Epix.AI Wins Demo Day – the Finale of Endeavor’s Dare2Scale Growth Program

On December 11, 2024, thirteen companies from Bulgaria and the Western Balkans presented their businesses during Demo Day, the final event of Dare2Scale—a four-month growth program by Endeavor designed for entrepreneurs and businesses that have moved past the early stages of development and are at the threshold of scaling their operations.

The evening’s top award, the Jury Prize, was awarded to Epix.AI, a company offering comprehensive personalized prevention packages. These packages are based on biochemistry, genetics, and epigenetics, including the individual’s biological age and their risk of age-related diseases.

Two additional awards recognized participants for their overall performance during the program:

• Aqtos received the “Endeavor Ambassador Award” for actively participating in Endeavor events and engaging their community with the organization’s mission.
• Epix.AI also won the “Momentum and Progress Award” for successfully applying feedback from Endeavor’s network and establishing key new connections and improvements.

This year, Dare2Scale achieved a milestone by including companies from the Western Balkans for the first time. The program supported six companies from North Macedonia and Kosovo, represented by nine entrepreneurs from industries such as software, transportation, media, and entertainment.

The regional focus of Dare2Scale was especially evident in the joint Demo Day, which highlighted Endeavor’s role in uniting the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the region. The event showcased how companies from both cohorts not only share similar challenges but are also eager to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and demonstrate mutual support.

An expert jury of prominent business leaders evaluated participants based on three criteria: global growth potential, clarity of strategic goals, and presentation skills. Jury members included Angel Mateev (Postbank), Boyko Takov (Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency), Milena Radeva (PwC Bulgaria), Manuela Naessl (EBRD), and Diana Stefanova (BrightCap Ventures).

Participants underwent an intensive program that included 12 group workshops in Sofia, Skopje, and Pristina, led by notable regional entrepreneurs and business leaders such as Mergim Cahani (founder of Gjirafa), Simeon Stoychev (VP of IT at Progress Software), and Ivo Dimovsky (Senior Director of Strategy and Operations at Castor). Each company also accessed up to 10 individual mentoring sessions with consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and leaders from Endeavor’s network.

The synergy between the two entrepreneurial ecosystems was evident through the motivation of both cohorts to actively engage in events and sessions held across three countries, showing a strong desire for idea exchange and collaboration.

Applications for the seventh edition of Dare2Scale open in Spring 2025.

The program is realized with the primary partner Postbank, supported by the Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the America for Bulgaria Foundation, the Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria, and capital partner SeedBlink. Media partners of Dare2Scale 2024 include Forbes Bulgaria, Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, and Digitalk.

For yet another year, PwC Bulgaria partners and directors worked individually with all participating companies, sharing their expertise to help entrepreneurs overcome challenges and seize growth opportunities.

Momchil Vassilev, Managing Director of Endeavor Bulgaria:
“The sixth edition of Dare2Scale set a new standard by bringing together companies from Bulgaria and the Western Balkans in a joint program and shared Demo Day, emphasizing our vision for developing the Balkans as a region with significant entrepreneurial potential. This vision is already yielding results—from new partnerships to accelerated growth for the participating companies. We are proud to have supported 15 ambitious businesses from Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, providing them with access to mentors and resources that will help them establish themselves not only in the region but also on the global stage. We believe this initiative is another step toward building a sustainable and united entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region, which we will continue to support with enthusiasm and dedication.”

Angel Mateev, Executive Director of Retail Banking and Member of the Management Board at Postbank:
“Ambition, courage, and innovative ideas are some of the key factors driving the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the participants in Dare2Scale have proven they possess these incredibly valuable qualities that will enable them to grow and develop businesses of global scale. The Bulgarian economy needs this healthy growth energy, and at Postbank, we are proud to participate as the program’s main partner for the sixth consecutive year. This allows us to share our valuable experience and expertise with young entrepreneurs, encouraging them to realize their potential and continue on the path to success. For us, this is an investment in the future with tremendous returns.”