The global startup scene is buzzing with opportunities for connection, and the relationship between Bulgarian entrepreneurs in Sofia and Saudi Arabian innovators in Riyadh offers fascinating lessons. As a female founder who bootstrapped her startup, Fe/male Switch, I've always been interested in cross-border collaboration. Watching Bulgaria's growing tech ecosystem expand beyond its borders reminds me of the importance of putting yourself in rooms full of opportunity, even if it's halfway across the world.
The entrepreneurial exchange between Sofia and Riyadh is not just about events or partnerships; it's about building bridges for sustainable growth. Let’s look at what Bulgaria and Riyadh bring to the table, and how female entrepreneurs can learn from this standout example of startup diplomacy.
Sofia: From Local to Global Ambitions
Sofia plays a massive role in Bulgaria's startup success story. The city's entrepreneurial landscape benefits from affordability, talent, and impressive support programs. A study by fDi Intelligence ranked Sofia as one of the world's most cost-effective fintech hubs, based on corporate tax rates, salaries, and operational costs. For bootstrapped founders like me, hearing about such data-driven advantages makes Sofia even more attractive. It's not surprising that Sofia is emerging as a regional tech hub for Southeast Europe.
Yet, the true growth comes when local startups embrace global networks. Visionary Bulgarian leaders like Alexandra Todorova are showing how connecting with the global diaspora can push these aspirations further. Todorova leads The Bridger Network, a platform aimed at building year-round collaborations among Bulgarian entrepreneurs worldwide, ensuring their ideas aren’t limited to local markets. This digital-first approach is something I deeply relate to, as our incubator at Fe/male Switch is entirely online, allowing teams to connect globally despite physical barriers.
Riyadh: A Startup Haven in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has transformed Riyadh into a thriving hub for entrepreneurship. Historically dependent on oil, Saudi Arabia has turned its focus toward technology-driven industries. Resources like Monsha’at (the SME Authority) provide Riyadh-based startups with mentorship, accelerators, and funding that make it easier for founders to thrive.
For me, Riyadh’s startup environment feels like a modern-day partner that matches Sofia’s global aspirations. What makes Riyadh even more interesting is its openness to international partnerships. Saudi Arabia has established systems for foreign entrepreneurs to integrate into its ecosystem, including venture capital opportunities which surged by 342% year-on-year as of 2025. This is the kind of growth potential bootstrapped founders dream of, even more so when there’s government support backing it.
How to Build Cross-Border Opportunities
If you’re considering expanding your entrepreneurial reach beyond borders, and I highly recommend it, here’s a straightforward guide based on Sofia-Riyadh’s path:
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Do Your Research: Before diving into any international ecosystem, understand funding trends, government-backed programs, and the local startup culture. For example, in Riyadh, finding opportunities via government tenders through Etimad ensures startups align with the market.
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Leverage Digital Networks: Platforms like The Bridger Network show how effective global networks can be. Even if you’re bootstrapped, start mapping your diaspora connections and engaging them consistently.
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Focus on Relationships: Alexandra Todorova emphasizes the importance of in-person connections in Saudi Arabia. While digital networks matter, boots-on-the-ground communication builds trust and credibility that Zoom calls can’t replicate.
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Tailor Your Pitch by Region: Partnering in places like Riyadh means understanding cultural nuances. Prepare presentations that align with local values, especially if partnerships rely heavily on trust and tradition.
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Involve Your Community: Whether it’s online or at physical events, invite your network, mentors, customers, alumni, to participate as you expand regionally.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Bootstrapping comes with its hurdles, so learn from mistakes other founders have faced when connecting internationally:
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Ignoring cultural differences: Not preparing for regional particularities in business negotiations or networking can result in a waste of time and effort.
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Overestimating virtual networking: While digital platforms are powerful, all crucial partnerships should be nurtured offline first.
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Focusing only on local advantages: Missing global opportunities while staying overly focused on your city’s resources can limit growth potential.
Lessons for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe
As a founder who’s been through her fair share of accelerator programs and global networking experiments, here’s what I’ve learned from observing partnerships like Sofia and Riyadh:
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Global scope means more options: Especially for women in underfunded sectors, connecting internationally might open doors unavailable locally.
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Be visible in the networks that matter: Joining diaspora platforms, attending events abroad, or showcasing your work virtually increase your odds of finding investors or collaborators outside your home region.
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Don’t hesitate to build something unique: Bulgarian startups achieving global recognition used their identity to stand apart rather than blend in. Give your startup character, especially if you’re crafting solutions that don’t fit neatly into existing categories.
Conclusion
Sofia’s startup momentum and Riyadh’s explosive growth offer a clear blueprint: Focus on connections, leverage resources both locally and globally, and put effort into creating lasting networks. From my own experience as a bootstrapping founder and observing this international cooperation, the biggest takeaway is that meaningful relationships drive success.
If you’re an entrepreneur eyeing growth beyond your borders, don’t just learn from these ecosystems, actively participate in them. Dive into Sofia’s tech scene, explore Saudi’s thriving industry mix, or connect with groups like The Bridger Network. Startup innovation springs from collaboration, not isolation.
FAQ
1. What makes Sofia a standout hub for tech startups?
Sofia is recognized for its affordability, talent pool, and strong support programs. It is ranked as one of the world's most cost-effective fintech hubs. Learn more about Sofia's tech scene
2. How has Saudi Arabia transformed Riyadh into a startup-friendly ecosystem?
Under Vision 2030, Riyadh has developed mentorship, accelerators, and funding systems, supporting over 1.24 million SMEs. Discover Riyadh’s startup ecosystem
3. What resources are available for startups in Riyadh?
Organizations like Monsha’at provide Riyadh-based startups with funding access, training, and accelerators. Learn more about Monsha’at’s initiatives
4. How can entrepreneurs leverage diaspora networks for growth?
Platforms such as The Bridger Network enable founders to connect globally and access opportunities beyond their home markets. Explore The Bridger Network
5. What are some strategies for building cross-border opportunities?
Entrepreneurs should conduct research, use digital networks like The Bridger Network, prioritize in-person connections, tailor pitches to regions, and involve their communities actively.
6. How does Saudi Arabia support foreign startups?
Saudi Arabia has established systems for foreign entrepreneurs, including venture capital opportunities and government tenders via the Etimad portal. Learn about VC growth in Saudi Arabia
7. What mistakes should entrepreneurs avoid when connecting internationally?
Avoid ignoring cultural differences, relying solely on virtual networking, and focusing only on local advantages instead of pursuing global opportunities directly.
8. How can women entrepreneurs thrive internationally?
Female founders benefit from global networks, visibility, and crafting unique solutions that stand out in international markets. Explore Alexandra Todorova’s insights
9. Why is in-person connection critical when expanding regionally?
In regions like Saudi Arabia, trust and credibility are built through face-to-face interactions rather than virtual communication.
10. What impact does Vision 2030 have on Saudi startups?
Vision 2030 has created explosive growth opportunities, with venture funding surging by 342% year-on-year as of 2025. Learn more about Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
