Western Balkan Startup Alliance

Our Nina Nikolich, a founding member of the Western Balkan Startup Alliance (WBSA), recently participated in the Recreating Innovation Summit in Chania, Crete organised by Founderhood. The event, held from October 24th to 26th, brought together global innovation leaders, startup program managers, policymakers, and more to collaborate and share knowledge. Nina's experience as an ecosystem builder and program manager made her a great addition to the summit, where she contributed to discussions on strategic collaboration across startups, investors, and innovation policy. This event contributed to create links between WBSA and international partners to explore collaborations and joint projects. A big thank you to #RECONOMY for supporting our participation! RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with WBSA] and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans. #InnovationEcosystem #GlobalInnovation #RecreatingInnovation #WBSA

§ Excited to join #SouthSummit25, where innovation meets opportunity! We’re on the lookout for startups with unique solutions that can drive change. 🌍 Ready to make your mark? Let’s connect! https://lnkd.in/eWPFESps § Our mission at #SouthSummit25: find visionary startups pushing the boundaries of tech and business! 🔍 If you're building something that can disrupt the ecosystem, we want to meet you! https://lnkd.in/eWPFESps § The energy at South Summit is electric! We’re here to discover bold entrepreneurs and groundbreaking ideas. Let’s collaborate and elevate innovation to the next level. Are you ready? 🌟 https://lnkd.in/eWPFESps

We are thrilled to share with you the BOLD Fellowship for Entrepreneurship, an exciting startup incubator program based in New York City for young aspiring entrepreneurs from the Western Balkans. Hosted by Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC), this fully-funded fellowship offers a unique opportunity to transform your entrepreneurial ambitions into reality. Program Details: Who can apply? Individuals aged 18-25 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia, with a startup idea at the ‘Ideation to Pre-MVP’ stage. Program overview: The fellowship includes a 2-month virtual program, followed by a 1-month in-person program in New York, and concludes with 2 months of scaling and collaboration. What’s covered? The fellowship is fully funded, including travel, accommodation, meals, and program components – with no equity required. Why Apply for the BOLD Fellowship? Method: Develop your entrepreneurship skills with our experiential growth model. Step into the founder's shoes and refine your startup idea while testing it in the U.S. Dedication: Gain ongoing support for your entrepreneurial mindset and future startup ventures. Network: Connect with top mentors, industry experts, and like-minded peers from NYC and beyond. Location: Immerse yourself in the heart of NYC's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Application Deadline: November 4th at 11:59 PM ET Don’t miss out on this opportunity to bring your startup idea to life and join a community of bold and innovative young entrepreneurs!

Our WBSA Board Member, Dorina Grezda, recently participated in the Journey Towards a Greener Future and Climate Neutrality event held on October 10-11 in Split, Croatia. The two-day program featured various workshops, panel discussions, and a study visit, all focused on innovative solutions in sustainable urban transport, digital transformation, and financing models. Dorina joined experts from across Europe in sharing insights and exploring best practices, aiming to accelerate the transition towards a greener future in the Western Balkans. The event provided a valuable platform for networking and emphasizing the role of public transport in achieving climate goals. #SustainableTransport #ClimateNeutrality #Innovation #Mobility #WBSA #GreenerFuture #WesternBalkans

Sarajevo Welcomes Business Angel Summit 2024 The Business Angel Summit, the leading annual event of its kind in the Western Balkans, is set to October 30-31, 2024, in Sarajevo, bringing together the angel investors, early-stage venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, startup founders and key stakeholders in the startup ecosystem from the Western Balkans, Europe, and beyond. The two-day summit promises an exceptional lineup of internationally acclaimed speakers, insightful panel discussions for participants, hands-on workshops for startups, pitches of promising startups from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia and exclusive networking opportunities. With over 150 hand-picked participants, the Business Angel Summit offers a unique platform to connect, share insights and cultivate new investments. Known for its focused and collaborative atmosphere, the summit plays a key role in shaping the region's startup landscape, backed up by the previous editions that have helped pre-seed and seed startups secure valuable investments and achieve significant milestones. If you are an investor and you are actively seeking exciting startup investment opportunities in Western Balkans, you can still be part of the Business Angel Summit. Here are some of the compelling reasons to join us in Sarajevo: No Registration Fee: Attend without any cost. Networking Opportunities: Connect with dozens of fellow angel investors and industry experts from Western Balkans region, Europe and the world. Startup Pitches: Discover innovative ideas from emerging startups in the Western Balkans regions before others do. Collaborative Environment: Engage in discussions and share insights with peers. Ultimate Investment Potential: Explore diverse investment opportunities through our networking opportunities.  Get inspired: Hear fascinating speeches, panel discussions and thought-provoking conversations on the hottest business trends. Experience Sarajevo: Enjoy the charm of the city that hosted 84’ Olympic games, renowned for its great food, warm hospitality and relaxed atmosphere. As the organizers of the Business Angel Summit, Foundation 787, a leading organization dedicated to the development and promotion of entrepreneurship and startup culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, celebrating a decade of advancing the country's startup ecosystem, alongside BHBAN, the country’s pioneering and sole business angel network established two years ago, we warmly invite interested investors, angel investors and VC funds to join us in Sarajevo. Get in touch via hatidza@f787.ba to secure your spot at the forefront of the region’s startup ecosystem! Let’s BAS together in Sarajevo

