The third-biggest Bulgarian bank, Fibank, launched its Smart Lady program in 2018 with the aim of supporting Bulgarian businesswomen.
Over these years, the program has provided 130 million Bulgarian levs, financing more than 1,000 women in the country.
Fibank's Smart Lady targets:
- start-up female entrepreneurs;
- development of enterprises owned by women;
- established businesses run by women.
It includes a mix of bank products, offered at preferential terms, and both financial and non-financial solutions.
The program is designed to stimulate development, providing support and reliable funding to the entrepreneurial initiatives of Bulgarian women.
So far, the program has financed more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, operating in sectors such as transport, finance, agriculture, education, industry, and construction. Participants have been offered access to seminars, training sessions, and mentoring programs to strengthen their capacity and skills.
Furthermore, a range of coaching meetings has enabled program participants to find new business partners.
The Sustainable Lady Fund
The ESG trend prompted the creation of the Sustainable Lady Fund, which supports innovative green projects launched by new or established businesses run by women.
Established in 2021, the Sustainable Lady Fund has supported 12 projects, spanning nature conservation, combating climate change, and environmental pollution.
Applications are currently being accepted for participation in the 2024 National Mentoring Program for Women Entrepreneurs, which is implemented with the support of Smart Lady and Fibank.