The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) and JA Europe proudly announce Sophia Plamenova Nikolova as the winner of the Youth Entrepreneurship Award (YEA) 2025.
Sophia Plamenova Nikolova – BioBliss, Bulgaria
Sophia, a high school student from Sofia, is the visionary behind BioBliss, a startup that transforms bio-waste into eco-friendly, high-performance button-cell batteries. Her innovation replaces harmful materials like lithium and cobalt with hard carbon sourced from organic waste, offering a sustainable, circular alternative for the energy storage industry. BioBliss is redefining how we power our devices while contributing to the fight against climate change.
In accepting the award, Sophia shared her excitement and determination to grow her impact. “Winning the AmCham EU YEA 2025 is more than an award, it’s a recognition that clean, circular energy is the way forward. I’m proud to represent Bulgaria and the next generation of climate innovators,” said Sophia.
The AmCham EU YEA 2025 finalists, Sophia Plamenova Nikolova of BioBliss, María Martínez Gómez of TecH2Ocean, and Eliise Lehtsaar of Voon, each demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurship and social impact. Their ventures span cleantech, water reuse, and sustainable construction, showcasing the breadth and power of youth-led innovation in Europe.
“The creativity and dedication shown by BioBliss and the innovation demonstrated by each of this year’s finalists exemplify the vital role of female entrepreneurs in driving Europe’s green transition. I am proud to recognise leaders like Sophia Plamenova Nikolova who are advancing sustainability, bringing new dynamism to the Single Market and inspiring the next generation of women innovators across Europe,”
said Malte Lohan, CEO of AmCham EU.
“A sincere thank you to AmCham EU for its steadfast support of the Youth Entrepreneurship Award for the past 13 years. With over 170 jobs created, the impact is both real and lasting. This year, BioBliss carries that legacy forward. Led by Sophia, the startup brings bold innovation to energy storage and reflects the kind of purposeful leadership Europe needs. It’s inspiring to see young women like her lead the way in Europe’s green transition. We look forward to continued collaboration in advancing innovation and youth entrepreneurship across Europe.”
said Diana Filip, Deputy CEO & Chief Development Officer of JA Europe.
Congratulations to Sophia Plamenova Nikolova and BioBliss for this outstanding achievement. Her success highlights the incredible potential of young women entrepreneurs and the transformative impact of purpose-driven innovation. As this year’s winner, Sophia receives a €10,000 prize, and together with the other two finalists, they will participate in a mentorship programme to further scale their ventures and missions.
