28. 2. 2018 | PR, Start:up Balkan, Youth
Centre for European perspective (CEP) has successfully concluded its sixth and last event in the framework of the Start:up Balkan tour in Podgorica. 50 young entrepreneurial people participated in the workshop and 6 start-ups pitched their idea in front of business experts and potential investors.
Participants in Podgorica were welcomed by H.E Mr Mitja Močnik; Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, who stressed the importance of transfer of good practices from Slovenia to the countries of WB and role of CEP as one of the key players in the region. Further on participants were welcomed by Vanja Madzgalj, Director at British Council, Podgorica, with importance of quality of education for all children and growing inequalities in the region. She also presented various projects British Council is currently working on in the region. Further on, participants were welcomed by the local host, Predrag Lešić, Smart Whatever enthusiast, Co-founder, Digitalizuj.Me, who expressed his satisfaction with the large crowd that gathered at the premises and said couple of words on the startup ecosystem in Montenegro. Gorazd Justinek, CEP Director shed a light on role of CEP as the initiator of the project held as one of the first projects within Positive Agenda for the Youth in the Western Balkans adopted at the Brdo-Brijuni process summit in Slovenia in April 2015. Finally Matej Rus presented Podim conference and ways for startups to join.
Three keynote speeches were delivered. First one on the stage was Florian Kandler, Fundraising Expert and Startup Mentor, GetFunding.how, from Vienna with tips and tricks for successful fundraising. He focused his speech on how can startups at the beginning of their path get funding, how to recognize a fundable business and elaborated on why founders often fail (start too late, under-estimate the time required, don’t know how investors work and don’t know how to create momentum). Further on debate revolved around fundraising process and importance of good research. Second lecture was by Matt Kuppers, Founder&CEO, Startup Manufactory, London who elaborated on how to identify competitive advantage in AgroBusiness, with offering some advices on acquiring EU funds. Third lecture was delivered by Letitia Seglah, Fintech and RegTech Consultant, Startup Manufactory, from London with a lecture on: “Is your business ready for Blockchain, cryptos or ICOs?”, elaborating on what is an ICO; ICO vs IPO; campaign timeline and ingredients for successful ICO: skill, game theory, fast reflexes and luck.
Elma Hot, BeeAnd.Me, Jovana Miljanić, DVARP, Jan Kobler, SC Ventures, Predrag Lešić. Digitalizuj.Me and Verena Wahlandt, Startup PR joined into a panel an investor’s panel, discussing funding landscape in the region. Debate revolved around smart cities, technology and architecture, ICOs, block chain technology, startup PR and getting media attention. Panelists discussed also current status of funding landscape in the region, recognizing main issues and troubles that startups at the beginning of their path are facing, such as funding, scaling, finding support, good team, lack of entrepreneurship mentality and dealing with failures.
6 local and international start-ups were given a chance for a three-minute pitch, followed by a feedback delivered by experts and potential investors. Event concluded with informal meeting in relaxed environment between investors and startups.
Start:up Balkan is program in the framework of the project ‘Establishing an Integrated Start-up Ecosystem in the Western Balkans’ powered by CEP and PODIM and supported by the British embassy in Ljubljana.
21. 2. 2018 | PR, Start:up Balkan, Youth
Centre for European perspective (CEP) has successfully concluded its fifth event in the framework of the Start:up Balkan tour in Skopje. 70 young entrepreneurial people participated in the workshop and 6 start-ups pitched their idea in front of business experts and potential investors.
Participants in Skopje were welcomed by H.E Prof. Dr. Milan Jazbec; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Slovenia, who stressed he sees CEP as a key instrument of Slovenian soft power and compared it to top ten European think tanks around Europe. He also mentioned the importance of such projects for the region and encouraged youth to develop their ideas into plans. Further on participants were welcomed by local host, Vesna Ivanoska, CEO, Seavus Educational and Development Center who shared her satisfaction with seeing such a large crowd of highly potential and inspirational people. Gorazd Justinek, CEP Director shed a light on role of CEP as the initiator of the project held as one of the first projects within Positive Agenda for the Youth in the Western Balkans adopted at the Brdo-Brijuni process summit in Slovenia in April 2015. Finally Matej Rus presented Podim conference and ways for startups to join. Two potential investors, Iskratel and Sava representatives presented themselves, work they do, and ways youth can join into their activities, while stressing the importance of such events for giving new possibilities and creating new opportunities.
