A record number of nearly 70 startup entrepreneurs joined the BASE Business Academy, which was officially launched on March 23, 2023, in the 22 September hall in Blagoevgrad.

This is the first edition of the project in the regional center thanks to the America for Bulgaria Foundation and the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria. The initiative aims to improve the economic climate in the town and is conducted with the cooperation of the Mayor of Blagoevgrad, Ilko Stoyanov.

For three months, BASE will provide the participants with an opportunity to develop and turn their ideas into successful financial models.

“I’d like to thank everyone who is here in this hall and for the opportunity for the Municipality of Blagoevgrad to host this event. Today we will take a big step in the development of small businesses, which are at the pillars of everything. I am sure that you have very good ideas and BASE will help you turn them into reality.” With these words the Mayor of Blagoevgrad, Ilko Stoyanov, welcomed the official guests and participants.

Sonia Demireva, Administrative Director of the Council of Women in Business, opened the pilot Business Academy in Blagoevgrad. She wished the future entrepreneurs to make their lives more interesting, more exciting by fulfilling their dreams with the BASE training.

“Businesses supported by this program tend to survive five times more than others,” Violeta Nedeva, program director of the America for Bulgaria Foundation, said, encouraging the participants, and emphasized that in Blagoevgrad BASE has the broadest audience in the entire country.

During their training, the startup entrepreneurs will go through a number of theoretical and practical activities with leading lecturers in the field. They will learn methods for evaluating business ideas and for managing finances.

The students started their training with a lecture by Lidiya Shuleva, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Policy and Economy and Member of the European Parliament, owner and manager of the “Business Intellect” consulting firm.

The BASE program will end with the participants presenting their business plans, which will be evaluated by a competent jury. A prize fund of BGN 10,000 has been planned, and those who complete the course will receive a certificate from the America for Bulgaria Foundation and the Council of Women in Business.