23. 5. 2019 | PR, WB6 Startup academy, Youth
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language. 
Young people represent a very active and quick learning part of the society, that is why we have been dedicating quite some activities and projects to them. We especially wanted to activate young entrepreneurs, whose functioning is inherently dependent on cooperation, wide minded thinking and out of the box thinking. Our last project concluded yesterday, when 25 young entrepreneurs from all six Western Balkan countries attended the international startup conference Podim. The whole process of the planning, organization and implementation was prepared through close co-operation with the German development agency GIZ that has crossed our path in our previous engagements for youth. We have named the program Start up Academy – Building the WB6 Unicorn (explanation: unicorn is a term used in startup circles to describe a well-established and well-pitched business idea), and by doing so putting our firm belief in the success of their ideas and the overall region.
The main objective of all the activities was to connect youth in the region, bring peers from neighboring countries closer, to support the development of their business ideas and inspire, support and convince them that many ideas can be realized. But we started step by step. In February we implemented a workshop in Tirana for their main supporters – accelerators, mentors, hubs and university incubators – these are the first institutions that young entrepreneurs with great ideas turn to. We introduced them to the importance of cooperation, openness and highlighted the way the Slovenian startup system is interconnected. Then we invited young entrepreneurs with interesting business ideas. During two workshops, in Niksic and Pristina, and with strong mentorship between them, we have been improving, building and working on the presentation of 17 business ideas. Better understanding of business plans, different types of investments, sales approaches and marketing were some of the many topics on the agenda, together with training on knowing the advantages of each enterpreneur, their competition and deficiencies on the way of their business ideas. We have also been discussing the importance of cooperation, pitching and connections – all with great aim that everyone involved in our workshops would have no problem presenting their idea in a short and understandable way. And that was the main goal of our last gathering – to present their idea, team and also themselves in an excellent and clear manner – first in Ljubljana in front of Slovene investors and Business Angels Club of Slovenia, and later in Maribor, at the Podim conference.
We have implemented our last workshop through 25 youngsters that have represented their 15 ideas from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia. Some have been pitching in front of the investors, some have been competing at the Podim Challenge and have been listed among the top 20, some have presented their products, talked to potential investors, met new partners, surprised their competitors – and used the largest international startup conference in the region in the way that best benefited the growth of their business ideas.
From workshop to workshop, young entrepreneurs showed more energy, interest, enthusiasm and desire for advancement, which at the end fueled excellent pitches. That was the main goal of all our activities, and at the same time key to all the future steps for young entrepreneurs that will without a doubt support and boost the whole startup scene in the region, that has also through our support become better connected, united and is working in a more cooperative manned.
This project is part of the activities supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia through the Slovenia’s Development Cooperation.
20. 5. 2019 | PR, Start:up Balkan, WB6 Startup academy
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
Center for European Perspective has this year, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, in cooperation with the GIZ Regional Office in Sarajevo, implemented a project ‘WB6 Startup Academy’. The main purpose of the project is to empower innovative young entrepreneurs from all six Western Balkan countries to strengthen their knowledge and increase the opportunities for realizing their business idea.
The last module of the project started in Ljubljana, on 20th of May, at ABC Accelerator. 25 young people, representing 15 entrepreneurial ideas from all six Western Balkan countries, met with the Business Angels of Slovenia, where the best 5 got a chance to pitch in front of the investors. Ivmax, Marleq, ELS Development, Blocknify and Tratics got 6 minutes to present their innovative idea. Investors gave them feedback with critical comments and tips, enabling them to further develop and improve their concept.
The group will move to Maribor, where the international conference Podim will be held from May 21 through May 22. The latter is largest conference for start-ups, investors and other experts in the region. The young entrepreneurs will be able to present their ideas at the event, look for potential partners, investors and learn a lot through participating in various lectures from world-renowned experts. One of the main dimensions of the whole workshop is also the peer-to-peer networking of young people, who often face similar challenges in the region.
The project is part of the activities that are through the Slovenia’s Development Cooperation financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.
10. 5. 2019 | Development (ODA), PR, WB6 Startup academy, Youth
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
Center for European Perspective is this year, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and in cooperation with the GIZ Regional Office in Sarajevo, implementing a project ‘WB6 Startup Academy,’ whose main purpose is to empower innovative young entrepreneurs from all six Western Balkan countries to strengthen their knowledge and increase the opportunities for realizing their business idea.
