Reach for Change Bulgaria develops the social entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country and helps social innovators to enhance their solutions and create a better world for children and youth. Since 2014, the organization has helped hundreds of social enterprises, which have reached over 200,000 Bulgarian children and youngsters. As part of the Valley of Growth initiative, the organization coordinates the work of the coalition, conducts research on the ecosystem, the financial and non-financial needs of social entrepreneurs, and existing financial instruments and practices at European level.
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UniCredit is a successful Pan European Commercial Bank with a fully plugged in CIB, delivering a unique Western, Central and Eastern Europe network to its extensive and growing client franchise.
UniCredit’s Social Impact Banking programme is committed to inclusive finance, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses through microcredit and to financial education to encourage greater financial knowledge and social inclusion that can empower active citizenship. Since first launch in Italy at the end of 2017, UniCredit’s Social Impact Banking (SIB) programme has provided over 5270 loans, including impact finance and microcredit, across 11 UniCredit markets to support social entrepreneurs and initiatives with a measurable positive social impact amounting to a total of more than 295 million euros disbursed (figures as at end of June 2021). The purpose of social impact finance is to create tangible positive social benefits through the financing of projects and initiatives that have the potential to deliver such outcomes.
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Forbes promotes free entrepreneurship, inspires people to follow their dreams and supports success by praising those who achieve it and those who strive for it. Forbes selects and brings together the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who drive change, transform businesses with innovation and have a significant impact on the world. Founded in 1917, today Forbes is the world's largest business media brand. It reaches more than 140 million people worldwide, including over 100,000 Bulgarians, with high-quality journalism, distinctive events and a strong digital presence.
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The Business Institute is a business skills catalyst. The team offers innovative methods for developing skills in all key areas of business management. Together with UniCredit Bulbank and Reach for Change Bulgaria, the organization supports the study of the ecosystem, the financial and non-financial needs of social entrepreneurs, and existing financial instruments and practices at European level, as well as the creation of a new financial instrument for early-growth social entrepreneurs.
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ING is a global financial institution, operating in the Wholesale Banking business in Bulgaria since 1994. ING’s purpose is to empower people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. In 2015 the company launched its Social Innovation Fund and since then it has supported social entrepreneurship financially, as well as with mentorship. In 2020, together with Reach for Change, ING became a co-founder of the initiative Open the Circle. ING joins Valley of Growth with its expert support in the financial sector.
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The Municipal Guarantee Fund for SMEs (MGFSME) is a financial instrument launched and developed by Sofia Municipality in support of the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. It aims at raising the competitiveness and success rate of SMEs in Sofia. The organization supports the Valley of Growth initiative with its expertise.
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