Three keynote speeches were delivered. First one on the stage was Igor Madzov, Associate, South Central Ventures, who gave an insight into what it means to be investable, what funding to consider, how to be prepared for the avalanche of questions, and listed five essential elements that lead to success: idea; team/execution; business model; funding; timing and explained what they offer is infrastructure for succeeding. Second was Elena Draganovska, InPlayer, with suggestions on how to build and grow the company into a successful business, explaining that road to success leads through market analysis, getting the expertise you need, and building a good team. Third speech was done by Maris Prii, Startup Wise Guys, with an insight on accelerator programs and their value offers. She explained her views on different start up phases, accelerator vs. incubator; as well as selection criteria done by different organizations, where largest focus is given to the selection of the team.
Csaba Kakosy, Managing Partner, CEO, Day One Capital, Elena Draganovska, Head of Customer and Sales Support, Inplayer, Ivana Stanković, Investment Manager, South Central Ventures and Maris Prii, COO, Startup Wise Guys joined into an investors panel, discussing funding landscape in the region. Debate revolved around differences between different investors, cooperation between investors, private vs. public funds, ICOs and general state of affairs in the region.
6 local and international start-ups were given a chance for a three-minute pitch, followed by a feedback delivered by experts and potential investors. Event concluded with informal meeting in relaxed environment between investors and startups.
Start:up Balkan is program in the framework of the project ‘Establishing an Integrated Start-up Ecosystem in the Western Balkans’ powered by CEP and PODIM and supported by the British embassy in Ljubljana.
20. 2. 2018 | Kosovo - Entrepreneurs, PR, Start:up Balkan, Youth
Centre for European perspective (CEP) has successfully concluded half of its way with fourth pit-stop of the Start:up Balkan tour in Pristina. 70 young entrepreneurial people participated in the workshop and 15 start-ups pitched their idea in front of business experts and potential investors.
Event in Pristina was opened by H.E Mr Bojan Bertoncelj, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, who thanked CEP for organizing the event and stressed CEP is one of the leading organizations in development cooperation field in the region. He expressed his satisfaction with the turnout at the event, and the importance of such events for Kosovo, which is facing large brain drain and is in need of such opportunities. Participants were at the venue welcomed by host, Uranik Begu, Executive Director, Innovation Centre Kosovo, presenting start-up ecosystem in Kosovo, and arguing such events are not only important for the region, but especially to Kosovo, as one of the most isolated countries in the region, and involving them into such conferences presents a window of opportunity for Kosovo youth, a meeting space for meeting peers from the region, and removes a big communication barrier. Third on the agenda was Tatjana Zabasu, Managing Partner, South Central Ventures, who strongly encouraged the participants to apply for Podim challenge, and is looking forward meeting youth startups, since they have not yet had any investments in the region. She was followed by Meliha Muherina, CEP Project Manager, who gave an insight into the beginnings of the project started by CEP within Positive Agenda for the Youth in the Western Balkans, adopted at the Brdo-Brijuni process summit in Slovenia in April 2015. Finally Matej Rus presented Podim conference and ways for startups to join.
Keynote speech was delivered by Igor Madzov, South Central Ventures Partner, giving an insight into what it means to be investable, what funding to consider, how to be prepared for the avalanche of questions when pitching, and gave five essential elements that lead to success: idea; team/execution; business model; funding; timing. Fireside chat was done with Mergim Cahani, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Gjirafa, who presented the beginnings of their start-up journey, current start-up ecosystem in Kosovo, advices on keeping competitive, stressing the use of local languages, and importance of minimalizing the risks, dealing with failures and improving after recognizing the failures. Investors and startups joined into a panel on current funding landscape in the region, where good pitching, red flags, team dynamics, role of advisors and many more were discussed.
15 local start-ups were given a chance for a three and one-minute pitch, followed by a feedback delivered by experts and potential investors. Event concluded with informal meeting in relaxed environment between investors and startups.
Event in Pristina is part of the project ‘Empowering Kosovo young entrepreneurs’, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Slovenia in the framework of Slovenia’s development cooperation.
20. 2. 2018 | PR, V4, Youth
It is our pleasure to announce selected young participants for the public debate in Brussels ‘Back on the Agenda: EU Enlargement and Western Balkans’. The event will actively involve young individuals from all Western Balkan countries!
We will be addressing the EU enlargement fatigue on one side and Western Balkans’ lack of reform on the other. In January, CEP has launched a call for applications among young who outlined solution and policy recommendation proposals on the most pressing challenges in their countries.
The winning essays were authored by:
Alba Brojka
Aleksandra Kapetanović
Emina Balota
Besnik Avdiaj
Lolita Hasani
Mak Selimović
Participants will be invited to actively participate at the public discussion in Brussels in April 2018.
Congratulations!
Event is done in cooperation with Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (IFAT) (Hungary), EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy (Czech Republic), Slovak Foreign Affairs Association (SFPA)and Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) and supported by International Visegrad Fund.
