Teodora Pesheva: BDB supports bold ideas of women innovators
As part of the roundtable discussion Women in Innovation, organized by the Association Damski Forum
“The support for innovative projects in key sectors of the economy is an important mission for the Bulgarian Development Bank. Women innovators inspire us with their bold ideas and scientific achievements,” said Teodora Pesheva, Member of the Management Board of BDB, at the round table “Women in Innovation”, organized by the Damski Forum association.
The discussions were opened by the European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, and by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth, Tomislav Donchev.
Teodora Pesheva presented successful examples of women entrepreneurs who are developing their innovative spirit with the support of the state-owned bank and the Capital Investment Fund, part of the BDB Group.
According to statistics, the Bulgarian innovation ecosystem ranks among the leaders in Europe in terms of women’s participation in innovation — one in four startups in Sofia was established with the participation of women.
When asked how BDB recognizes an idea as investment-ready, Teodora Pesheva advised entrepreneurs to be well-prepared for what comes ahead in order to successfully develop their projects.
“Do not underestimate the amount of financing you will need, and be open to any challenges so that we can address them in time. It is important to be confident in your endeavor, regardless of the difficulties,” she emphasized.
According to Pesheva, applicants for financial support should have a good understanding of the raw materials market for the product they plan to develop and its expected evolution over the next few years. When it comes to innovation, it must be provable — through a prototype, patent, market research, or technological novelty.
Meanwhile, it became clear that some of the participants in the discussion “The Future of Science and Technology” are already in negotiations with the Capital Investment Fund for support of their technological projects.
The BDB’s subsidiary provides equity capital for the growth of Bulgarian companies with a proven business model and potential for expansion into national and international markets. These companies rely on the management expertise and market knowledge of the Fund’s team, as well as on the synergies arising from the use of various financial instruments within the BDB Group.
