WHAT HAPPENED IN THE IT SECTOR IN BULGARIA IN MAY

News:

“Dronamics’ Black Swan makes first successful flight

Bulgarian cargo drone airline Dronamics has achieved a major milestone with the successful maiden flight of its cargo drone known as the “Black Swan”. During the test flight at Balchik Airport, the drone remained in the air for about 10 minutes and was remotely controlled by two pilots on the ground. It covered a distance of 21.5 kilometers, maintaining an average speed of 140 km/h, and reached an altitude of over 600 meters. The successful flight allowed Dronamics’ founders, brothers Svilen and Konstantin Rangelov, to obtain the company’s license to commercially fly unmanned cargo drones in Europe, with plans to begin operations later this year.

Endurosat has received $10 million in Series A funding

Endurosat, a leading aerospace science and technology research and development company, has successfully raised $10 million in Series A funding. The investment round was led by CEECAT Capital, an investment firm specializing in Central and Eastern European markets. The influx of funds will allow Endurosat to expand its market share in the satellite industry and strengthen its team. Over the next three years, Endurosat aims to support multiple space missions for its customers in orbit, with the company already having five fully committed missions. With its headquarters in Luxembourg, an engineering and manufacturing base in Sofia and offices in Berlin, Toulouse, Naples and Delaware, Endurosat currently has a team of over 130 professionals.

Valantic acquires AIOPSGROUP, which increases e-commerce solutions

Valantic, an IT company based in Germany, has acquired AIOPSGROUP, a promising Bulgarian start-up specialized in e-commerce solutions. Founded in 2019, AIOPSGROUP has quickly grown into a multi-million dollar business serving well-known brands such as Puma and Rossignol. Although the financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, the deal will strengthen Valantic’s presence in the European e-commerce landscape. AIOPSGROUP’s expertise in consulting and providing B2B and B2C e-commerce solutions will play a crucial role in this strategic expansion.

AlfaStar Capital will invest EUR 25 million in early stage companies

A new private equity fund, AlfaStar Capital, will invest a minimum of EUR 25 million in early stage companies in Bulgaria. The fund, led by founders and partners Desislava Gospodinova, Lyubomir Staykov, Krasen Hinkov, Kristian Mihaylov and Yonko Chuklev, is currently in the process of raising capital. The active investment period, which begins at the end of this year, is expected to last approximately five years. Negotiations are currently underway with potential investors from Europe, Asia and the US, and the fund has already made its first investment in 2022. Investors, regardless of their previous experience, can participate with a minimum investment of 100 thousand euros.

European Parliament adopts AI Act

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence Act, a law that establishes rules and guidelines for the development and use of AI models in Europe. The aim is to ensure transparency and ethical practices in AI applications. The Act prohibits the use of AI systems that exploit manipulative techniques, human vulnerability or classify people based on personal characteristics. It also prohibits practices such as remote biometric identification, predictive policing systems, and the extraction of biometric data from social media or camera footage. The law categorizes artificial intelligence systems into “high risk” and “low risk” based on their potential impact on safety, human health, and the environment.

Events:

The creator of the C++ programming language, Bjarne Stroustrup, arrives in Bulgaria

Bjarne Stroustrup, the creator of C++, will visit Sofia on 9 June to participate in the conference “C++: paths and perspectives”. He will join more than 100 global experts at the WG21 International Joint Technical Committee meeting to develop standards for C++. The focus will be on creating the C++26 version of the programming language.

Fourth edition of the Programming Olympiad held in Pravets

In the fourth edition of the Programming Olympiad at the National Vocational School of Computer Technologies and Systems in Pravets, 35 students competed, with more than half achieving scores above 60% and seven students exceeding 90%. The top performers will have the opportunity for internships, mentoring programs and potential job offers at Schwarz IT Bulgaria, a co-organizer of the event.

Training:

Progress opens applications for its paid internship programme

Progress is offering a paid internship program for software engineers starting in July and lasting 6 months. Students majoring in Computer Science or Software Engineering, as well as software engineers in training, can apply. To apply, a CV and cover letter are required, as well as solving a practical problem and an interview. The internship involves working on real-world assignments with a mentor, and successful interns may be offered permanent positions at Progress.

The application process for Kodar’s academy for IT professionals in Plovdiv has begun

The Kodar Academy for IT Professionals in Plovdiv is accepting applications for its 6-month paid internship, which includes working on real projects for international clients. The program starts on July 3, and upon completion, participants may be offered a permanent job at Kodar.

Telerik Academy has announced new intakes for three of its Upskill programmes

Telerik Academy has opened applications for its Upskill programs, which include training for UX/UI designers, React developers and DevOps engineers. Learners work in small groups, receive ongoing feedback from experts, and can take advantage of discounts on tuition fees for specific programs. Hands-on programs last 3 months.

A new Center for Digital Technologies was opened at TU-Sofia

A new Digital Technology Centre with 14 computer labs has been opened at the Technical University of Sofia, thanks to a grant from leading IT companies. The center will facilitate student learning and research projects, and houses companies such as Musala Soft and Sirma Lab.

GrowIT Academy for training IT professionals in Pleven

The establishment of GrowIT Academy in Pleven aims to train IT professionals and support the development of the IT sector in Northwest Bulgaria. Founder Teodor Todorov plans to create around 300 jobs in the region over the next 5 years by offering free training to potential candidates with future development plans. A future plan is to expand the academy to Vidin and Montana.