The labor market is transforming more dynamically, and mature professionals at the age 50+ find themselves at a crossroad: between their wealth of experience and modern demands for flexibility, digital skills and adaptability. “The career after the age of 50 often proves to be a challenge, but there is good news: “50 reasons more”, which are the reasons for Invest Sofia, to be partner of the first in the country and in Europe Career Forum for mature professionals”, said Dr. Maria Hristova, CEO of Invest Sofia.
She took part in the 50 Reasons More Forum, which took place on April 16th and was organised by the national platform Young Talents. Other partners of the important event are the National Employment Agency and the Sofia Development Association. 15 companies and organizations from the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, trade, finance and healthy lifestyle sectors gathered in the Vitosha Hall of Inter Expo Center and actively presented employment and professional development opportunities for people over 50.
The forum kicked off with the inspiring presentation “Motivation without Borders. Energy without age” with the participation of Dr. Nedelya Shtonova and Veselin Marinov, and ended with a smile thanks to the favorite comedian Shkumbata and the music of Georgi Georgiev from “Ostava”.
The participants had the opportunity to consult with health experts, representatives of the National Employment Agency, the Coalition for Media Literacy, the European Consumer Centre, as well as experts on women’s health from the Womeno platform. There were also thematic discussions covering important topics such as intergenerational communication, silver entrepreneurship, careers and new beginnings, and the role of social preconditions for professional longevity.
The main topic about the social challenges facing mature professionals and businesses was commented by the Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality Nikola Barbutov, Smilen Valov from the National Employment Agency and Dr. Maria Hristova from Invest Sofia. The connection with the business, the employers’ point of view and the new challenges for them were discussed by Galya Menova from Humanconsulting, Dobroslav Dimitrov from Imperia Online, Levon Harpatsumyan, Chairman of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum and the Managing Director of Lindstrom – Ventsislav Boyadzhiev. Silver entrepreneurship was the topic of the panel, which included Elitsa Stoilova (Umni.bg), Galya Dimitrova (Iris solution) and consultant Radko Stamenov. The panel “4 generations meeting in one workplace” was attended by Plamen Vassilev from Halsim Bulgaria, the consultant Lyubomir Getov, Diana Nedkova from CATRO and Bogdana
Invest Sofia is proud to support the EURAXESS Startup Hub initiative led by the University of Kragujevac (Serbia) within the ERA TALENT project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme.
This forward-looking initiative empowers researchers and young innovators across Europe to transform their scientific ideas into viable startup ventures. Through mentoring, training, and exposure to investors, participants are guided from concept to market-ready business models.
Are you part of the startup ecosystem – a mentor, investor, or innovation hub?
Now’s the time to get involved! The program includes a Mentoring Program and an upcoming Pitch Day, where selected teams will present their business ideas and seek support to launch their startups.
Explore the program and learn how you can take part here.
Campus X joins our partners network. By signing a memorandum of cooperation with them, they become part of our Sofia IS initiative. Campus X is a leading ecosystem for innovation and business development, supporting organizations of all sizes – from startups and growing teams to established international companies. The Campus offers a comprehensive service – modern work environment, technological infrastructure, access to experts, mentorship, and strategic business connections. With their hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of the local economic landscape, the Campus X team helps companies and investors navigate the market more easily and make informed decisions about their growth in Sofia.
During a meeting between the Chief Executive Officer of Invest Sofia, Dr. Maria Hristova, and Vladimir Lalov, Director of Operations at Campus X, it was agreed that the company will provide pro bono services to investors seeking support through Invest Sofia. These services include business setup consulting, mentorship, connections to relevant partners, and logistical assistance for interested companies.
nvest Sofia is part of the event celebrating the third birthday of CyberCLUB. We joined the forum dedicated to knowledge as the most effective tool against misinformation and deepfake. The event brought together experts, enthusiasts and organizations committed to cybersecurity, media literacy and the ethical use of the technological tools of the future.
A special booth showcased the agency’s activities and our various initiatives to support businesses in the capital. The event was attended by our CEO Dr. Maria Hristova PhD., the Head of the Investment Analysis department – Viktor Goussev and Matey Minev from Invest Sofia.
“50 reasons more” – international and local business leaders at the first career forum for mature professionals in Bulgaria! Invest Sofia is an institutional partner of the organizers Yang Talents and our CEO Dr. Maria Hristova will participate in a discussion “Social prerequisites and perspectives for mature professionals”. The Forum will take place at Inter Expo Centre on April 16th, 2025 and will feature 15 companies and organisations presenting up-to-date job opportunities for people over 50, services and products that support personal wellbeing and professional longevity. Participation is free, registration is required and can be done here.
This first-of-its-kind forum “50 reasons more” brings together employers, organizations and institutions that develop a supportive environment for the professional, social and personal development of people in adulthood, who often face challenges to their well-being and development.
