We are pleased to present to your attention more information, regarding the social and business networks in Bulgaria, and events that take place in Sofia, Bulgaria. This general information and specific details will help you choose which one of them fits your needs the best. Thus you will have the opportunity to meet new interesting and nice people with similar business and personal interests to yours. Feel free to join at any one of these events, depending on your schedule and wish.
We will be happy to support you because we can contact the founders of these communities and inform them about your presence. In this way, you will be specially welcomed and kindly introduced to other members.
Visa Club
Events
“Visa Club” (www.visa.bg ) was founded in year 2000 as a business society. The club members are established companies in their various business sectors in Bulgaria. Visa Club’s mission is to provide opportunities for formal and informal networking among club members. For the past 11 years, we have built relationships based on trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Members include more than 100 Bulgarian companies from various industries.
Visa Club organizes regular themed club meetings. During these meetings they discuss topical issues of doing business in Bulgaria, create contacts, and form friendships. Visa Club also organizes weekend club meetings. In an informal setting and a casual atmosphere, club members have the opportunity to build personal relationships necessary for the successful development of any business.
Over the years, Visa Club has developed a package of services aimed at the convenience of your business. Thanks to the highly qualified team at Visa Club, club members and their guests receive first class service, preferential prices, and free additional services in several areas – tourism, insurance, communications, transportation, consulting and advertising. All members of Visa Club receive with their membership a personal Hotel Express International card which offers 50% discount on rack rates in over 9000 hotels n over 120 countries worldwide.
Access
Visa Club is a closed community and works with recommendations for members who are successful Bulgarian and international companies from various business industries.
Target group
Companies from various business industries in Bulgaria
When
The dates and time of the events are being announced on the website of the Visa club
Where
Formal meetings take place in conference halls, whereas informal meetings are held in hotels, bars and restaurants in Sofia as well as in some of the most famous and beautiful Bulgarian resorts
Entrance fee
Depends on the specific occasion
Website
http://www.visa.bg/
CEO Club Bulgaria
Events
CEO Club Bulgaria offers a great opportunity for business networking and contacts with executives and entrepreneurs of Bulgarian and international companies. There are business presentations of the members that take place in the evening events. Also some BBQ, tasting wine and golf events are organized. Members of the CEO Club seek and offer each other attractive opportunities for long-term business cooperation.
Access
Members and non-members are welcome only by invitation.
Target group
The membership is by invitation only and limited to senior executives working or related to Bulgaria including the following levels: Chief Executive Officer, Country Managers, Managing Directors, Board of Directors, Active Business Owners and for large organizations: Chief Operation Officer (COO), Chief Finance Officer (CFO), Chief Marketing/Sales Officer (CMO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief People Officer (CPO), Vice Presidents (VPs)
When
Once in a month (each first Tuesday), 19:30 – 22:30
Where
VIP restaurants and famous Bulgarian resorts
Entrance fee
It is 35 leva. Premium membership card – 49 leva, annual fee, which includes discounts for advertising and entrance fee for events.
Website
www.ceoclub.bg
Sofia Business Community
Events
Events are informal and there are interesting business presentations. Also speed networking events are organized with a specially selected people of the community. You can meet many professionals and experts from Bulgarian and international companies at different levels and occupations.
Access
Everyone who wants to make new business contacts and have a good time is welcome.
Target group
Business people in different business spheres who have common business interests in various fields.
When
Monthly, every second Thursday, 19:30 – 22:30
Where
In elegant night clubs.
Entrance fee
5 leva. No membership required.
Website
www.sofiabusiness.org
Internations.org
Events
Expats who live in Bulgaria attend the gatherings of the Internations.org and make new friends, social and business contacts. The purpose is to get introduced to the local mantality (mentality) and Bulgarian habits and culture. The motto of Internations.org is to connect global minds all over the world.
Access
If you want to join the online community of the Internations.org, you need to get a personal invitation from another registered member. Otherwise, direct registration from their website is not possible due to the full network. Time and place of the events are announced on your personal profile on the Internations.org , in the Events Section
Target group
Expats from different countries and local people
When
Meetings take place monthly, in the last week of the month between Monday and Thursday
Where
Night stylish clubs and bars
Entrance fee
It depends on the event, sometimes there is a fee, on other occasions access is for free.
Website
www.internations.org
Bulgalien
Events
There is open social networking between foreigners who live in Bulgaria with Bulgarians. There is no too much business accent but the goal of the gatherings is to have fun with or without any special occasion or celebration as well to learn more about the culture and mantality (mentality) of the Bulgarians, plus occasional events such as Bolwing (bowling) evengs (events) and walks to Vitosha mountains, picnic in the Park, ice-skating in winter.
Access
No membership needed, anyone who is open to meet with new interesting people is welcome.
