On November 21, 2021 in Varna University of Management – Dobrich campus, the closing ceremony of the third edition of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs in Bulgaria was held.

The concept for the Academy (Academy for Women Entrepreneurs) was developed by the Bureau of Education and Culture at the US State Department under the patronage of Ivanka Trump. The initiative started in 2019 in different countries around the world, and in Bulgaria it is held for the third time. After Sofia and Burgas, the city of Dobrich was chosen as the host this year, and the main partner of the US Embassy in Bulgaria in organizing and conducting the Academy was Varna University of Management.
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs aims to support and develop the economic potential of women from around the world by developing its own business of value to society. Nearly 30 ladies were approved to participate in this edition of the Academy and from May to November they trained, exchanged experiences and ideas, had meetings with lecturers, entrepreneurs and representatives of local businesses.

The ultimate goal was to create a business plan, which on November 20th the ladies presented to a committee of professors at VUM, entrepreneurs and representatives of the American Embassy in Bulgaria. The ideas were more than diverse – cafeterias, a workshop for sweet gifts, chocolate production, an electronic platform for online business, online publishing, handmade jewelry, a virtual art gallery, child support centers, an oxygen therapy center and more.

At the closing ceremony, each of the ladies received a Certificate for participation in the program, and the organizers and participants were greeted by Herro Mustafa – US Ambassador to Bulgaria. She expressed hope that all those who successfully completed the training would put into practice the acquired knowledge and develop the successfully the projects.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Radev – Rector of VUM and Mrs. Mlada Todorova – Associate of the Attaché for Culture and Education at the US Embassy also sent their congratulations.

Of course, the winners were the happiest. Asya Velikova received an incentive prize of $ 1000 for her idea – Atelier and online store for embroidered jewelry. Third place and a $ 2,000 prize went to Kristina Dimitrova, a graduate of VUM. She presented her idea to open an Atelier for sweet personalized gifts. In second place, with a $ 3,000 prize, was Stanislava Krasteva and her project “ProArt – an online space for art and culture with a virtual art gallery and podcast.”

The undisputed winner was Petya Petrova, who received the grand prize of $ 5,000 for her business plan to create an online publishing house “Growth” – for conscious personal and spiritual growth of children and adults.

“Many of the ladies shared that thanks to this academy they have not only learned to make a business plan, but also upgraded their business idea and now have a goal to follow in their lives,” said Tatiana Hristova – project manager from VUM.