InvestBulgaria Agency Honours the winners of the 19th edition of the Investor of the Year 2024 competition. Biovet won the Investor of the Year 2024 title for its veterinary products for industrial livestock farming. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov personally presented the award. The award in the category “Investment with high contribution to the development of the region” went to “AK Electric”, Radomir. ZS Europe Ltd. won in the Investment with High Contribution to Regional Development category. The award for “Investment with Low Carbon Footprint” was presented to Integrated Micro-Electronics. In the Sustainable Business category, three plaques were awarded. They were received by Festo, Fikosota Food and Bulpharma. The awards were presented by Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth Georgi Angelov and Deputy Minister of Culture Todor Chobanov. Somenso won the Innovative Product category. The award in the “Successful Start” category was presented to the representatives of Epix.Ai. A special honorary plaque for Industrial Zone Certified for Priority Investment Project went to Zagore Industrial Zone, presented by IBA Executive Director Mila Nenova. For Municipality in Bulgaria with the Most Investments for 2024, Stara Zagora received the Golden Bull statuette – a symbol of the competition. The award was received by Mayor Zhivko Todorov. Plamen Panchev also received a Golden Bull. The award was presented by Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov. The award for Investment in Human Capital, was awarded to Dormakaba Business Services Bulgaria. Alcomet received the statuette for Investment in Business Expansion. Smart Solar Technology was honoured for Greenfield Investment. EnduroSat triumphed in the Investment in Innovative Business category. The award was presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev.
The event was also attended by the CEO of Invest Sofia Maria Hristova PhD. Аmong the other oоfficial guests at Wednesday’s ceremony included Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov, Minister of Economy and Industry Peter Dilov, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov; Minister of Health Silvi Kirilov; Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth Martin Danovski; Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Viktor Atanasov;Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov;
Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy Natalia Efremova; Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Policy Denitsa Sacheva, among others.
The CEO of Invest Sofia, Dr. Maria Hristova PhD., and the Managing Partner of the firm, lawyer Silvia Tsvetkova, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The firm is nationally and internationally recognized for providing high quality services and expert advice to local and international companies, state institutions and NGOs. Tsvetkova & Partners will assist Invest Sofia with investment inquiries and provide pro bono services in the areas of employment law, tax and regulatory review, immigration and relocation, etc.
Dr. Maria Hristova – CEO of Invest Sofia, will be part of the speakers at the first career forum for mature professionals in Bulgaria “50 reasons more”, organized by the Young Talents Bulgaria platform.
The event will take place on April 16th and will bring together companies and organizations at Inter Expo Center to present current job opportunities for people over 50.
The forum will be attended by employers and representatives of organizations and institutions that develop a favorable environment for the professional, social and personal development of people in adulthood, who often face challenges in their development.
Participation in the event is free, registration is required.
Link for registration: https://shorturl.at/uAakn
Invest Sofia joined the International Conference for Creative Industries “CreaTech Summit South-East Europe 2025”. The head of the Investment Analysis department Victor Goussev was part of a panel discussion on the topic “How cities can become incubators for creativity and innovation”. He presented to the participants how Invest Sofia incorporates creativity into the business-oriented presentations that are provided to potential investors in order to attract them to Sofia.
The event, which is a key platform for innovation and collaboration and connects business leaders, technology experts and creatives, aims to foster innovation in the creative industries, build new partnerships and support the growth of this dynamic sector. The previous editions of the forum were attended by more than 600 professionals from over 25 countries and the program featured 80 international speakers presenting the latest trends in creative entrepreneurship, the game dev industry, audiovisual arts, design and more.
“Media literacy – the Nordic formula for a sustainable society” – a forum organized by the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway and the Digital National Coalition, which was attended by the CEO of Invest Sofia Maria Hristova PhD.
The event brought together experts, policy makers, educators and youth leaders to learn about best practices from the Scandinavian countries in the field of media literacy, which is a key tool towards empowering people to make informed choices to develop critical thinking and defend democratic values.
The exhibition, which presents construction equipment, tools and materials for energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and functional construction, takes place at Inter Expo Center until March 29th.
More than 200 companies from Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, Germany and Romania are represented.
Dr. Lyudmil Ivanov PhD. – chief expert at the Investment Analysis Department of Invest Sofia, met with Eng. Petar Tsvetanov – a member of the Board of the Bulgarian Geothermal Association – a national association that brings together science, business and experts working in all areas of geothermal energy.
PRECISEU, the pan-European macro project in which Invest Sofia is a partner together with the Health & Life Sciences Cluster Bulgaria, announces an initiative to recognize best practices, innovative approaches and concepts in the use of data in healthcare and healthcare delivery.
Categories for Best Practice Recognition:
IMPACT – for partnerships between academia and business that lead to significant improvements in healthcare;
INNOVATION – for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups that are revolutionising patient care with advanced therapy medicines;
EXCELLENCE – for organisations leading the way in accessibility, safety and inclusion of health data;
CULTURE – for organizations that have developed the best patient engagement and community involvement.
Participation is open to public or private organisations, including higher education institutions, that are from a member state of the European Union or a non-EU country associated to Horizon Europe.
The application process is now open and we invite you to submit your best practices or to encourage deserving candidates. The deadline for applications is April 25, 2025. More information on participation and selection criteria can be found here: https://bit.ly/4kZ8l4V
The winners will be presented on September 18, 2025 in Vilnius during the Life Science Baltics conference.
