Burgas, 6 July 2026 – The largest edition of the AIBEST Tech Academy concluded with the presentation of student-developed software projects and the recognition of the top-performing teams. Over the course of three weeks, more than 150 students from seven schools in Burgas worked on a real-world technology challenge under the guidance of 20 mentors from leading IT and business services companies. During the final event, all 20 teams presented their solutions before a jury comprising representatives from business, education, and the Municipality of Burgas. The event was hosted at TriA Space Central Park.
This year's edition brought together students from the Vocational High School of Computer Programming and Innovation, Konstantin Fotinov Vocational High School of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Acad. Nikola Obreshkov High School of Mathematics and Science, Georgi Stoykov Rakovski Foreign Language High School, the Vocational High School of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Goethe High School, Geo Milev English Language High School, and the national "IT Skills and Career" programme. Over the three-week Academy, participants worked in an environment closely reflecting the realities of technology companies, experiencing the complete software development lifecycle—from requirements analysis and project planning to development, testing, and the presentation of a finished solution. In addition to strengthening their technical expertise, students developed essential professional skills such as teamwork, communication, adaptability, and presentation.
Following the evaluation of all projects, the jury recognized the following teams:
First Place: Team Hades
Second Place: Team Hephaestus
Third Place: Team Perseus
Fourth Place: Team Demeter
Fifth Place: Team Aphrodite
"Technology talent is developed through hands-on experience, meaningful challenges, and interaction with professionals who have already walked this path. That is why we have been investing in the AIBEST Tech Academy for several years now. For us, the greatest achievement is that more than 150 students gained first-hand exposure to the technology sector and had the opportunity to apply their knowledge beyond the classroom," said Ivan Rusev, Member of the AIBEST Management Board.
During the closing ceremony, AIBEST presented honorary plaques to Dimitar Nikolov, Mayor of the Municipality of Burgas; Dimitrina Todorova, Principal of the Vocational High School of Computer Programming and Innovation; and Dr. Petar Petrov, Head of the National Programme "IT Skills and Career", in recognition of their outstanding contribution to developing the next generation of technology talent and for their long-term support of the initiative.
"I would like to thank AIBEST for organizing the Tech Academy in Burgas for the fourth consecutive year, thank all the mentors, and above all, thank our highly motivated students. This year's record number of participants proves that the AIBEST Tech Academy has become an established model that young people recognize as a genuine opportunity for personal and professional growth. They are willing to dedicate part of their summer vacation to tackling a challenging software development project. I firmly believe that initiatives like this contribute to Burgas' continued development as a city of knowledge, innovation, and young talent," said Mayor Dimitar Nikolov.
The AIBEST Tech Academy is organized in partnership with SoftServe. Mentorship was provided by 20 industry experts, including professionals from the co-organizer as well as representatives of Proxiad SEE, IBRD (World Bank), Scalefocus, Accedia, Ipsos, A Data Pro, Zühlke, EPAM, ICT Strypes, and DXC Technology, who worked side by side with the students throughout the programme.
The initiative was also supported by lead partner SF Motors, as well as DEV.BG and DEV Challenge Accepted, which awarded the winning teams with tickets to leading technology conferences.
The record-breaking participation in the fourth edition of the Academy in Burgas once again confirmed the growing demand for practical learning formats that connect young people with the real technology industry. Through the AIBEST Tech Academy, AIBEST continues to strengthen the partnership model between business, education, and local government, helping students take their first professional steps while developing the skills needed for a successful career in the technology sector.
The Association for Innovation, Business Services and Technology (AIBEST) is an independent industry organization dedicated to positioning Bulgaria as a leader in knowledge-intensive products, services, and solutions, and as a globally recognized destination for highly skilled talent. The Association brings together companies from across the modern business services industry, including Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), Research and Development (R&D) centres, and Shared Services Centres (SSCs).
