Balkan Tech Fund’s Post

Anja Adamović more about the success of Balkan Tech Summit event at RTCG - Radio Televizija Crne Gore🚀

A big thank you to our invaluable sponsors who played a pivotal role in making the Balkan Tech Summit a phenomenal success: 👉🏻 EBRD  👉🏻 Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort 👉🏻 Municipal Assembly of Ulcinj  👉🏻 Hotel Ramada To our sponsors, we express our heartfelt gratitude for driving us towards a future marked by innovation and prosperity, fostering a thriving environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in Montenegro and the Balkans. Your contributions have profoundly impacted the tech and innovation landscape in the region, and we eagerly anticipate continuing this transformative partnership in the years to come. Together, we're taking remarkable strides in shaping the Balkans into a flourishing tech and innovation field by establishing the first fully private VC fund in Montenegro. ✅ 4 days ✅ 4 cities  ✅ 30 international guests  ✅ 7 panels  ✅ 8 startups  ✅ 10 million$ in size  3 words: Balkan Tech Fund 🚀 #BalkanTechSummit #BalkanTechFund

As the day continued to unfold, our activities at the Balkan Tech Summit, ventured into a dynamic second part- Powered by Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort ✅ After settling in, we eagerly convened for the BTF presentation session #2. This session was more than just an exchange of ideas; it was a glimpse into the heart of innovation. General Partner of BTF, Peter Adams, gracefully moderated this enlightening dialogue. The panel, titled "Matching Balkan Need & Investor Feed," featured prominent figures: 👉🏻Judy Reinke, the US Ambassador to Montenegro. 👉🏻Barbara T. Bauer, representing the Women's Investor Network. 👉🏻Jack Phillips, an investor from the Rockies Venture Club. 👉🏻Vladimir Jokic, the Mayor at Kotor Municipality. Following this insightful panel, the evening took on a new flavor. A delightful Cocktail reception beckoned, paired with a culinary journey through Montenegrin delights. Traditional Montenegrin sounds filled the air with the soulful melodies of gusle, as well as the rhythms of jazz and pop. Guests savored Montenegrin traditional drinks and northern delicacies like pršuta, kačamak, cicvara, and more. 🇲🇪 As the dawn of the following day arrived, we embarked on a new adventure, beginning with a hearty breakfast in the comfort of the resort. Our destination was the Boka Bay cruise tour, a voyage across the enchanting Boka Bay. Along the way, we explored Porto Montenegro, admired the picturesque beauty of Perast, and marveled at the mystical Our Lady of the Rocks islet in the heart of the Bay of Kotor. Our journey then led us to Ulcinj, where the central conference awaited – the pinnacle of our Balkan Tech Summit experience which by establishment of Balkan Tech Fund will put Montenegro on a global innovation map. 🌏 Balkan Tech Summit was organized in partnership with the EBRD, Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort , Hotel Ramada, and the Municipal Assembly of Ulcinj. ✅ 4 days ✅ 4 cities ✅ 40 international guests ✅ 7 panels ✅ 8 startups ✅ 10 million$ in size 👉🏻 3 words: Balkan Tech Fund #BalkanTechSummit #BalkanTechFund #InnovationEcosystem #InvestmentOpportunities

✍🏼 Let us tell you the story of part of our second day at the Balkan Tech Summit: Our day began with anticipation as we departed for Old Royal Cetinje, a place steeped in Montenegro's history. We visited the King Nikola's and Biljarda Museums, where we dived into the rich cultural tapestry of this nation. 🇲🇪 The highlight of the day was the descent through winding serpentine roads that offered spellbinding views of Montenegro's stunning landscapes. The breathtaking scenery served as a poignant backdrop to our journey. Lunchtime arrived as we reached the Old Town of Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a unique charm. Over a delightful meal, we gathered at Historic Boutique Hotel Cattaro for an engaging panel discussion. The day culminated in a series of captivating presentations at our Balkan Tech Fund (BTF) session. Peter Adams, a BTF General Partner, likened creating a VC fund to our journey through Montenegro – challenging but profoundly rewarding. Nenad Novovic and Darko Ivanovic, also BTF General Partners, shared their insights into the art of building something from the ground up. Igor Madzov, representing NEST, delved into the Balkan startup ecosystem, discussing its unique perspectives and challenges. The first "Fly by" pitch session featured promising startups from Digital Den portfolio like Flourish, FinalFind, and DigiGrow Ltd. 🚀 We also gained valuable insights into what US angels look for in investments, exploring how this might differ for Balkan companies. Our esteemed panelists, David Giarracco, Clark Hutt, and Praful Shah, imparted their valuable insights. This day was an incredible blend of culture, history, and business insights, enhancing our experience at the Balkan Tech Summit. 🇺🇸 Our journey continued to reveal the untapped potential in the Balkans with our coming in Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort 🙌🏼 Balkan Tech Summit was organized in partnership with the EBRD, Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort , Hotel Ramada, and the Municipal Assembly of Ulcinj. ✅ 4 days ✅ 4 cities ✅ 40 international guests ✅ 7 panels ✅ 8 startups ✅ 10 million$ in size 👉🏻 3 words: Balkan Tech Fund #BalkanTechSummit #BalkanTechFund #InnovationEcosystem #InvestmentOpportunities

