out through social media and other channels. Information about EIT Food and EWA Programme in Bulgaria reached more than 10 000 people, more than 200 organisations and educational institutions were contacted as well as more than 1000 female entrepreneurs.

After a thorough evaluation process, the 10 best candidates were selected and invited to continue into the EWA programme.

Matchmaking event

EWA Bulgaria 2021 Matchmaking event was held online on the 24th June 2021 via Google Meet Platform.

Dr. Ralitsa Zhekova, Executive Director of RAPIV, presented EIT Food and EWA programme together with the upcoming events.

During the event selected participants had the opportunity to share their professional experience and the business ideas, with which they participate in the programme. They also met mentors, who they will cooperate with during the following 6 months.

Mentees:

Neda Kirilova - Farmilia – online platform to connect producers and consumers, organisation of events and campaigns to connect consumers with farmers.

Ilona Angelova – city farm for compost, which aims to support composting food waste, produced by restaurants and retail stores and at the same time connect with farmers and gardeners who will use the compost to improve the quality of the soil.

Valeri Konicheva – the idea is to achieve a closed production cycle and create added value by producing honey-based products. This will be achieved by creating of a factory for processing and packaging of honey and enlargement and modernization of the existing bee farm.

Eli Manolova – idea is to start production and processing of sundried tomatoes with own branding, unique taste and high quality. Drying and processing other seasonal fruit and vegetables; reducing food waste.

Madlen Zasheva – educational centre for the soil - training and consultancy and practice in waste and soil management, composting, with own lab for analysis of the soil.

Silviya Kostadinova – production of healthy, high quality food – almonds. Mission: to attract more people to agriculture and nature and to make our modest contribution to the development of agriculture and light industry in the region and the country.

Lyuba Nikolova -Tomova – production, packaging and distribution of cold-pressed oils from nuts in different flavour combinations and packaging.

Silviya Ivanova – processing fruit and vegetables from local producers, (including own produce) using authentic Bulgarian recipes and technologies.

Mila Mincheva – bio-production of wheat, flour and final products like bread etc. using unique technology with zero waste.

Ana Racheva – sustainable and high-quality production of seedlings and agricultural products, without using pesticides and fertilizers.

Mentors:

Prof. Mariya Stanimirova Ph.D – Assoc. Prof. Head of Department of Agriculture Economics, Certified Business Accelerator of action Coach.

Dilian Popov – Education Director, Bulgarian Entrepreneurship Centre.

Todorka Dimitrova – Director of Varna Economic Development Agency.

Vladislav Valchinov – Founder, Bees Buzz Ads Marketing Agency

Hristomir Hristov – Smart Varna foundation

Prof. Gergana Slavova-Stefanova – Lecturer at University of Economics – Varna

Prof. Teodorina Turlakova PhD – Lecturer at University of Economics – Varna

Aleksandar Tomov – Lawyer, Yanev, Tomov and partners law firm

Chief Assist Prof. Damyan Kirechev PhD – Deputy Head of Department of Agriculture Economics, University of Economics – Varna

Chief Assist. Prof. Pavlina Ivanova PhD, University of Economics - Varna

At the end of the Programme, participants will pitch their ideas in a final contest where they can win up to 10 000 Euro to finance their business idea.  

More details are available on the website.