Inside SumUp Bulgaria

15/10/2026

262 SumUppers. 34 projects. One week in Greece and a whole lot of ideas 💡🇬🇷

Hack Week 2026 brought SumUp's global Engineering, Product and Design teams together in Nafplio, Greece, for a week of building, experimenting and learning from one another.

Under the theme "Living on the Edge", our teams stepped away from their day-to-day work to explore new technologies, challenge assumptions and imagine new AI-powered experiences for our merchants, consumers and internal teams.

24/08/2026

A few hours away from screens can make room for something different 🎨

Our teams in Sofia stepped out of their usual routine for an arts and crafts workshop, turning raw wooden cheese boards into something personal through acrylic painting, precision vinyl transfers and epoxy resin.

The best part wasn’t just what people made, but the time spent making it together, sharing ideas, helping each other out, chatting along the way and enjoying a completely different kind of challenge.

No deadlines, no decks, no need to get it perfect. A chance to slow down, try something new and spend time together outside the usual day-to-day. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to feel a little more connected.

06/08/2026

More than 40 organisations joined FMI Career Days in Sofia 🇧🇬, and our booth stayed busy as students and alumni explored what a career in tech can look like.

At our booth, we spoke about internships and junior roles, the skills that help people get started, how product and engineering teams work together, and what it’s like to build tools used by small businesses around the world.

Students asked about team culture, learning opportunities, career growth, and how early-career talent can make a real contribution once they join a company.

Those conversations matter. They help students understand the paths available to them, and they help us stay close to the people who will shape the future of tech in Sofia and beyond.

For SumUp, being there was a chance to connect with early-career talent in the local tech community and answer the questions that matter when people are planning their next steps.

13/07/2026

🇧🇬 Nikolay Ivanov is a Compliance Operations Team Lead in our Operations team, based in the SumUp Sofia office. Nikolay and his team work across the operational side of compliance, including transaction monitoring, law enforcement requests, insolvency cases and money claims. Beyond his day-to-day role, Niko is also one of our local ambassadors for Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability in Sofia.

“As part of the Compliance Operations team, we work in a space that is detailed, dynamic and essential to keeping our fintech ecosystem running smoothly. We truly live SumUp’s ‘Team First’ value. The environment can be complex, but rather than simply responding to challenges, we work together to build stronger and more effective solutions.

Some of the areas we manage today were built from the ground up. We’ve developed procedures and frameworks that help us work with clarity and consistency across a complex fintech and banking environment. Seeing what we can achieve together is genuinely rewarding.

My role gives me the opportunity to contribute beyond my core responsibilities, collaborate with different teams, and bring my passion for Diversity and Inclusion into our Sofia office. That variety allows me to keep learning, broaden my perspective and support initiatives that matter to me.

What also makes a real difference is feeling supported. Mental wellness services and additional annual leave are not just benefits on paper. They help me maintain a sustainable balance between my personal and professional life. Combined with the trust and autonomy we’re given, they create an environment where people can do their best work and feel genuinely supported.”

26/05/2026

🇧🇬 Ema Nedkova is a Risk and Anti-Fraud Team Lead based in our Sofia office, where she helps protect SumUp and our merchants from financial risk and fraudulent activity. She joined SumUp over 12 years ago and has grown alongside the company through some of its most defining moments, building deep expertise in a space that is always progressing.

“I’ve been at SumUp for over 12 years, and a big part of that is the people-first culture. It’s not just something we say, it’s something you feel in how decisions are made and how people communicate. Honest feedback and trust are part of everyday work. People speak openly, which creates an environment where you can grow, understand where you stand, and build real connections.

One moment that really stayed with me was in 2014, during the launch of our first PIN-enabled card reader. The whole Sofia office travelled to Berlin to celebrate together. It was more than a product milestone. It was a shared achievement across teams and locations. Standing there with colleagues who had all contributed to that success made me feel part of something much bigger. It showed me that SumUp doesn’t just celebrate results, it celebrates the people behind them.

