More than 60,000 specialists work in Bulgaria’s software industry alone – from Engineering and QA to Product, Project Management and PMO.
In Sofia, this talent pool is supported by 42,000 STEM students, 63 research centres and more than 20 private software academies. Providers such as SoftUni and Telerik Academy complement university education with hands-on, industry-focused tech programmes.
The strength of the ecosystem is also reflected in its start-up scene: Bulgaria leads Southeast Europe in the number of funded start-ups per capita.
The ecosystem gained international visibility through founders such as Vassil Terziev, Svetozar Georgiev, Boyko Iaramov and Hristo Kosev, who built Telerik in Sofia and grew it into a global software company. Hristo Borisov, Boyko Karadzhov and Konstantin Dzhengozov followed with Payhawk – Bulgaria’s first unicorn since 2022.
At a Glance
Key facts for companies looking to build tech and project teams in Bulgaria.
Location
Our local presence provides direct access to Bulgaria’s established tech and project talent market.
Time Zone
Near-complete overlap with German working hours — ideal for seamless day-to-day collaboration.
Talent Pool
Access to experienced developers, project managers and PMO professionals across Bulgaria’s established talent market.
Cost
Depending on role, seniority and delivery model compared with equivalent profiles in Germany.
English
English is widely used across the tech sector, with German-speaking professionals available particularly in project, PMO and client-facing roles.
Cultural Fit
Direct communication and extensive experience working with DACH and Western European teams.
Advantages
Four reasons Bulgaria is a strong location for building and scaling tech and project teams.
Since January 1, 2026, the euro has been Bulgaria's official currency — simplifying budgeting, invoicing and financial planning for German and European companies.
As a full Schengen member, Bulgaria enables easy business travel without border controls – with direct flights connecting Sofia to major German and European cities.
Bulgaria combines decades of outsourcing experience with international delivery centers and a mature talent market across technology, project management and business operations.
Bulgaria offers experienced professionals across software development, DevOps, project management and PMO – including talent accustomed to working with DACH and international teams.
In the Media
An ARTE documentary explores why highly qualified Bulgarians are increasingly returning home — strengthening the country’s international talent pool.
Quelle: ARTE Info, YouTube
Your local point of contact in Sofia for questions about our Bulgarian location, talent market and nearshoring opportunities.
Nora Nedkov
nearshorefriends Bulgaria
Bul. Vitosha 25
1000 Sofia
Our team in Sofia combines local market knowledge with direct access to Bulgaria’s tech, project and PMO talent – including profiles that are difficult to reach through traditional recruiting channels
We recruit against your specific requirements rather than filling roles from a predefined candidate pool – from individual specialists to complete project teams.
You work with a partner who understands DACH business expectations while recruiting and supporting your team locally in Bulgaria – bridging language, culture and day-to-day collaboration.
You work with a partner who understands DACH business expectations while recruiting and supporting your team locally in Bulgaria – bridging language, culture and day-to-day collaboration.
Tell us what expertise you need. We’ll connect you with matching tech, project and PMO talent from our Bulgarian network – with no obligation.
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