April 4 (SeeNews) - Romanian tech-focused venture investment and equity management platform SeedBlink launched its ESOP Design programme in Bulgaria, a comprehensive solution for startup employee equity compensation adapted to the local legal and tax environment, it said on Thursday.
Developed in collaboration with Bulgarian law firm Gugushev & Partners, the programme will simplify the setup and management of Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) for startups that want to integrate them into their growth strategy, adding onto the benefits of the introduction of the Variable Capital Company (VCC) in the country, SeedBlink said in a press release.
"The desire to involve employees in the success of startups is more relevant than ever. ESOP Design addresses this need by making it easier for businesses to set up, launch and manage employee ownership plans, thereby attracting, engaging, and motivating top-performing talent," SeedBlink regional manager for Southeast Europe, Angel Hadjiev, said.
The ESOP Design partnership is in line with SeedBlink's objective of promoting equity ownership across Europe. Previously available only for senior management of public multinationals, ESOPs are becoming an essential part of startup benefits and bonus packages, SeedBlink added.
"By cultivating ESOPs into the startup ecosystem, we are aligning interests and nurturing the next generation of business angels in Europe. We plan to expand the concept with partners in more European countries in the coming months," Hadjiev added.
In 2024, the company aims to enhance its equity management platform Nimity, simplifying stock option plans, funding processes and investor communication. Since the launch of Nimity last June, SeedBlink has attracted over 10,000 company representatives and shareholders to the platform, integrating more than 2,500 company capitalisation tables and facilitating ESOPs for over 500 beneficiaries.
In February, Hadjiev told SeeNews that SeedBlink will focus this year on developing its non-crowdfunding services in Bulgaria due to expected challenges in securing startup financing.