On November 2, BESCO Hall of Fame 2026 brought together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, institutional representatives, and members of the media at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre for the third edition of an initiative celebrating individuals who have made a lasting contribution to Bulgaria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Among this year’s guests were Milena Ribarova, Founder and CEO of DigiTech Consult, and Boris Danchev from our team. As a member of BESCO, we were pleased to take part in an evening that celebrated something beyond individual business success: the value of sharing experience, knowledge, and opportunities with those who follow.
Recognizing Contributions Beyond Business Success
BESCO established Hall of Fame as an annual initiative recognizing entrepreneurs who have built successful companies while making a meaningful contribution to the wider business community.
The selection process reflects this purpose. Following public nominations, the 15 candidates receiving the strongest support are evaluated by a jury of more than 40 entrepreneurs, investors, and business ecosystem leaders. Five finalists are then selected, with one entrepreneur inducted into the BESCO Hall of Fame each year.
The inaugural honoree in 2024 was Ivo Tzenov of SiteGround, followed in 2025 by Raycho Raychev, founder of EnduroSat.
Darin Madzharov Named BESCO Hall of Fame 2026 Honoree
This year’s highest recognition went to Darin Madzharov, founder of Ucha.se.
The idea behind the platform began with his desire to help his younger sister understand her school lessons more easily. What started as a personal initiative gradually developed into one of Bulgaria’s most recognizable educational platforms. Today, Ucha.se offers more than 27,000 video lessons, tests, and revision materials covering the official curriculum for grades 1 through 12.
The other finalists were Svetlin Nakov, founder of SoftUni; Ivo and Kaloyan Kumanov, founders of NIK Electronics; Orlin Radev, founder of AMPECO; and Ivan Alexandrov, founder of eBag.
Their entrepreneurial journeys span education, technology, agriculture, electric vehicle infrastructure, and e-commerce. Despite their different industries, they share a defining quality: their contributions extend beyond the growth of their own companies.
From Bulgarian Entrepreneurship to Space
A special part of the evening’s program featured Tatyana Ivanova, an aerospace engineering student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University who is preparing for a future career as an astronaut, with the ambition of becoming the first Bulgarian woman to travel to space.
Her preparation already includes skydiving, scuba diving, high-G training, and specialized training related to suborbital spaceflight. Her story complemented the evening’s central message: ambition becomes even more meaningful when it inspires others and helps create opportunities for the next generation.
The ceremony was hosted by actors Vladimir Zombori and Vesela Babinova.
Give Back, Pay Forward
The BESCO Hall of Fame motto, Give Back, Pay Forward, captures the thinking behind the initiative. An entrepreneurial ecosystem grows through the creation of new companies and investment, but also through the willingness of experienced entrepreneurs to share their knowledge, support emerging founders, and help promising ideas develop further.
BESCO itself now brings together nearly 1,000 companies and, according to the organization, has contributed to 20 implemented reforms aimed at improving Bulgaria’s business environment over its nine years of activity.
For DigiTech Consult, as a member of BESCO and part of Bulgaria’s technology and entrepreneurial community, gatherings like this have particular value. Our work focuses on enterprise automation and the practical implementation of technology, yet these projects are part of a broader business environment shaped by companies, people, and partnerships that exchange expertise and develop new ways of working.
Following our participation in Webit 2026 earlier this year, BESCO Hall of Fame offered another opportunity to connect with Bulgaria’s business and technology community and recognize the people who have turned ideas into established companies while continuing to share what they have learned along the way.
And yes, we couldn’t resist sharing a photo from the evening. Some memorable events deserve a place in our own archives, too.
