The 2026 iteration of Dare2Scale has assembled a cross-regional cohort spanning Bulgaria and three Western Balkan nations. Ten Bulgarian firms, one nonprofit entity, and seven companies from North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania make up the program's roster. The 18 organizations collectively bring together 35 founders pursuing ventures across 12 distinct sectors—fintech, deep tech, maritime technology, cybersecurity, healthcare, and education among them.
Endeavor Bulgaria disclosed that 12 of the 18 participants are constructing solutions powered by artificial intelligence. The cohort anticipates generating combined revenue of €17.2M throughout 2026, representing an expected year-on-year expansion of 2.8 times their 2025 figures.
Participating organizations have already secured more than €6M from backers such as LAUNCHub, Eleven Ventures, Techstars Berlin, South Central Ventures, and Vitosha Venture Partners. Looking ahead, 11 of the 18 firms are either actively fundraising or preparing to launch capital rounds, with targets spanning from pre-seed stage through investments reaching €3M.
AI, international expansion, and regional diversity
Bulgaria's selected companies deploy artificial intelligence across semiconductor manufacturing, talent acquisition, payment processing, retail management, and maritime logistics.
Neuromorphica represents the deep tech segment, engineering AI-powered chips capable of reducing energy usage by as much as 100 times, with potential uses in autonomous machinery and robotic systems. Orchestr, established in 2024, operates an AI-driven payment infrastructure connecting numerous payment service providers while automating transaction direction and settlement procedures. JOBee pairs AI-powered candidate evaluation with hiring support, asserting it cuts recruitment duration by over 80% and expenses by more than 30%.
The Bulgarian contingent also encompasses nFuse AI, deploying AI agents to bridge communications between multinational corporations and independent shop owners via messaging platforms including WhatsApp and Viber, plus SeAI, a Varna-situated enterprise constructing AI agents for vessel supervision and shipping sector optimization.
A number of these organizations feature international founding groups or have already begun pursuing opportunities outside Bulgaria's borders.
Seven Western Balkan companies join the program
Expanding upon a regional framework established in 2024, Dare2Scale operates distinct cohorts in Bulgaria and across the Western Balkans.
The Western Balkan selection comprises PulseHub, Hylosense, and Neubase originating from North Macedonia; Paystorm and XY Cyber from Kosovo; and T-Blocks alongside a confidential-stage healthcare venture from Albania. Multiple participants are constructing AI-driven offerings aimed at markets beyond their home regions.
North Macedonia's Hylosense creates granular AI-based weather prediction services tailored for energy companies. Paystorm, headquartered in Kosovo, produces AI agents automating receivables management, encompassing payment reminders and settlement talks. Kosovo-based XY Cyber develops agentic AI systems for cybersecurity, engineered to anticipate, mitigate, and counter threats affecting cloud systems and digital applications.
Albania's T-Blocks, based in Luxembourg, facilitates connections between developing-world assets and worldwide capital providers via financial products structured under EU regulations.
Across the Bulgarian and Western Balkan tracks combined, the 18 organizations employ 154 workers. Thirteen of the 18 identify revenue generation or geographic market penetration as essential expansion objectives.
Mentorship, fundraising, and cross-border connections
The Dare2Scale 2026 program operates from September through December, culminating in a unified Demo Day bringing together cohort members from all four participating countries.
Throughout the initiative, participating founders attend educational seminars, one-on-one coaching, and networking gatherings with business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs based in Bulgaria and internationally. Participants obtain entry to Endeavor Bulgaria's coaching community, with PwC Bulgaria's senior advisors and executives delivering tailored support regarding scaling approaches, organizational structure, and market entry tactics.
Earlier program editions have hosted leaders and creators from major tech organizations, including Bulgarian unicorn Payhawk.
United Bulgarian Bank (UBB) functions as the Lead Partner for the 2026 edition. Supporting organizations encompass the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), the America for Bulgaria Foundation, and the Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria (FMFIB).