In my role, I work in an environment that is constantly evolving. Leading a team in risk and anti-fraud means staying close to the details while also thinking ahead. Over time, this has helped me grow both professionally and personally, especially in how I approach challenges, make decisions, and support others in their development.

What also makes a real difference in my day-to-day work is how SumUp supports growth and well-being. The educational budget shows that growth is taken seriously, not just talked about. Sabbatical leave is rare in the market, and it gives you the chance to step back and return with a fresh perspective. And the level of trust in how I manage my time gives me a strong sense of ownership. That autonomy is what allows people to do their best work.

For me, the strongest part of the culture is the sense of trust and belonging. People support each other, share knowledge openly, and work together towards common goals. It creates an environment that is both ambitious and caring at the same time.”

22/05/2026

🇧🇬 Aleksandar Radev is a Risk and Anti-Fraud Team Lead in our Banking team, based in the SumUp Sofia office. Alex leads the team responsible for fraud investigations, helping protect our ecosystem so small businesses can run their operations with confidence.

“I joined SumUp because of its clear mission and very human culture. Having been a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges entrepreneurs face. What started as an interest in fintech quickly became something more meaningful. Over time, I’ve seen how much care goes into every decision here. It’s not just about building products, it’s about making a real difference for small businesses.

In my role, I work closely with different teams to detect, investigate, and prevent fraud. It’s about connecting the dots between data, processes, and people to keep our ecosystem safe and trustworthy. Leading a team in this space has helped me grow professionally by thinking more strategically, making decisions under pressure, and balancing risk with a strong customer focus.

On a personal level, I’ve learned to trust my instincts, communicate more clearly, and see challenges as opportunities to learn. I get a lot of energy from inspiring others and being inspired in return. Knowing that our work has a real impact makes even the toughest days worthwhile.

What stands out most to me is the culture. Collaboration feels genuine. People are open, supportive, and always willing to share knowledge. In our team, we rely on each other’s strengths, challenge ideas in a constructive way, and celebrate wins together. It creates a real sense of belonging and shared purpose. It’s a culture that is dynamic, caring, and ambitious at the same time.”

20/05/2026

🏔️What makes trips like this special isn’t just the mountains or the views. It’s the people behind it all.

SumUppers from across locations came together to connect beyond meetings and screens, share experiences, and spend real time together.

Because sometimes the conversations that happen outside of work are the ones that make us work even better together 💙

29/04/2026

🇧🇬 On 26 April, our Sofia team joined TUES Fest 2026, one of Bulgaria’s leading student tech events.

TUES Fest is the open day of the Technological School at the Technical University of Sofia, a school known for developing strong future tech talent.

This year, more than 8,000 visitors attended the event, and 307 students showcased 156 projects across embedded systems, software engineering and computer networks, showing impressive technical skill, creativity and curiosity.

Beyond sponsoring the event, SumUp devices were used on-site to sell TUES Fest merchandise, making payments easier for visitors and the organising team 💳

For us, being part of TUES Fest is also part of a relationship we’ve been building with the school over time. We regularly meet talented students and graduates from TUES, and this event was another great chance to strengthen that connection with the local tech community in Sofia.

22/04/2026

ProductTank Sofia returns on 28 April, and this year SumUp is joining as a sponsor for the first time 🎉

Join us for an evening exploring how the product management role is evolving in an AI-driven world. Expect useful data, honest perspectives, and thoughtful conversation with the local product community.

📍 FeelBetter, Sofia
🔗 Register here: https://luma.com/ekyynha3

Events like this create space for useful conversations, shared perspectives, and stronger connections across the product community. We’re glad to support it and see the Sofia scene continue to grow.

Our most important annual event will take place on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 PM. Spots are limited for this highly anticipated event! REGISTER NOW! ABOUT THE…