> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.therecursive.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # What Dare2Scale's 2026 Cohort Reveals About Southeast Europe's Startup Ecosystem - URL: https://www.therecursive.com/what-dare2scales-2026-cohort-reveals-about-southeast-europes-startup-ecosystem/ - Published: 2026-10-28T14:02:59.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-28T15:11:08.000Z - Description: Endeavor Bulgaria has selected 18 participants from Bulgaria and the Western Balkans for the eighth edition of its Dare2Scale growth program, with artificial intelligence emerging as a dominant theme across the two cohorts. - Author: The Recursive - Tags: Accelerator, News, Bulgaria The 2026 edition of the [Dare2Scale growth program](https://bulgaria.endeavor.org/our-programs/?ref=therecursive.com) brings together 10 **Bulgarian companies**, one nonprofit organization, and seven companies from **North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania**. Together, they represent 35 founders working across 12 industries, including fintech, deep tech, maritime technology, cybersecurity, healthcare, and education. According to figures shared by Endeavor Bulgaria, **12 of the 18 participants are developing AI-based solutions**. The companies project **combined revenue of €17.2M in 2026**, with average year-on-year revenue growth expected to reach 2.8 times their 2025 levels. The cohort has already raised more than €6M in funding from investors including [LAUNCHub](https://www.therecursive.com/launchub-ventures-raises-eur65m-in-first-close-new-fund-2026/), Eleven Ventures, Techstars Berlin, [South Central Ventures](https://www.therecursive.com/tag/south-central-ventures/), and Vitosha Ventures. Meanwhile, **11 of the 18 participants are raising capital or preparing for a funding round**, with fundraising plans ranging from pre-seed investments to rounds of up to €3M. ### AI, international expansion, and regional diversity The Bulgarian cohort includes companies applying AI to semiconductor development, recruitment, payments, retail operations, and maritime management. Among them is **Neuromorphica**, a deep tech company developing AI chips designed to reduce power consumption by up to 100 times, with potential applications in autonomous systems and robotics. **Orchestr**, founded in 2024, is building an AI-powered payment platform that integrates multiple payment providers and automates transaction routing and reconciliation. Meanwhile, **JOBee** combines AI-based candidate matching with recruitment services, claiming to reduce hiring time by more than 80% and costs by over 30%. Other participants include **nFuse AI**, which uses AI agents to facilitate communication between global brands and independent retailers through platforms such as WhatsApp and Viber, and **SeAI**, a Varna-based startup developing AI agents to improve vessel management and maritime operations. Several companies have multinational founding teams or are already targeting markets beyond Bulgaria. ### Seven Western Balkan companies join the program Building on a regional initiative introduced in 2024, Dare2Scale is running parallel cohorts in Bulgaria and the Western Balkans. The seven selected Western Balkan companies are **PulseHub, Hylosense, and Neubase from North Macedonia; Paystorm and XY Cyber from Kosovo; and T-Blocks and a stealth-stage healthcare startup from Albania.** Several are developing AI-based products targeting international markets. North Macedonia's **Hylosense** is building hyperlocal AI weather forecasting technology for the energy sector, while Kosovo-based **Paystorm** develops AI agents that automate accounts receivable processes, including payment follow-ups and negotiations. Another Kosovo-based participant, **XY Cyber**, is developing agentic AI cybersecurity technology designed to predict, prevent, and respond to threats across cloud infrastructure and applications. Albania's **T-Blocks**, headquartered in Luxembourg, is working on connecting emerging-market assets with international investors through financial instruments issued under European law. Across both cohorts, the companies employ **154 people**, while 13 of the 18 participants identify sales development or international expansion as a key growth priority. ### Mentorship, fundraising, and cross-border connections [Dare2Scale 2026](https://www.therecursive.com/dare2scale-2026-applications-open-endeavor-see/) runs from September to December, concluding with a joint Demo Day bringing together participants from all four countries. Throughout the program, founders participate in workshops, individual mentoring sessions, and meetings with entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from Bulgaria and abroad. Each participating company gains access to Endeavor Bulgaria's mentor network, while senior partners and directors from PwC Bulgaria provide individual guidance on growth strategies, corporate governance, and international expansion. Previous editions have featured founders and executives from international technology companies, including unicorns such as Bulgarian unicorn [Payhawk](https://www.therecursive.com/payhawk-becomes-a-centaur-after-surpassing-100m-in-arr/). **United Bulgarian Bank (UBB)** joins Dare2Scale as Lead Partner for the 2026 edition. Additional partners include the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), the America for Bulgaria Foundation, and the Fund Manager of Financial Instruments in Bulgaria (FMFIB).