The  EWA Participants presented their pitches in preliminary announced order, each having seven minutes to pitch their business idea in the way they would present it to an investor, followed by 7 minutes Q&A session, during which the jury and the audience could ask questions regarding the business idea and the business model as follows:

 

1. Antoniya Georgieva – Biogaria

 

The start-up idea is to develop a product based on algae biomass. It will find application as a biofertilizer that will regulate the processes of absorption of water and nutrients by plants.

 

2. Betina Yordanova – Orchard - village Tsarev Brod

 

Betina’ s idea is to offer to the market fruit raw material of prunes that is free of substitutes and chemical additives. The target market are factories for prune products, using fruit raw materials in industrial quantities. She is also developing a new product – candies, based on the natural fruit raw material.

 

3. Desislava Stoitsova – Duck farm

 

Desislava presented her idea for closed cycle of organic production of duck meat. The start-up aims to  ensure the quality by producing their own feed and  growing the ducks in natural conditions. This  will allow to reduce the use of  chemicals and thus  reduce a number of environmental and human health problems.

         

4. Nataliya Nikolova – Recycle Art

 

Nataliya gathered valuable experience during EWA Programme which allowed her to further develop her idea for the production of seedling from rare plants and decorations into a service that would allow customers to choose combinations of herbs and plants according to their taste by using a specially designed application.

 

5. Kristina Tsenova

          

The knowledge and skills gained in the programme helped Kristina to promote her products and reach to new customers and to develop and offer to the market a new product – immunostimulator Tsenova.

 

6. Stefka Malcheva

 

Stefka Malcheva shared that the gained knowledge and experience in EWA programme and especially the received feedback and mentor support, helped her reshape her business idea. She started initially with idea for houses for apitherapy and then, following the advice during the group session on business planning and with the help of her mentor she started developing a completely new product – Dr. Oi’s sweets with 90% honey for soothing a sore throat. The innovation includes another new product - honey powder, produced by own technology, that can also be used as sweetener instead of sugar.

 

7.  Slavena Rodinova – Hot Farm

 

In the course of EWA programme and with the help of her mentor , the start up has developed a new variety of chilli pepers – Bulgarian sense. HotFarm uses own technology to offer quality products that are suitable for people with stomach problems. Another product with numerous health benefits is Hotfarm tincture – food additive with vitamin C and good effect on metabolism and blood pressure.

 

8.  Blazhka Dimitrova – Zero Wave

 

The start-up utilizes the waste products from malz and beer in the production of  high-quality food, rich in fibres and proteins. The start up is based on the idea of zero waste and low carbon foodprint throughout the value chain.  

 

Significant achievements thanks to EWA programme, include entering new markets – Romania and Greece and 100 Shell locations in Bulgaria, offering Zero Wave products. The company has also signed contracts with Lagardere and Lidl and started collaboration with “Istinski med” – platform for the support of beekeepers and honey producers.

 

9. Jane Dimitrova - FoodoBOX

 

During the jury meeting from 14.00 to 16.00, an Information event was held for introducing EWA Bulgaria 2022 Programme of EIT Food and other initiatives for support of women entrepreneurs and startups in agrifood, implemented by  EIT Hub Bulgaria, Women Entrepreneurship Centre  (WOMEN IN BUSINESS project), Innovation Starter Box and Agro Hub BG. 

Main keynote speakers and presentations included:

 

Ralitsa Zhekova, RAPIV presented the implementation of EWA Programme 2022 in Bulgaria. 

 

Ina Todorova, Cleantech Bulgaria presented the initiatives of EIT Food Hub in Bulgaria and future opportunities for the support of agrifood entrepreneurs, offered by EIT Food.

 

Svetlana Boyanova, Institute for Agrostrategies and Innovation and Agro Hub BG introduced the The Digital Innovation Hub for Agriculture (DIH) which aims to bring together all stakeholders in the agricultural sector in order to develop cooperation and create joint developments for the benefit of agricultural producers.

 

PhD. Leona Aslanova, CEO, Innovation Starter Box presented different initiatives and programmes of Innovation Starter Box for the support of start-ups, especially in the agrifood sector. 
 

Assoc. prof. Eleonora Tankova, Varna Free University presented the success story of the  Women Entrepreneurship Centre, created within the WOMEN IN BUSINESS project in cooperation between RAPIV and Varna Free University was presented. The centre offers training, mentoring and consultations and networking opportunities to young women entrepreneurs at different stages of development of their business idea.
 

Milen Vlaev, Head of Department "Agribusiness", DSK Agro, Bank DSK AD  presented financial products and services, offered by DSK bank, tailored to the specific needs of agricultural producers.