From classroom to startup: Teenovator’s role in shaping Bulgaria’s young innovators

Sofia: The issue of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) continues to be a challenge and concern in Bulgaria. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), NEET rates in Bulgaria in 2020 were among the highest in the EU at 18% against a European average of 14%.

Moreover, the figures regarding higher education after graduating from school showcase yet another trend. Back in 2013 the outbound mobility rate was 8%. According to UNESCO, this figure rose to 10.8% in 2021. Currently, over 25K Bulgarian students are pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degrees abroad.

On the one hand, this reflects the connectivity and mobility of the Bulgarian students worldwide, as well as their desire to develop and seek better opportunities. On the other hand, it raises some concerning questions. What are the issues with the Bulgarian education system? What steps must be taken to encourage future professionals to build their careers in the country?

The traditional education system often falls short in providing the right training for future professionals, lacking both flexibility and practical experience. Therefore, programs like Teenovator play a vital role in linking professionals from diverse fields with high school students interested in entrepreneurship.

Launched in 2018 as a pilot project in four schools in Sofia, it has since grown to involve participants from 30 cities across Bulgaria. Teenovator emphasizes learning through practice, fosters creative thinking, and focuses on solving problems through entrepreneurial initiatives.

“Teenovator, however, is something that could not be put in school. This program is built to be happening outside of the formal classroom because it is meant to be practical, experimental, and challenging,” shared Zornitsa Mitkova, the Managing Director of Teenovator, previously for The Recursive.

According to their research, after the program, over 78% of respondents aged 19 or older stayed in Bulgaria, and more than half are either working or interning.

Mentors play a crucial role in shaping and developing each team. The program emphasizes minimal theory, with a focus on team exercises and real business examples. It highlights soft skills and practical knowledge on building a startup from A to Z.

The Recursive talked to the mentors, Viktoria Karoleva and Tsvetelina Asenova, of this year’s winning team, Errandix. The project, created by the team from 91. German Language School in Sofia, presents a platform that connects young job seekers with individuals looking for services and support to meet their needs.

Tsvetelina is an HR and recruitment professional, while Viktoria is the founder of FAME, entrepreneurial space for female founders, angel investors and mentors. Both of them share the moment when the spark started a chain reaction of creativity and motivation.

“The first meeting was indeed challenging, as we needed to find our approach and develop an alternative and innovative method to connect with the students,” says Tsvetelina.

“After the second meeting, we focused on following our intuition, playing games, having fun, and creating a bond among the team,” adds Viktoria. She also explains that the roles in the team came very naturally but the mentors were the ones who lead the process.

Teenovator was a first time experience for both Viktoria and Tsvetelina. They shared how being a mentor requires a serious commitment. But they are eager to continue with the sessions and help the team push the project to the next level.

Teodora Stoyanova, part of Errandix’s team, explained that there is now a strong bond between their group of students and the mentors. “We became like a family,” she says.

Teodora was a leading part of the team, presenting their initial idea of the winter mid-competition Teenovator: Weekend of ideas. “It was very exciting for me; the lack of sleep really took its toll. I don’t think I’ve ever been so anxious in my life. However, it definitely helped me improve my presentation skills.”

Mihaela, another team member, remembers that: “a lot of the participating teams were well-prepared in advance. We had to prepare our presentation from scratch, and we proved that even with limited time, we managed to do well.”

“The opportunity to present in front of a lot of people helped me feel much more comfortable at the final competition”, tell us Teodora. “I initially signed up on a whim, without fully understanding what the program entails. Thanks to Teenovator, my perspective is now different.”

Viktoria explained that together with Tsvetelina they were mentoring two teams at the mid-competition and they naturally “divided into boys and girls, showcasing two distinct behavior models. Both groups won awards, I was incredibly proud of them.”

Over 70% of Teenovator participants are eager to pursue a business career after completing the program, according to their survey. More than half continue to advance the ideas they developed during Teenovator, and 65% feel a greater sense of responsibility towards society.

Teodora notes that their current main challenge is finding someone who can develop Errandix’s platform. “After that, we will proceed with client offerings.”

“The main idea is to offer employment opportunities to students under 18,” concludes Tsvetelina.

The application process for mentors and students for Teenovator 7 is currently open.

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