Endeavor Bulgaria has opened applications for the 2026 edition of Dare2Scale, its flagship growth program supporting high-potential companies in Bulgaria and Southeast Europe (SEE). Now entering its eighth edition, the program aims to strengthen connections between entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders across the region.
Launched in 2019, Dare2Scale has supported nearly 90 late-stage companies, helping founders accelerate growth through access to mentorship, curated events, and Endeavor’s global network of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts.
The program is run by Endeavor, a global nonprofit organization that supports high-impact entrepreneurs. Over the past 28 years, Endeavor has helped more than 3,000 founders across 46 markets, including over 90 unicorn companies, scale their businesses by providing access to mentorship, capital, and a trusted global community.
“Dare2Scale was created to support founders who are ready to transition from successful local companies into globally scaling businesses,” said Momchil Vassilev, Managing Director at Endeavor in Bulgaria and SEE.
“As the program evolves, we aim to connect more entrepreneurs, investors, and partners, creating new opportunities for collaboration among high-growth companies,” he added.
Expanding regional reach
For the 2026 edition, Endeavor plans to further expand the regional footprint of Dare2Scale. In addition to companies from Bulgaria and the Western Balkans, the program will also welcome participants from the Adria region, including Slovenia, Serbia, and Croatia.
This builds on the participation of companies from North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania in the previous two editions. According to Endeavor, the regional approach is already generating results, with companies from different cohorts forming partnerships, collaborating on projects, and exchanging market insights.
Dare2Scale runs for four months and combines practical workshops with one-on-one mentoring sessions led by senior consultants, entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from the Endeavor network.
The most recent edition delivered over 170 hours of mentoring sessions and workshops, covering key topics related to scaling businesses internationally.
The program is industry-agnostic, targets companies with validated business models and established revenues, and does not require founders to give up equity.
Core focus areas of the program include strategic growth planning and execution, strengthening management and operational processes, preparation for fundraising and investment, as well as international expansion and business scaling.
Applications now open
Applications for Dare2Scale 2026 opened on March 16, with the program scheduled to run from September through December 2026.
After an initial screening process, shortlisted companies will be invited to interviews with the Endeavor team and members of the mentor and partner network. The final cohort of participants will then be selected.
More information about the program, eligibility criteria, and the application process is available on the official Dare2Scale website.
