South East European Innovators Program is a custom program created by Sofia Tech Park that supports founders of research-based startups throughout their entrepreneurial journey. We provide incubation, acceleration, and tech transfer services to startups from the Balkan region and beyond.
Our mission is to nurture an ecosystem that facilitates, supports, nurtures and develops initial research ideas into successful startups and helps them grow in international markets. We do this by providing training, knowledge transfer, access to unique resources, subsidised office spaces, dedicated advisors, demo sessions and workshops, networking events, mentoring, and introductions to business angels and venture capital companies.
SEEIP is a custom program created by Sofia Tech Park that blends features of incubation, acceleration and tech transfer to support first-time founders of research-based startups throughout their entrepreneurial journey and commercialization of scientific discoveries. The program supports startups throughout their development – from idea, through MVP, investment and international market access.
In broader context, our mission is to create, facilitate and constantly develop a high-quality knowledge environment, which will provide tools for lean growth, knowledge sharing, RnD support and thus improve the capacity for innovations, inventions and opportunity explorations.
The application for the program is open all year round, however the intake is quarterly.
The mission of the program is to support innovators on their journey to become successful founders by providing training, knowledge transfer, access to unique resources, subsidised office spaces, dedicated advisors, demo sessions and workshops, networking events, mentoring, and introductions to business angels and venture capitalists.
The initial stages of the program (Ground 0 and Launch stage) are open to anyone with an idea and the grit to work on its development. From Stage 1 onwards, we welcome incorporated startups working on their own R&D. They will be selected by a jury of experts from the ecosystem and specialists in the sector. We have chosen to follow Technology Readiness Level (a.k.a. TRL) stages as a recognisable measure of technological development across sectors.
The initial stages of the program (Ground 0 and Launch stage) provide Digital intubation, facilitated by an eLearning platform to support individuals and teams who wish to develop an innovative idea.
This digitalised process has strong educational emphasis by providing a platform to learn from specialists about different aspects of creating and running a startup. There will also be several live events and trainings, such as team matching and team building workshops, so even if you don’t have a team – we’ll help you find teammates. Each team will be able to have a consultation with the course creator. The goal is for each startup team to be able to learn how to clearly pitch their idea and gain the necessary skills to build a successful startup.
The co-working space for you and your growing team that creates opportunities for synergies with others.
A space for startup teams and community events.
Recording studio with the latest equipment to film your pitches and any major events.
Startups can create their first hardware prototype using 3D printers, metalwork, woodwork and electronic tools and participate in workshops.
11 laboratories in the fields of Biotech, Life Sciences, AI, Cybersecurity, Nanoelectronics, InVivo and InVitro facilities, under the Research & Development & Innovation Consortium.
Event spaces for networking, seminars and trainings.
Facilitate digital incubation through a mobile app and web platform.
Connection to a strong and active investor community in Bulgaria, CEE, and the world.
Companies in the early stages of development that need prototyping, laboratory testing, or scientific validation and are part of – SEEIP can apply for a voucher that provides free services by Sofia Tech Labs.
Learn about EU projects and funding opportunities applicable to your startup
Connect with the right pool of mentors and learn directly from the most relevant professionals and entrepreneurs
Join live workshops on key topics and have your questions answered by experts
If you are interested in or have a business idea based on scientific, deep-tech or research-based innovation - we’d like to hear from you.
