Bulgarian start-up AMIRA Meditech wins AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2023

AmCham EU and Junior Achievement Europe (JA Europe) are delighted to announce that AMIRA Meditech, a Bulgarian start-up, is the winner of the AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2023. Following the previous three editions, this year was again dedicated to women entrepreneurs. Natalia Konova, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder captivated the jury with her dedication to fighting antimicrobial resistance and optimise antibiotic prescriptions in hospitals.

News

28 Jun 2023

HomePolicy and newsLibraryBulgarian start-up AMIRA Meditech wins AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award 2023

To fight antimicrobial resistance, AMIRA has developed a software solution to optimise antibiotic prescriptions in hospitals. By monitoring and controlling antibiotic usage, AMIRA helps doctors save time and decreases hospitals' resources. Through one-of-a-kind prediction models and more quickly adapting to the guidelines for treating infections, AMIRA seeks to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and save millions of lives. The algorithm is based on latest European and national guidelines for treating infections, as well as the legal documents of the antibiotics and each hospital's unique antibiotic resistance.

Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Natalia Konova is a clinical pharmacologist at the Alexandrovska Hospital in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is also currently undertaking a PhD in improving the effectiveness and safety of antibiotics in hospital settings from Sofia’s Medical University’s Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

The distinguished jury was composed of Kelly Adams-Smith, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Mission to the EU; Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director-General, Legal Services, European Commission; Susan Danger, CEO of AmCham EU; Chris Delaney, President EMEA, Goodyear Europe ; and Eva Maydell, Member of the European Parliament. The jury had the difficult task of choosing a winner amongst three Junior Achievement Europe alumnae: Alexandra Dimitriadou, CEO and Co-founder of MammoCheck from Cyprus; Natalia Konova, CEO and Co-founder of AMIRA Meditech from Bulgaria; and Alexia Vasilaki, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Drug n Drop from Greece.

Upon receiving the prize of 10,000 Euros and the executive mentorship, Natalia said that 'the funding will allow the start-up to raise the issue of antimicrobial resistance amongst healthcare professionals and the general public, while the mentorship will help us grow and support patients across Europe.'

Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU, said: 'I am proud to continue the tradition of supporting emerging women leaders in business. Natalia Konova's story shows how much you learn by starting your own business, an important reminder as we celebrate the European Year of Skills. Entrepreneurship is the basis for driving innovation and creativity and spurring new businesses in a competitive world.'

Salvatore Nigro, CEO, JA Europe, said that ‘It is truly remarkable and significant that all three finalists this year are tackling some of the most pressing issues faced by our healthcare systems, and contribute to building a vibrant start-up ecosystem in Europe!’

The AmCham EU Youth Entrepreneurship Award was launched in 2013 to recognise young people who have chosen to become entrepreneurs and to foster entrepreneurship in Europe. The initiative is supported by AmCham EU's Executive Council and organised in collaboration with JA Europe. The winner is presented with a monetary prize toward their start-up and will receive mentorship from top European CEOs of AmCham EU member companies. AmCham EU also makes a contribution to the three local JA Europe organisations, recognising their contributions to fostering entrepreneurship at local level.

+++

About AmCham EU
AmCham EU speaks for American companies committed to Europe on trade, investment and competitiveness issues. It aims to ensure a growth-orientated business and investment

Related items

Position Paper

20 Jul 2026

Principles for economically efficient and growth-compatible tax reform in the EU

The Draghi report highlights how economic growth has stagnated in the EU due to structural weaknesses that risk undermining the EU’s global competitiveness. To bolster the EU’s attractiveness and competitiveness, lawmakers should pursue a coherent pro-growth tax reform agenda. A pro-growth tax reform agenda in the EU27 can be evaluated through five principles: (a) economic efficiency, including low distortion of economic decisions and low administrative and compliance costs; (b) consideration and strong discipline across the entire lifecycle of tax policy reform: initial decision making process, legal design and implementation; (c) evidence-based accountability through clear objectives, rigorous impact assessment, meaningful consultation and ex post review; (d) strengthening the Single Market rather than adding cross-border frictions; and (e) neutrality and fair competitive conditions across sectors, countries and business models.

These principles are mutually reinforcing: growth is supported not only by sound and coherent statutory design, but by the full tax system including law, administration and taxpayer interaction. AmCham EU has prepared a framework for EU lawmakers to use while designing, implementing and evaluating tax policy based upon our members’ experiences operating in every EU Member State and almost every country around the world.

Tax

Blog

20 Jul 2026

Tax policy may not always make headlines – but its benefits certainly are

Tax

Simplification

Position Paper

20 Jul 2026

Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation 2.0: getting the architecture right

The EU’s sustainable finance rules should help investors understand where their money is going and support Europe’s transition. The Commission’s proposal improves the current system, but some changes are still needed.

The new Transition category should focus on whether companies are cutting emissions, not on the sector they operate in. The 70% threshold should stay. The rules should also work with MiFID II and the EU Taxonomy.

Companies need 24 months to prepare. Firms that fall outside the new scope should stop reporting as soon as the rules enter into force.

Read the paper to learn how SFDR 2.0 can direct more capital towards Europe’s transition.

Financial services

Policy priorities

Insights and advocacy driving Europe’s policy agenda. Our priorities support growth, innovation and a stronger transatlantic economy.

Discover our priorities

Membership

Connecting business and policymakers to strengthen the voice of American companies in Europe.

Become a member