The “Student Company” Programme – Practical Entrepreneurship Education for Young People
The Student Company Programme is a unique and widely recognized course that gives students the opportunity to experience the entire process of creating and managing their own business. The programme is internationally established and is recognized by the European Commission as a best practice in entrepreneurship education.
Participants go through every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, from generating innovative ideas to turning them into products or services. They learn about financing, marketing, resource management, and sales, while applying these skills in practice through the creation and operation of their own company. Student companies also have the opportunity to participate in regional and national competitions, with the most successful teams advancing to European forums such as Gen-E.
At Prof. Ivan Apostolov Private Language High School, all students take part in an introductory process of developing business concepts and product ideas. After Grade 10, they have the opportunity to choose an academic pathway aligned with their interests, one of which is the Entrepreneurship Profile.
Students of Prof. Ivan Apostolov Private Language High School with a passion for entrepreneurship once again demonstrated their potential with an outstanding performance in the national competition “Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria 2026.” The teams RainReborn and ZeroLoop won first and second place respectively in the SDG Dragons category, while two other student projects – Octolio and Scenthea – were recognized as finalists among more than 600 participants from across the country.
The “Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria” competition is one of the most prestigious youth entrepreneurship initiatives in the country. It is organized by the Fund of Funds and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” with the support of the Ministry of Innovation and Growth and dozens of partner organizations from the entrepreneurial, academic, and business communities. Its mission is to identify, support, and develop the most promising young entrepreneurs in Bulgaria by providing them with access to experts, mentors, investors, and opportunities to bring their ideas to life.
For Prof. Ivan Apostolov Private Language High School, this achievement is yet another national-level recognition and proof that entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, and social responsibility are among the values our students develop every day. Just one year ago, the student company BioBliss brought the school the same first-place award and international recognition. Today, a new generation of young entrepreneurs continues this successful tradition.
First place in the SDG Dragons category was awarded to RainReborn – an AI-powered system for intelligent rainwater management. The project offers an innovative solution for sustainable water resource management through the use of artificial intelligence and modern technologies.
In addition to the prestigious victory, the team received numerous awards, including a visit to the European Commission in Brussels, participation in the global social entrepreneurship programme Elevate Democratizing Innovation Institute worth €2,500, a mentoring session from ABLE, consultations from the Unified Innovation Center of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, a professional promotional video from Pleggi, and a hosting services voucher from Jump.bg.
Second place in the same category was won by ZeroLoop – an application designed to reduce waste through partnerships with restaurants and more efficient resource utilization.
The team received a sponsored visit to the EIT Jumpstarter Grand Final from Cleantech Bulgaria, professional consultation in UI/UX design and digital presence from Weband, mentoring support from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and a hosting voucher from Jump.bg.
Two additional projects from our school also ranked among Bulgaria’s most promising young entrepreneurial ventures this year.
Octolio was recognized as a finalist for its educational game concept that develops financial literacy through interactive simulations and real-life decision-making scenarios.
Scenthea also reached the finals with its concept for an environmentally sustainable roll-on perfume, combining product innovation with responsible environmental practices.
In an inspiring panel discussion reflecting on the journey following last year’s triumph of our student company BioBliss, Sofia Nikolova shared the successes and challenges faced by the team during the past year. We are proud that BioBliss has become the first student company from our school to transform into an officially registered business, with signed patent agreements in partnership with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences as well as collaboration agreements with other startups and companies. We look forward to seeing their products on the market in the near future.
The fact that four teams from Prof. Ivan Apostolov Private Language High School reached the national finals and all received recognition is an impressive achievement that places the school among the leading educational institutions in Bulgaria in the field of entrepreneurship education.
We congratulate all participants, as well as their mentors and teachers, Deyan Doykov and Ivan Petrov, for their dedication and hard work. We are proud of you and firmly believe that your greatest successes are still ahead of you.
