Health Navigator is one of the four finalists in the inaugural Rinker Women Challenge. On the eve of March 8th, nine teams that had gone through the Rinker Women Challenge 1.0 entrepreneurial program – From Women for Women, organized by the Rinker Center under the BCause Foundation with financial support from Pluxee Bulgaria and Stop Hunger, presented their business ideas to a jury.

Four teams of female entrepreneurs won awards totaling BGN 24,000 to implement their business ideas. This program was held for the first year, interest was high, and the competition was fierce from the start. We received 52 applications. After the initial evaluation, we invited 36 of them for a video interview, and chose 11 teams to participate in the training.

Over two weekends (live) and evening sessions (online), entrepreneurs attended lectures and exercises, acquiring business knowledge and strategies to apply in practice. The teams discussed their ideas, got to know each other, and became part of the growing community at the Rinker Center. Once again, our team was joined by guest lecturers Justine Toms, Elisav Georgiev, Georgi Merdjanov, and Nikolay Georgiev.

After the training and consultations with mentors, 9 of the teams developed business plans, which they presented to the jury at the Final. The jury, which had the difficult task of recognizing the best, consisted of:

• Penka Tsvetkova, Director of Business Development at BCause Foundation
• Victoria Tsenova - marketing expert and CSR Lead at Pluxee Bulgaria
• Martina Grigorova, CEO of SIS Credit
• Mila Petrova – mentor, coach and angel investor
• Ventsislav Savov - project manager of the special annual edition "THE WOMAN IS" by Manager Media Group.

The winning projects are:

Olga Krasnoshtok – Association Svitlyachok – Children's center for children, mainly from Ukraine, with the possibility of admitting Bulgarian children. Thanks to the award of BGN 9,000, they will be able to hire a Bulgarian language teacher, psychologist, and speech therapist to meet the center's needs and successfully integrate Ukrainian children.

Evelina Bencheva – TD Art Place – Paints personalized sneakers, backpacks, and bags. With the award of BGN 6,000, she will increase production and stabilize her business.

Betina Tsvetkova – Health Navigator – A platform to support women with oncological diseases, providing them with faster and structured access to treatment options. The award of BGN 5,000 will allow her to start her project more quickly and effectively.

Veselina Panayotova – Mom Has Work – The project aims to connect employer companies with professional mothers who can have flexible work commitments, allowing more effective care for children in daily life and meeting the needs of both sides in the process. With the award of BGN 4,000, she will promote her business and accelerate its development.

The goal of the Rinker Women Challenge program is to support business ventures by women that have a positive impact on the lives of women in Bulgaria. It is part of a three-year project aimed at empowering disadvantaged women through psychological support, improving their chances of realization in the labor market, and developing entrepreneurial skills. It is supported by Pluxee Bulgaria and Stop Hunger.

What's Next for Health Navigator After the Rinker Women Challenge?

Following a successful showcase at the Rinker Women Challenge, Health Navigator is poised for significant advancements. The recognition and feedback received have catalyzed plans for expanding the platform’s features and reaching a broader audience. The next steps involve enhancing our digital healthcare solutions with advanced AI capabilities, improving user experience, and expanding our network of medical professionals.