Ecosystem Radar

Highlights on the Growth of La French Tech Sofia and Bulgaria’s Role in the European Innovation Landscape

This feature from The Recursive explores the journey and evolution of La French Tech Sofia, the Bulgarian chapter of France’s global initiative to support tech startups and cross-border collaboration. It profiles French Tech Sofia leadership, values, and strategic goals, and highlights Bulgaria’s emergence as a CEE tech hub with strong ties to the French innovation ecosystem.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

March 21, 2022

La French Tech in CEE - The Bulgarian Chapter

by Elena Ivanova

Read coverage on The Recursive

“The goal of La French Tech is to bridge the French-Bulgarian startup ecosystems through community and innovation."

– The Recursive

Article Summary

The article opens by recounting how La French Tech Sofia was officially launched in 2016 and gradually evolved from a small group of French-speaking tech founders into a fully recognized international innovation community.

The piece centers on Adrien Bacchi, co-founder of the gaming studio ChibiPhoenix and president of the Sofia chapter. He shares how the initiative began informally, with a few French entrepreneurs looking to connect, and eventually gained momentum with the support of the French Embassy, the French Institute in Bulgaria, and the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The chapter now hosts monthly events, engages with local and international startups, and works to bridge the gap between Bulgarian and French tech ecosystems. It serves as a soft-landing platform for French companies expanding into Bulgaria and helps Bulgarian startups connect with resources and investors in France.

Bulgaria itself is presented as a strategic location for innovation, thanks to its well-educated talent pool, cost efficiency, and improving startup support environment. The article notes that the community in Sofia benefits from strong collaboration with BESCO, the Bulgarian Fund of Funds, InvestBulgaria Agency, and other ecosystem builders.

The Recursive emphasizes that La French Tech’s impact in Sofia is not just about nationality or language—it’s about shared values, mutual support, and the belief that European innovation thrives through collaboration, diversity, and community.

Key Highlights

  • La French Tech Sofia evolved from a grassroots network into a strategic international tech connector.
  • Backed by key French institutions and Bulgarian ecosystem partners.
  • Regular events and active community-building are central to its impact.
  • Bulgaria is positioned as a growing CEE hub for international startups.
  • The initiative supports both French entrepreneurs in Bulgaria and Bulgarian startups looking toward France.

Takeaway

This article highlights a maturing European startup collaboration model, with La French Tech Sofia acting as a conduit for talent, capital, and ideas between France and Bulgaria. It paints a picture of a cosmopolitan innovation ecosystem where entrepreneurs from across sectors and backgrounds find community and opportunity.

La French Tech Sofia serves as a key node in Bulgaria’s international startup landscape, fostering visibility and connections for founders operating in sectors like fintech, gaming, sustainability, and digital services.

Read full the coverage on The Recursive(en)

About The Recursive

TheRecursive.com is a media platform covering startups, tech, and innovation across Southeast Europe, spotlighting entrepreneurs, trends, and ecosystem developments.

https://therecursive.com/

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Klear Lendingofficial

Klear connects people looking for higher returns on their savings with people looking for fairly priced loans, providing better deals to both parties.

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Official French Tech hub – NGO bridging together players in the French & Bulgarian #startup ecosystems #FrenchTechSofia

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