Startup academy
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
The project addresses young entrepreneurs and startups from the Western Balkans, who want to present their entrepreneurial idea, develop their business models, find investors, partners and supporters, and cooperate with peers in the region. The main objective of the project is to educate and integrate young entrepreneurs in a region that faces similar challenges.
Workshop 1 - Training of trainers
The first workshop was organised in Tirana (Albania) on the 7th and 8th of March 2019, bringing together leaders of corporate HUBs, incubators and similar institutions who significantly contribute to the supportive environment young entrepreneurs depend on when they are establishing their business. The participants of the event were introduced to new and effective methods they can enforce to encourage, support and develop the entrepreneurial ideas that are being developed in their environment.
Workshop 2 - Presentation and search for investors 'pitching and fundraising'
Nikšić (Montenegro) was the setting of the second workshop organised between the 28th and 29th of March 2019. This training edition was designed for startups and their representatives, whereas the first workshop was organised for institutions that so-create the startup supportive environment.
Each startup requires a different preparation and approach to address the challenges of their entrepreneurial idea and specific business environment. Financial planning plays a key role in this effort, that is why the second workshop focused mainly on different funding options. In this way, the participants had an opportunity to familiarise themselves with 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 3 - 'Sales and Growth Hacking'
Young entrepreneurs and Startup representatives joined forces in Pristina from April 24th to April 25th 2019. The third event focused on the art of selling and finding the most suitable and effective marketing tools that are very rapidly evolving and changing.
Participants were included in a hands-on module, which familiarised them with a set of new skills including: learning how to set up their sales process and implement different fast growth techniques (growth hacking) based on defined KPIs. Participants also gained new insights on growth, importance of sales data collecting and analysis, Startup Marketing & Growth Hacking, Marketing Data Collection and other skills.
Workshop 4 - Demo Day and PODIM Conference
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. The best 5, Ivmax, Marleq, ELS Development, Blocknify and Tratics, got a chance to pitch in front of the investors and received 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 later on moved to Maribor, where the international conference Podim took place from May 21st to May 22nd. The latter is the largest conference for start-ups, investors and other experts in the region. Young entrepreneurs joined the event as participants and had an opportunity to present their ideas, look for potential partners, investors and learn a lot through participating in various lectures from world-renowned experts.
WORKSHOP 1 – Training of trainers
WORKSHOP 2 – Presentation and search for investors ‘pitching and fundraising’
WORKSHOP 3 – ‘Sales and growth hacking’
4. WORKSHOP – Demo Day and PODIM Conference
PODIM CONFERENCE
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The project WB6 Startup academy ‘Building the WB6 unicorn’ has been developed on the success and experience of previous efforts that contributed to the environment enabling young entrepreneurs in the Western Balkan region to develop their business and ideas.
The project ‘Empowering BiH’s Young Entrepreneurs’ and the ´Empowering Kosovo’s Young Entrepreneurs´ project included a range of activities in the period from 2016 to the year 2018. These projects supported young entrepreneurs from all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, young entrepreneurs from Kosovo and youngsters with entrepreneurial ideas, who wanted to develop and launch their projects.
For more information about the activities that were implemented as part of this project, visit the Empowering BIH’s Young Entrepreneurs page and Empowering Kosovo’s Young Entrepreneurs page.