The informal segment of the Balkan Tech Summit began last Monday with the arrival of over 20 American investors who are leaders in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship and pioneers in the technological and investment sectors, originating from some of the most influential American ecosystems. A warm welcome was extended to them by the Balkan Tech Fund and Digital Den teams, joined by Her Excellency, the U.S. Ambassador to Montenegro, Judy Rising Reinke. 🇲🇪🇺🇸 📍The evening unfolded with a delightful dinner and cocktail reception, accompanied by the melodies of the Milky Wave band, and continued late into the night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Podgorica. In this unique gathering, professionals from diverse backgrounds and geographies converged with a common purpose – to foster innovation and investment. It was a true testament to the power of international collaboration and the potential for creating meaningful impact in the Balkan region and beyond. 🚀 Balkan Tech Summit was organized in partnership with EBRD, Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort , Hotel Ramada, and the Municipal Assembly of Ulcinj. ✅ 4 days ✅ 4 cities ✅ 40 international guests ✅ 7 panels ✅ 8 startups ✅ 10 million$ in size 👉🏻 3 words: Balkan Tech Fund #BalkanTechSummit #BalkanTechFund #InnovationEcosystem #InvestmentOpportunities

The central conference of the Balkan Tech Summit took place yesterday on the museum plateau in the Old Town of Ulcinj. Beyond the attendance of over 20 American investors and business representatives from various American states, the conference also brought together key figures from the Montenegrin government, the U.S. Embassy, regional and local business, IT, and startup communities. The central event, powered by EBRD, commenced with a panel discussion. This panel tackled how venture capital can support development opportunities and regional economies. It featured distinguished speakers from around the world, including John Zozzaro from MediaTech Ventures in Austin, Tom Rainey from the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs in Portland, Martín González from Denver Economic Development & Opportunity in Denver, Charity Huff from Rockies Venture Club in Denver, and Elliot Bertram from @Broad-Comm Innovation Labs in New York. Subsequently, there was a "Fly by Pitch" session where innovative startup companies part of the Digital Den portfolio, such as Solutaria, Happy Place, 3hills, and Solar Data Collector, had the opportunity to present. The second panel delved into the challenges of attracting venture capital investments to the Western Balkans. The discussion included insights from Grant Van Cleve, an investor from Hangar 75, Keo Sar from August Hill, Matija Dautovic from EBRD in Montenegro, and Nina Nikolich from the Western Balkan Startup Alliance. In the third panel, speakers explored the role of decision-makers in creating an environment conducive to attracting investors. This discussion involved Biljana Scepanovic, the Minister for Science and Technological Development of Montenegro; Ardijan Mavriq, the President of the Assembly of the Municipality of Ulcinj; and Nevena Radovic from the Directorate for Innovation of Montenegro. Balkan Tech Summit was organized in partnership with EBRD, Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort , Hotel Ramada, and the Municipal Assembly of Ulcinj. ✅ 4 days ✅ 4 cities ✅ 40 international guests ✅ 7 panels ✅ 8 startups ✅ 10 million$ in size 👉🏻 3 words: Balkan Tech Fund Peter Adams Darko Ivanovic Nenad Novovic #BalkanTechSummit #BalkanTechFund #InnovationEcosystem #InvestmentOpportunities

🚀 The four-day Balkan Tech Summit, held from October 16th to 19th, welcomed over 20 American investors, representatives of business sectors from the various US states, alongside our local and regional partners. We visited Podgorica, Kotor, Ulcinj, and Cetinje. These locations witnessed the organization of five panels and open discussions, engaging more than 70 participants. The Summit marked a formalization of the establishment of the first fully private venture capital fund investing in Balkan innovations. This event provided a unique networking opportunity, fostering the exchange of experiences and knowledge with a significant number of investors and experts from both America and the Balkans.  Beyond them, we brought together representatives from the Government of Montenegro, the U.S Embassy, the regional and local business, IT, and startup communities, all to promote the potential of Balkan startups, local companies, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, officials, and other success stories from Montenegro and the region. 💼 Our General Partners, Peter Adams, Darko Ivanovic, and Nenad Novovic, expressed their conviction that the establishment of BTF would significantly enhance Montenegro's position in the investment, research, and innovation sectors, placing our country on the regional, European, and global map. 🌍 The Balkan Tech Summit was organized in collaboration with the EBRD, Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort , Hotel Ramada, and the Assembly of the Municipality of Ulcinj. 🚀 ✅ 4 days ✅ 4 cities ✅ 40 international guests ✅ 7 panels ✅ 8 startups ✅ 10 million$ in size 👉🏻 3 words: Balkan Tech Fund #BalkanTechSummit #BalkanTechFund #InnovationEcosystem #InvestmentOpportunities

Day #2 of the Balkan Tech Summit was a perfect mixture of enjoying Montenegrin beauties, networking and inspiring panels! 🤩✨