Q&A

Who organized Beyond?

Beyond is organized jointly by Junior Achievement Bulgaria and The Edge: R&BD. JA Bulgaria is an international organization working in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation education for young people. Globally, JA has branches in over 100 countries, and the Bulgarian one has existed for over 20 years. The Edge: R&BD is the subsidiary of JA Bulgaria, which is focused on the creation and development of startup companies, commercialization of scientific developments and various projects related to the interaction between science and business

  • The program runs from November to March, featuring weekend workshops, community events, mentorship sessions and office hours tailored to develop business models and validate ideas. 
  • The program will be held in both English & Bulgarian. Advanced English level is required. 
  • Beyond program will take place in an event space in the center of Sofia city (Knyaz Alexander Dondukov Blvd 54b) and will be conducted offline. Online sessions will happen in case we are hosting a foreign speaker / guest lecturer and will be an exception. On-site presence during the Beyond program is strongly encouraged and required to participate in the final Demo Day. Some of the sessions could be adapted for hybrid form and might be recorded. Participants living outside of Sofia are allowed to participate online for a maximum of 50% of the program sessions. 
  • Onsite presence during the Beyond program is strongly encouraged and required to participate in the final Demo Day. 

The program emphasizes innovations in MedTech, AgriTech, and CreaTech, with sessions covering startup processes, technological entrepreneurship, product-market fit, AI use cases, and more.

Participants are matched with mentors based on their needs in January, receiving guidance on various topics – idea validation, customer development, sales, marketing, pitching, and more, with ongoing support throughout the program. 

You can apply regardless of the stage of your development. We can add value in any stage of your startup development.

You can apply both independently and as a team. If you don’t have a team, you can find like-minded people during the program.

The biggest added You’ll learn about building a sustainable business model, testing and validating ideas, product-market fit, customer validation, prototyping, IP, investment terminology, and pitch development.

Beyond is the only pre-accelerator in Bulgaria focused on three specific thematic areas: (i) digital innovations in medicine and healthcare; (ii) agriculture; and (iii) creative industries. The team behind Beyond has over 20 years of experience in creating and developing startup companies. Beyond provides participants with access to an international network of mentors, partners and investors, as well as a prize pool for the best team.

  • Demo Day, held in March, is the program’s culmination where participants present their refined business ideas and progress to a panel of experts and potential investors, gaining exposure and feedback. Only selected startups pitch at the Demo Day – evaluation criteria are based on the progress achieved during the program, founder engagement, idea validation and traction. 

Applications can be submitted through the program’s website & this form: https://eu.jotform.com/form/242671497721059  
The selection process focuses on the founder’s qualities (motivation, commitment & track record), product/service innovation and its potential impact.

It will be the 6th edition of the program. 10 teams approximately successfully complete the program, and 30% on average receive an investment proposal each year.

Yes, there is a participation fee for the program. This fee covers access to workshops, mentorship, events, and resources aimed at helping you develop your business idea. Details on the fee structure can be found on the program’s website. 
The program may offer scholarships or financial aid to eligible participants – students and/or participants with limited incomes. Contact elena.nikolova@theedge.solutions for more information. 

Yes, you can pay your fee in two equal installments. The first is due before the start of the program (until 28th November 2024) and the second – until the end of December 2024 (31st December 2024).