20. 2. 2018 | PR, Start:up Balkan, Youth
Centre for European perspective (CEP) has successfully concluded its third pit-stop of the Start:up Balkan tour in Tirana. 50 young entrepreneurial people participated in the workshop and 7 start-ups pitched their idea in front of business experts and potential investors.
Event in Tirana was opened by Milena Radenković, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia, who welcomed the participants and expressed her support to CEP for the work done, continued by Kebiana Doci, Political, Press and Public Affairs Officer at British Embassy who presented the work of UK in the field and stated that they are supporting initiatives like this as one of the leaders in technology and development. She also gave an insight into the topic of digital technology and youth, which in her opinion greatly helps in creating job growth and economic opportunities for the countries. Further on participants were welcomed by Ernest Nako, Ecocystem Manager at the host organization, Protik. He shortly presented the work they do and start-up ecosystem in Albania, while he also stressed the importance of such opportunities for youth and growth in Albania. Fourth on the agenda was Tatjana Zabasu, Managing Partner, South Central Ventures, who strongly encouraged the participants to apply for Podim challenge, as well to step out of their comfort zone and think globally, but especially not to give up early in the process. She was followed by Meliha Muherina, CEP Project Manager, who gave an insight into the beginnings of the project started by CEP within Positive Agenda for the Youth in the Western Balkans, adopted at the Brdo-Brijuni process summit in Slovenia in April 2015. Finally Matej Rus presented Podim conference and ways for startups to join.
First keynote speech was delivered by Igor Madzov, South Central Ventures Partner, giving an insight into what it means to be investable, what funding to consider, how to be prepared for the avalanche of questions, and gave five essential elements that lead to success: idea; team/execution; business model; funding; timing. Second keynote speech was delivered by Mateja Lavrič, Kolektor Ventures, elaborating on finding synergies and cooperation between corporations and start-ups. Start-ups (Tomi Kallanxhi, Altro Post; Vitjola Viso, Co-Founder at VIS(i)O(n) Design), potential investors (Tatjana Zabasu, Managing Partner, South Central Ventures; Mateja Lavrič, Kolektor Ventures) and local organization (Ergest Nako, Protik Innovation Center) joined into a panel on funding landscape and business opportunities in 2018 in the region
7 local start-ups were given a chance for a three-minute pitch, followed by a feedback delivered by experts and potential investors. Event concluded with informal meeting in relaxed environment between investors and startups.
Start:up Balkan is program in the framework of the project ‘Establishing an Integrated Start-up Ecosystem in the Western Balkans’ powered by CEP and PODIM and supported by the British Embassy in Ljubljana.
14. 2. 2018 | BIH - Entrepreneurs, PR, Youth
Centre for European perspective (CEP) has successfully concluded its second pit-stop of the Start:up Balkan tour in Sarajevo. 50 young entrepreneurial people participated in the workshop and 6 start-ups pitched their idea in front of business experts and potential investors.
Event in Sarajevo was opened by H. E. Mrs Zorica Bukinac, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, who gave an insight into Slovenian role in the project and stressed the importance of such projects for both countries. Secondly, participants were welcomed at Networks by Alma Muharemović, Operational Manager, local partner of the project in BiH, who shortly shed a light on the state of the start-up ecosystem in BiH. She was followed by Ms Meliha Muherina, CEP Project Manager, who gave an insight into the beginnings of the project started by CEP within Positive Agenda for the Youth in the Western Balkans, adopted at the Brdo-Brijuni process summit in Slovenia in April 2015. Finally Matej Rus presented Podim conference and ways for startups to join.
Keynote speeches were delivered by Darko Butina, Partner, BUDS (Slovenia), with a salient topic on blockchain, cryptos and ICOs, where an interesting debate erupted on examples of successful and unsuccessful uses of blockchain technology and Domagoj Oreb, Partner, SC Ventures, who elaborated on the seed investments, lifetime cycle of start-ups, what it means to be investable, and have three main things a start-up has to focus on (market, technology and team). Finally, a 1:1 chat was held with Elena Sinel, Founder/CEO, Acorn Aspirations (United Kingdom), who gave an insight into her work giving support to teenagers in start-up ecosystem. Investors joined into a panel on current funding landscape in the region, where good pitching, red flags, team dynamics, role of advisors and many more were disccussed.
6 local start-ups were given a chance for a three-minute pitch, followed by a feedback delivered by experts and potential investors. Event concluded with informal meeting in relaxed environment between investors and startups.
Event in Sarajevo is part of the project ‘Empowering BiH young entrepreneurs’, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Slovenia in the framework of Slovenia’s development cooperation.
Read this article in Slovene language.
