On October 10, 2024, the second session of Spectra Sprint and Pitch II took place, which attracted the attention of Bulgarian and Irish investors and gave a total of four startup companies - two from Bulgaria and two from Ireland - the opportunity to present their innovative ideas. The event was part of the initiatives of the project "SPECTRA Stimulating the effectiveness of regional ecosystems in the creative and creative industries", aiming to support the development of innovative and creative ecosystems in four regions in Europe, including Bulgaria and Ireland.

For BIC Innobridge, a particular highlight is the participation of Bulgarian startups, represented by two promising companies - Taratans and CASTING X.

Taratans is an innovative brand that uses the power of Bulgarian folklore and traditions to create value-added products such as dance sets and a mobile app for learning folk dances with augmented reality. The main goal of the company is to preserve the authenticity of Bulgarian folk dance and popularize Bulgarian culture, making it accessible and modern at the same time, using the possibilities of digital technologies. Their presentation showed how traditions can be presented in a modern and entertaining way, targeting new markets and an international audience.

CASTING X presented an interesting project - an international action film series that follows young people immersed in the world of fame, fortune and social media. The series promises dynamic car chases, physical confrontations and deep moral questions, all in the context of today's materialistic, social media-driven world. One of the main goals of CASTING X is to promote positive role models while creating a highly commercialized pop culture product – something that is often lacking in modern pop culture. The project seeks to offer young people new perspectives and highlight the importance of moral values in the context of the media and material world.

Presentation to investors

Each of the four companies, including the Irish startups, had 5 minutes to present their business idea to a specially selected audience of investors from Bulgaria and Ireland. After the presentations, the companies received feedback and advice from experts, enabling them to improve their strategies for growth and attracting investment.

The progress of the SPECTRA initiative

Spectra Sprint and Pitch II is the second in a series of sessions aimed at stimulating innovation and creativity in Europe. The first session, held earlier in the year, also featured five selected companies from Bulgaria and Ireland who showcased their products and ideas to an international audience. The main objective of these sessions is to encourage entrepreneurs to step out of their comfort zone and come up with innovative solutions that have the potential to change the industries in which they operate. These sessions represent a unique opportunity for start-ups not only to attract investor interest, but also to build valuable networks of contacts and find reliable partners, both among investors and with other participants from the creative and innovation ecosystem.

The second session of Spectra Sprint and Pitch II proved to be a significant moment for the development of Bulgarian and Irish startups. She not only connected them with potential investors, but also stimulated creativity and innovative thinking within SPECTRA. This event is part of the project's wider initiative to build more connected, competitive and sustainable innovation ecosystems in Europe.

As a representative of the developing Bulgarian creative ecosystem and a partner in SPECTRA, BIC Innobridge had its important role both in inviting and selecting the start-up companies, and in securing Bulgarian investors to attend the event. This collaboration is key to strengthening ties between the creative sectors and business, both nationally and internationally.