WBSA this week took part of the Splet Tech Conference 2024: The Largest Regional Innovation Gathering in Belgrade On October 8th, the third and largest SPLET TECH conference took place in Belgrade, bringing together technology enthusiasts, startup teams, investors, students, professors, and innovators. Following the success of the previous two years—with nearly 200 top-tier speakers and over 4,500 participants—the 2024 edition promised even more with an expanded lineup of speakers, sessions, and topics. Held at the MTS Dvorana, SPLET TECH 2024 featured nine stages where both domestic and international experts discussed cutting-edge topics such as web3 technology, business pivoting, exit strategies, sales, business internationalization, technology's role in shaping legislation, and the value of multidisciplinary teams. Attendees gained valuable insights from workshops, motivational talks, and had the chance to connect with potential collaborators, investors, and users. The Startup and Expo Zone offered a showcase of innovative companies and startups, while the introduction of the VC Zone gathered Venture Capital funds and business angels, providing new opportunities for investment and growth. We are proud to announce that three of our WBSA Advisory Board members—Kosta Andrić 🌲, Sasa Ivanovic , and Nina Nikolich—were part of this year’s impressive lineup of speakers, contributing their expertise and insights on the region’s startup ecosystem. And we had Dorina Grezda & Jovana Musić supporting and representing WBSA. Thanks for the support RECONOMY in making this happened for our team. RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with WBSA and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans. #SPLETTECH2024 #InnovationConference #TechGathering #StartupCommunity #WBSA #RegionalInnovation #BelgradeTech #Entrepreneurship #TechLeaders #RECONOMY #Startups #VentureCapital #BusinessAngels #Web3 #TechNetworking

We had an incredible time at ICT Hub Belgrade discussing our progress, setting new strategies, and collaborating on future priorities. 🚀 Watch the video to relive the energy and innovation that defines WBSA! 🔗 Check it out and stay tuned for more exciting updates! #WBSA #Innovation #RECONOMY #AnnualMeeting #Belgrade #StartupCommunity

The WBSA Board of Advisors had their annual in person meeting at ICT HUB in Belgrade! A lot of discussions, strategies, and future priorities ✅ Plus, the board worked on the agenda for the Annual Assembly of all WBSA members was fine-tuned during the meeting! And that’s not all! Today, our WBSA board of advisors will actively participate in the SPLET Tech Conference. Don’t miss our team in action as we promote WBSA and connect with the startup and tech community! Stay tuned for more updates! 🚀 #WBSA #RECONOMY #TechConference #Innovation #AnnualMeeting

Introducing Esmeralda Byberi – WBSA Advisory Board Member 🇦🇱 Esmeralda Byberi, the CEO of PROTIK Innovation Hub, rounds off our introductions as the final member of the WBSA Advisory Board! With over 10 years of experience across diverse industries, Esmeralda has worked in innovation, foreign investments, renewable energy, technology, telecommunications, and retail. She previously served as an Advisor in the Cabinet of the Mayor of Tirana and as the Director of the establishment of Technology and Economic Development Areas. Esmeralda is a graduate of Utrecht University in the Netherlands and holds a Master’s in Organisations, Governance, and Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her leadership and vision are driving forces in fostering innovation and economic development in the region. We are excited for the future of WBSA with such an outstanding team of advisors! Stay tuned for more exciting initiatives. Thanks for the support RECONOMY #RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with WBSA and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans. #WBSA #InnovationLeadership #RECONOMY #StartUpSuccess

Did you hear about the Recreating Innovation Summit?✨ 📅 Recreating Innovation is a unique opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing between global innovation ecosystem stakeholders like innovation managers, startup organizations, policy makers, innovation media etc. 🚀 For who: Global innovation leaders Startup and corporate program managers Innovation media Conference organizers Technology transfer offices Policy makers Scheduled from October 24th to 26th in Chania, Crete! 💡 📍 Find more information here: https://lnkd.in/dTwjcSGk  📍Suggest a speaker for the event: https://lnkd.in/deDxze9a #recreating_innovation #innovation #ecosystem #startups