Sofia Success Stories
The U.S.-based company GlobalFoundries announced the expansion of its team in Sofia. The company is one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers in the world and operates in Bulgaria through its subsidiary “GlobalFoundris Bulgaria”. It employs about 250 developers who participate in the creation of all state-of-the-art technological processes of the company and the creation of the so-called integrated circuit design – the structural descriptions needed for the design and then for the production of the chips. GlobalFoundris delivers to mobile and portable devices manufacturers, consumer and industrial electronics producers, as well as companies from the automotive and aerospace industries, fintech, and others. The development center in Sofia is starting to expand with more experts in the field of microelectronics, physics and programming with a plan to hire a total of 100 new specialists within two years.
The Sofia-based company “Digital Condominium” and its platform “Entrance-Expert” raised 25 thousand euros of funding from Innovation Starter Accelerator. The platform has been launched in less than a year, but already serves its first clients – house managers and real-property owners. The company plans to develop a mobile app and add new services and functionalities for the users of the platform.
Sofia’s CloudCart grabbed the award for best startup of the year in the most influential technology event for young companies in Central and Eastern Europe – Rodim DH. Recently, the company entered the Top 50 CEE Funding Rounds Closed in 1Q 2022 list because of the capital attracted by Elevator Ventures and NV3 Fund, which in 2020 invested in the e-stores building platform nearly BGN 1 million. CloudCart was founded in 2016 and today has offices in Sofia and Beverly Hills, California, USA. The platform aims to provide the easiest-to-use e-commerce software, with a rich set of integrated marketing tools for more sales even to sellers with no previous experience in e-commerce.
Five companies became part of the spring cohort of the accelerator programme for entering the US market organsied by the Bulgarian Innovation Hub (BIH). Four of them are Bulgarian companies from Sofia. These are Humans in the Loop – the social startup for hiring and training people from conflict-affected regions and communities, the data storage company StorPool, the e-sports platform Augment.gg and Rush – the software for tracking shipments. The BIH accelerator provides companies with expert advice, know-how and resources for global expansion and access to investors. The Hub implements activities for cooperation between the entrepreneurial communities in the USA and Bulgaria and helps Bulgarian tech companies grow into competitive world leaders.
Mainly Sofia-based teams (ten out of 12) are also part of the growth programme Dare to Scale by the global entrepreneurial network Endeavor. The four-month programme targets businesses from all sectors that are already on the market and have a global growth potential. The companies will be trained in organizational management, marketing, sales, business planning and capital raising.
Dronamis now holds its first drone airline license – the EU’s Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC). The LUC is recognised in all EU member states and provides drone operators with significant business opportunities across the single market. The company is currently preparing for the first commercial flights of the flagship Black Swan aircraft later this year. Carrying 350 kg at a distance of up to 2,500 km, the Black Swan aims to transform supply chains by making fulfillment more efficient, resulting in cost, time, and carbon emission savings.
The Bulgarian entity of the Belgian leader in the production of microchips Melexis has opened its new high-tech building in Sofia. With an investment of 75 million euros, in the already existing area of 7,500 sq.m. the company added new 15 000 sq.m. for office space, research and development areas, a production area with over 450 machines, and a warehouse. The building has intelligent control of resources and a system for the reuse of energy and heat. The new production site is the largest and most modern for the company worldwide. The Sofia-based team is the largest for the company worldwide – the manufacturer currently employs more than 650 people.
