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BVCA and InvestEU Spotlight Bulgarian Startups in Paris
BVCA’s Paris event with #InvestEU brought together Bulgarian and French entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions to highlight startup success stories, cross-border collaboration, and Bulgaria’s growing role in Europe’s innovation economy.
FTS Insights official •
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
July 05, 2018
BVCA on Tour with #InvestEU Paris - BVCA
by mariana
Read coverage on Bulgarian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association
“This tour proves that Bulgaria is no longer a hidden gem — it’s a visible, viable part of Europe’s startup story."
– Evgeny Angelov, Chairman of BVCA and Partner at PostScriptum Ventures
Article Summary
The Bulgarian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA), in collaboration with the European Commission in Bulgaria, organized a high-impact event in Paris as part of the BVCA on Tour with #InvestEU initiative. Held at The Family — a renowned French startup community hub — the event aimed to promote investment opportunities and partnerships between Bulgaria and France.
Attendees included French-based investors, startup founders, and representatives from Bulgarian VC firms such as BlackPeak Capital, LAUNCHub Ventures, PostScriptum Ventures, and NEVEQ Capital Partners. They were joined by EU officials, including Isabelle Jégouzo (European Commission Paris) and Ognian Zlatev (European Commission Bulgaria), alongside BVCA Chairman Evgeny Angelov.
The program featured inspiring testimonials from cross-border entrepreneurs:
- Xavier Marcenac (Nasekomo, TELUS International) shared his 20-year journey building companies between France and Bulgaria.
- Paul Guillemin, founder of FretLink, spoke about expanding his logistics platform to Sofia with backing from French investors.
- Yordan Tabakov (WizziLab) and Katya Laine (Kwalys) discussed how their Bulgarian-French journeys shaped their ventures in IoT and AI.
- Plamen Tzanev (Pulsio Print) highlighted how VC support from BlackPeak Capital helped scale his Bulgaria-based printing business for French clients.
The event also showcased French Tech Sofia through Wilfried Durand, who shared how Sofia has become an attractive base for French entrepreneurs.
This Paris edition follows similar BVCA tour stops in Vienna, London, and Berlin — part of a broader effort to deepen ties between Bulgaria and leading European innovation ecosystems.
Key Highlights
- BVCA and the European Commission co-hosted a showcase of Bulgaria’s innovation scene in Paris, gathering French and Bulgarian founders and investors.
- Founders from Nasekomo, FretLink, Kwalys, and WizziLab shared their cross-border journeys and startup stories.
- VCs like BlackPeak Capital and LAUNCHub Ventures joined the conversation to highlight Bulgaria’s funding landscape.
- French Tech Sofia’s presence affirmed Sofia’s role as a base for international entrepreneurs and a magnet for French tech talent.
Takeaway
This BVCA-led initiative demonstrates that Bulgaria is ready to lead — not follow — in Europe’s innovation economy. By facilitating meaningful connections between ecosystems like Paris and Sofia, BVCA helps amplify the voices of underrepresented markets that have proven their ability to generate, attract, and scale bold startups.
With French entrepreneurs, EU officials, and investors aligned in the same room, the event signaled more than promotion — it showcased a real shift toward Bulgaria becoming a strategic hub in the European venture landscape.
Read full the coverage on Bulgarian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association(en)
About Bulgarian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association
The Bulgarian Venture Capital Association (BVCA) unites, supports and develops the investment community in Bulgaria.
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