The first three workshops were held in the region (Tirana, Niksic and Pristina), and the last one will take place in Slovenia. On Monday, May 20th, 25 young people, representing 15 entrepreneurial ideas from all six Western Balkan countries, will meet with the Business Angels of Slovenia in the ABC accelerator, where the 8 best will be able to present their entrepreneurial idea to investors. Investors will help them improve ideas, a business model or marketing strategy with critical comments and tips. The group will move to Maribor, where the international conference Podim will be held on May 21 and 22, which is the regional largest conference for start-ups, investors and other experts. The young entrepreneurs will be able to present their ideas at the event, look for potential partners, investors and learn a lot through listening to various lectures from world-renowned experts. One of the main dimensions of the whole workshop is also the peer-to-peer networking of young people, who often face similar challenges in the region.
29. 4. 2019 | PR, WB6 Startup academy
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
We have been in Pristina, for our third edition of meetings for young entrepreneurs and start-ups from the Western Balkans within the project “WB6 Startup Academy” “Building the WB6 Unicorn”.
The first two workshops took place in Tirana and Nikšić in March, where young people became acquainted with the basic principles of searching for investors, preparation of business plans and taking care of the financial aspect of the business. The third event was focused on the art of selling and finding the most suitable and effective marketing tools that are very rapidly evolving and changing.
A group of 15 young entrepreneurs was supported by four experienced experts – Grega Potokar, ABC Accelerator, Slovenia; Selma Prodanovic, Brainswork, Austria; Adrian Zettl-Singh, TheGrowthbase, Austria; and Nedim Tarakčija, Balkan Leadership Academy, BiH. They have educated participants through a hands-on module, learning how to set up their sales process and implement different fast growth techniques (growth hacking) based on defined KPIs. Participants gained new insights on growth, importance of sales data collecting and analysis, Startup Marketing & Growth Hacking, Marketing Data Collection and other skills.
All the participants from all WB6 will join us in Slovenia this May, for DEMO Day organized in cooperation with Business Angels Slovenia, followed by participation at the PODIM Conference 2019.
We are thankful to the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and GIZ regional office in Sarajevo for enabling this project and supporting innovative young entrepreneurs so they are able to strengthen their knowledge and get opportunities to realize their business ideas.
17. 4. 2019 | PR, WB6 Startup academy
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
The Center for European Perspective is with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and in cooperation with the GIZ regional office in Sarajevo implementing a project that aims to empower innovative young entrepreneurs from all six Western Balkan countries to strengthen their knowledge, opportunities to realize your business idea.
Encouraging entrepreneurship among young people in the WB region has broader impacts, not only on the entrepreneurs involved in the program, but also more widely. Young people at the workshops are getting different knowledge, skills, acquaintances with leading international experts, get to know people from the region who are facing similar challenges, learn about the innovative environment of different countries and are constantly working on preparation of the presentation of their business idea – they will pitch in front of the investors at the last meeting – in May in Ljubljana and at the international conference PODIM in Maribor.
The first two workshops took place in Tirana and Nikšić in March, where young people became acquainted with the basic principles of investor search, preparation of business plans and taking care of the financial aspect of the business.
The upcoming workshop, the third in a row, will take place on April 24 and 25 in Pristina, where the community of startup companies is quite well developed and very strong. Most of the time it will be dedicated to the art of selling and finding the most suitable and effective marketing tools that are very rapidly evolving and changing. A group of 17 young entrepreneurs will be supported by four experienced experts – from Slovenia Grega Potokar from the ABC accelerator will be present and joined by Selma Prodanovic, Adrian Zettl-Singh and Nedim Tarakcija. All four have rich entrepreneurial experiences, they are in one way or another connected to the region and advocate the principle of broad cooperation.
Project is part of the activities that are through the Slovenia’s Development Cooperation financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.
22. 3. 2019 | PR, WB6 Startup academy
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
Next week, a program of workshops for young entrepreneurs and startups in the Western Balkans will continue in Niksic, Montenegro. This year we are implementing it with support of the Slovene Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Slovenia’s Development Cooperation and German development agency GIZ’s office in Sarajevo.
The first workshop was held two weeks ago and was dedicated to the actors of the entrepreneurship and startup environment (HUBs, accelerators, incubators) and this time the young entrepreneurs and startups will join us for the first time. There will be 18 young representatives from all six Western Balkan countries with good business ideas. The workshop will focus on the different funding options, since each requires a different preparation and approach. In this way, the participants will get to know the possibilities of financing through various funds of the initial capital and discuss the advantages and disadvantages, steps and timelines of business angel investments.
Workshop activities are interactive and are designed to best prepare young entrepreneurs for participation in the international conference Podim, which traditionally takes place in May in Maribor. Until then, all young people will meet at least once in a workshop in Pristina, and then intensive 1:1 mentoring will take place, whose main purpose is to prepare best young entrepreneurs to present their business idea and find potential investors, partners and supporters at the conference.
Project is part of the activities that are through the Slovenia’s Development Cooperation financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.
