We invest only in good people

About Us

Innovation Starter Accelerator is a financing acceleration program, with a mandate to provide access to equity and quasi-equity financing to Bulgarian start-up companies with entirely private capital. The accelerator is powered by the team of the first Bulgarian innovation agency – Innovation Starter, which owns the projects Innovation Explorer Forum and Innovation Academy as well as the support of corporate partners.

Our vision is to focus on key high-priority sectors in the local economy with potential for disruptive and scalable innovation – including healthcare, education, care for the elderly, transport and logistics, frontier digitalization, FMCG – and to support their transformation through professional innovation management in high-potential start-up businesses.

Our end goals are growing these businesses to scale and establishing vertical or horizontal integration with well-established international companies and innovation leaders – in Bulgaria and internationally.

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The Team

Management Team

Mentors

Investments

All investments

Awards

1

Investment Policy

The investment approach in a company includes:

Investment criteria

  • Newly-established Bulgarian enterprises with the potential to win a leading market position in their segments that create added value for the country
  • Early-stage projects that have their own innovation in technology, supply process, product patent
  • Potential or already existing  sustainable competitive advantage on a global level (brand, innovation, unique product/service, know-how, etc.)
  • A product or approach that undoubtedly results in improvement of the quality of life in Bulgaria

Sector profile

  • Industries: Healthcare, Care for elderly, Education, Transport and Logistics, Digitalization, FMCG
  • Validated approach in the key sectors of the program
  • Sectors attractive for foreign investments in Bulgaria
  • Sectors with rapid growth potential and relatively low risk in the face of a new financial crisis
  • Sectors with potential for structural change and innovation or market consolidation
  • A successful business model that guarantees growth and profitability
  • Well-defined strategy and growth expectations: 3x+ annually, fast scale up and internationalization potential
  • Potential for top 3 in the segment

Management Criteria

  • Excellent professional reputation
  • Founders with previous startup experience and domain expertise
  • Knowledge of the industry and network of contacts
  • Strive for high commercial performance
  • Quick “exits” opportunity
  • Preference for “exit” from the investment within 3 to 5 years
In addition, the accelerator will make a precise selection and will allow funding for "early entrepreneurs" ideas as part as the Innovation Academy, which show the potential to meet the conditions of the acceleration program.
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Partners

Corporate Support