For the fifth consecutive year “24 hours” is looking for the best small businesses in Bulgaria. The deadline for submission of documents for participation in the Big Small Competition is May 31.

Sofia Tech Park is a partner and host of the initiative for the third consecutive year. Todor Mladenov, the executive director of the company, is part of the expert jury, which will assess the candidatures.

Small and medium business is the backbone of the economy. Small businesses provide the most jobs, pay the most taxes and produce the largest share of gross domestic product, according to the organizers of the initiative.

The winner’s prize is a promotional package worth $ 10,000 in the print and online edition of “24 Hours”. The competition aims to show that in the Bulgarian business, not everything is “gray”, that there are entrepreneurs who can serve as examples for others.

Newspaper advertising will allow more people to learn about the businesses of these businesses, meaning more customers, more sales, more money for investment, more job openings.

All Bulgarian companies that meet the “small business” criteria – up to 50 employees and turnover below 10 million euros per year – have the right to participate. The registration is done through the campaign site – www.golemitemalki.bg, where you can see the full participation conditions and the winners of the previous edition of the competition.

A competent jury, including representatives of the partners in the initiative, will evaluate the applications received and broadcast the winners. This year’s awards will be in three categories – start-ups, innovative companies and sustainable development.

Participants will have to describe their business by filling in the campaign form. The 20 finalists selected will be invited to interview the jury at the beginning of June. The names of the ten winners gathered most of the jury’s votes will be announced at a ceremony in mid-June.

Partners of the initiative include the Ministry of Economy, the Agency for Support of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Fund of Funds, CEIBG, Postbank, A1, BAEZ, Mihalkovo water, All Channels advertising agency.