Insights
White Papers
Ecosystem RadarEcosystem Radar
StartupBlink puts Bulgaria’s startup ecosystem at $7.3bn
StartupBlink’s 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Index values Bulgaria’s startup ecosystem at $7.3 billion and ranks the country 40th globally. The report also shows stronger city-level performance in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv, while pointing to the system’s continued concentration around the capital.
Startup Growth ©Envato
FTS Insights official • For French Tech Sofia, the main signal is not only the headline valuation but the shape of the ecosystem map. Bulgaria is gaining visibility at European level, and Sofia is consolidating its role as the country’s clear startup gateway. At the same time, the gap with Varna and Plovdiv shows that regional depth remains a structural issue. That matters for founders, investors and ecosystem operators looking at Southeast Europe: the opportunity is clearer, but the market is still strongly centralized.
Key Takeaways
- Bulgaria regained a place in StartupBlink’s global top 40 in 2026.
- The country combines fast ecosystem growth with relatively solid support conditions for startups.
- Sofia remains the main engine of national startup visibility and performance.
- Varna and Plovdiv are improving, but Bulgaria’s ecosystem is still heavily centralized.
Why this matters
- The ranking suggests Bulgaria is improving faster than many EU peers, not only maintaining a regional position.
- Sofia’s rise strengthens its profile as a practical base for startups, investors and ecosystem partners in Southeast Europe.
- The distance between Sofia and other cities shows that national ecosystem depth remains a structural challenge.
- Strong scores in startup support and business conditions matter for founders comparing European build locations.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
May 21, 2026
Стартъп секторът в България с оценка от 7.3 млрд. долара според Global Startup Ecosystem Index
by Rumen Sokolov
Article Summary
Bulgaria returned to the global top 40 in StartupBlink’s 2026 ecosystem ranking, placing 40th worldwide and 24th in Europe. According to the report, the country’s ecosystem grew by 25.4% year on year, one of the fastest rates in the EU, while keeping its leading position in the Balkans.
The report also points to relatively strong framework conditions. Bulgaria ranks 18th in the index for business environment for innovators and 14th in the EU for startup support. Its strongest industry positions are in marketing and sales, and in software and data.
At city level, Sofia climbed 12 places to 117th globally and reached 23rd in the EU. The capital is now the second-strongest startup city in the Balkans and ranks first on ecosystem participant strength. But the national map remains highly centralized: Sofia’s overall score is 12.9 times higher than Varna’s. Varna rose 37 places to 532nd, while Plovdiv re-entered the global top 1000 at 876th after one of the biggest jumps among European cities this year.
Key Highlights
- StartupBlink values Bulgaria’s startup ecosystem at $7.3 billion and ranks the country 40th globally in 2026.
- Bulgaria’s score grew 25.4% year on year, one of the fastest growth rates in the EU, while keeping first place in the Balkans.
- Sofia rose 12 places to 117th globally and 23rd in the EU, becoming the Balkans’ second-strongest startup city.
- Varna climbed to 532nd, while Plovdiv returned to the global top 1000 at 876th after a 163.1% increase.
- The report says Sofia’s ecosystem score is 12.9 times higher than Varna’s, underlining the country’s concentration.
Takeaway
The report strengthens Bulgaria’s case as a growing startup market in Europe. It also makes clear that the next challenge is not visibility, but turning Sofia’s momentum into broader national depth.
Read the full coverage on Forbes Bulgaria(bg)
About Forbes Bulgaria
ForbesBulgaria.com is the Bulgarian edition of Forbes, offering stories of entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, and business success both locally and globally.
They are mentioned in this publication
Related Publications Continue reading
Reuters / France said companies pledged €93 billion at the 2026 Choose France summit, setting a new high for the event. The largest single commitment came from SoftBank, which plans to invest €45 billion in three data centres in Hauts-de-France by 2031 as France pushes to position itself as a European base for AI infrastructure.
Reuters / SoftBank Group says it will invest €45 billion over five years to build AI data centre capacity in France, starting in Hauts-de-France. The plan, announced ahead of the Choose France conference, positions France as a major destination for European AI infrastructure investment.
SeeNews / Bulgarian listed ICT group TBS has approved a cross-border acquisition plan covering five companies in Romania, the UK and Sweden. The proposed transactions would total 42.3 million euro, but the targets remain unnamed and no binding commitments have yet been signed.