• Present the key results and achievements of the EPSI project.
• Promote impact investment as a sustainable financing mechanism for social enterprises and purpose-driven businesses in Bulgaria.
• Present the Investment Readiness Academy and its contribution to strengthening the capacity of social entrepreneurs to attract investment and scale their impact.
• Showcase successful European financial instruments and investment models that can be adapted to the Bulgarian context.
• Foster dialogue and collaboration among investors, policymakers, financial institutions, support organisations and social entrepreneurs to unlock new opportunities for financing and scaling social impact.

Welcome by moderator: Penka Tsvetkova, Entrepreneurship and Social Innovations Director at BCause Foundation

Keynotes:

Natalia Efremova, Minister of Labour and Social Policy

Zornitsa Roussinova, President of the Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria

Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux, Head of unit at European Commission in charge of social and inclusive entrepreneurship, DG EMPL

Overview of the EPSI project, its objectives and key achievements

Elitsa Barakova, Executive Director, BCause Foundation

Mobilising public and private investment to scale social impact in Bulgaria

How can Bulgaria mobilise more capital for social enterprises and impact-driven businesses? Bringing together public financial intermediaries, social finance institutions and private impact investors, this panel will explore how different sources of capital can complement one another, how public support can unlock private investment, and what it takes to build a functioning impact investment market.

Discussion topics

• The current state of impact investment in Bulgaria and Europe: opportunities and market gaps

• What different investors look for when financing social enterprises and impact-driven businesses

• Combining public resources, guarantees and private capital to expand access to finance

• Overcoming barriers to investment, from risk perception to limited investment readiness

• Building a sustainable pipeline of investable enterprises and measurable social impact

Moderator: Maria Marinova, Bulgarian Venture Capital Association

Gabriele Giulietti, Head of Institutional and Foreign Affairs at Banca Etica- Italy

Martina Grigorova, Executive director at SIS Credit

Biser Petkov, Executive director at Fund Manager of Financial instruments in Bulgaria (FMFIB)

Aimen Cherif, Director at Impact Business Angels, France

Dr. Dimitar Georgiev, Investor in Social Impact Projects

Panel I Q&A with the audience

What does it take to become investment-ready? Lessons from social enterprises and their support partners

A strong social mission is only the starting point. To attract financing and grow sustainably, social enterprises need viable business models, sound financial planning, clear evidence of social impact and the capacity to deliver results. Drawing on the EPSI Investment Readiness Academy and the experiences of social enterprises and support organisations, this panel will explore what investment readiness means in practice, how it can be developed, and how support organisations, foundations and investors can help bridge the gap between social purpose and access to finance.

Discussion topics

• Key lessons and outcomes from the EPSI Investment Readiness Academy

• The real challenges social enterprises face when seeking external financing

• Building financially sustainable business models while preserving social mission

• Demonstrating impact: measurement, management and evidence that matters to funders

• The roles of foundations, accelerators, investors and specialist support organisations in preparing enterprises for growth

• What happens after an investment readiness programme: connecting prepared enterprises with suitable financing

Moderator: Dr. Eng. Dotchka Vassileva, Head of Project Planning and Institutional Cooperation Department at the Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria (FMFIB)

Yavor Gochev, Program director at BCause

Audrey Brenot, Operations Director, PULSE, France

Nadia Zaharieva, Program director at America for Bulgaria Foundation

Veselina Panayotova, Mom got a job Foundation

Diana Aladjova, Partner at Silverline capital and social entrepreneur

Panel II Q&A with the audience

Turning European experience into financial instruments, partnerships and policy action

What will it take to build a sustainable social finance ecosystem in Bulgaria? Drawing on European experience and the perspectives of policymakers, development finance institutions and microfinance networks, this panel will explore how successful financial models can be adapted to national needs, how EU and national resources can be used more effectively, and what policy and institutional changes are needed to expand access to finance for social enterprises and other impact-driven businesses.

Discussion topics

• European financial instruments and financing models that could be adapted to Bulgaria

• The role of EU programmes, development finance institutions and national public resources in mobilising capital

• Designing complementary financing solutions, including loans, guarantees and blended finance

• Strengthening cooperation between public authorities, financial intermediaries, investors and social enterprise support organisations

• The policy and regulatory conditions needed to support market development

• Concrete priorities for scaling social finance in Bulgaria and sustaining the results of EPSI beyond the project lifetime

Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Marina Stefanova, PhD, Deputy Dean for Sustainability, Support and Engagement and Head of the Department of Economics and Industrial Management, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Nadya Klisurska, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (tbc)

Zornitsa Roussinova, President of the Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria (tbc)

Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux, Head of unit at European Commission in charge of social and inclusive entrepreneurship, DG EMPL

Pavol Kapsdorfer, Manager at Microfinance Centre, Poland

Panel III Q&A with the audience

Conference Conclusions

• Key messages from the conference and discussion with the audience

• Presentation of recommendations, next steps and future collaborations

• Closing remarks and official end of the conference

Martina Grigorova, Executive director at SIS Credit

Penka Tsvetkova, Entrepreneurship and Social Innovations Director at BCause Foundation

Address: Event Space 2020, 1 Bulgaria Blvd., 1463 Sofia
(Landmark: next to Lumiere Cinema)

How to get there:

Metro: Lines M2 / M3, National Palace of Culture Station, Exit towards Vitosha Blvd.

Trams: 1, 6, 7 - National Palace of Culture Stop

Buses: 72, 76, 94, 204 - National Palace of Culture Stop

By car: paid parking around National Palace of Culture