Target group
Foreigners who live in Bulgaria and want to meet other foreigners and some local people
When
Once in a month, starting at 19:30
Where
Different foreign pubs and night bars
Entrance fee
No
Website
NewBiz Club
Events
NewBiz Club is a place where people create good business contacts, exchange ideas, build long-term and stable partnerships and spend their time in a very nice way. NewBiz Club unifies people with entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas, so there are not only people who start up a business but also successful businessmen. You can present your business at the weekly meetings in Sofia and Varna and attract new clients and partners.
Access
Open access to anyone who wants to join
Target group
Entrepreneurs, freelancers and successful businessmen and investors.
When
Weekly, every Wednesday, 18:30 – 21:30
Where
Ellegant night clubs, hotel cofee launges
Entrance fee
No entrance fee for members, and also for people from Sofia. Entrance fee in Varna is 5 leva. Business presentations are paid.
Website
Toast Masters
Events
Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere. There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop skills related to timekeeping, grammar and parliamentary procedure.
Access
Everyone is welcome
Target group
People who want to increase their self-confidence, become better speakers and leaders and communicate more effectively.
When
Monthly, every second and fourth Wednesday, from 19:00 to 22:00
Where
Grand Hotel Sofia
Entrance fee
No if you go there for first time. New member fee – $ 20. Regular fee is $ 36 dues for six months, plus any club expenses.
Website
www.toastmasters.org
Free Sofia Tour
Events
Free Sofia Tour offers foreigners a free English language walking tour of Sofia. The sightseeing tours are organized by volunteers from a non-profit organization. Every tour is both fun and educational, the perfect introduction to the city and its thousands of years of history. That is the best attraction in Sofia according to TripAdvisor users. Approved by Tourist Service Municipal Company at Sofia City Municipality.
Access
Everyone is welcome. Just show up! NB: For bigger groups, you have to tell them in advance in order to provide more volunteers.
Target group
Foreigners and expats in Sofia
When
Every day, twice a day, Monday – Sunday: 11 AM & 6 PM, No reservation required! Duration – around 2 hours
Where
Start: Palace of Justice (Sudebna Palata), tour is around 35 places in Sofia Center
Entrance fee
No
Website
http://www.freesofiatour.com/
Conversation Swap
Events
If you are interested in learning Bulgarian and practicing Bulgarian conversation, check out the Bulgarian/English conversation swap. The way it works is we get English and Bulgarian speakers together, then speak to each other in Bulgarian, then in English.
Access
Everyone who wants to learn Bulgarian or other language is welcome
Target group
Bulgarian and non-Bulgarian speakers
When
Every Saturday at 16:00
Where
http://g.co/maps/wfgh2
Tsarigradsko shose 39 B, this is a red building on the corner with Svetoslav Terter street. The building looks like an apartment building. The entrance is on Terter, and there will be a sign on the door that says “conversation swap.” The café is on the 2nd floor.
Entrance fee
No
Website
https://www.facebook.com/groups/96844621075/
CouchSurfing
Events
It is an excellent way to get to know a local culture no matter where you are. Members travel worldwide and visit other people who are their hosts at unknown places. They make friends, go out to sightseeing and have fun, get to know local traditions and national attractions.
Access
Everyone who is openminded and perceives himself a citizen of the world is welcome. No invitation needed to join these gatherings.
Target group
People at any age who love to travel, who are open to accept guests from other countries as well as people who would like to participate in events with other foreigners in different countries.
When
Monthly meetings take place.
Where
Different night bars, informal and friendly atmosphere
Entrance fee
No
Website
www.couchsurfing.net
Open Coffee
Events
Events are oriented to business and social contacts in informal atmosphere. People have the opportunity to exchange business experience and successful practices, make friends and successful business cooperations. There are presentations of innovative business and anyone can present as long as he is good enough and worth listening to.
Access
Open access to anyone who wants to make business and social contacts and learn more about the latest innovations and business trends.
Target group
Entrepreneurs, freelancers and business angels and investors who meet together.
When
Monthy monthly, once on Tuesday, 19:00 – 22:00h
Where
Stylish event spaces
Entrance fee
No
Website
http://www.facebook.com/groups/opencoffeebg/
Start It Smart
Events
Start It Smart is the biggest entrepreneurship club in Bulgaria that supports entrepreneurs in starting their own business and organizes all the necessary resources for them. For example – business trainings and consultings, mentorships with experts from various business spheres, working place, and different kinds of services. Start It Smart organizes 3Challenge – an accelerator program for innovative business ideas. The tournament includes 9 events during the year with successful entrepreneurs as guest speakers. Also, each month the club organizes TickVenue – an open networking event.
Access
The public events are open and everyone is welcome.
Target group
Young people who want to start business and successful businessmen who want to support them and become mentors, sponsors, partners or investors.
When
Once in a month each (3Challenge and TickVenue)
Where
The 3Challenge events – in the Official Hall of the Sofia University.
The TickVenue events – in +tova.
Entrance fee
There is no entrance fee for the public events.
Websites
www.startitsmart.com