Western Balkans Investment Readiness Startup Program

Join Western Balkans Investment Readiness Startup Program & learn what it takes to close an investment process in under 6 months!

All participating startups should meet the following criteria:

  • The startup is developing tech products in one of the sectors below
  • The Founding teams of the Startups are based in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina or Serbia.
  • The Startup plans to close its funding round in Q3 or Q4 of 2023
  • The Startup is ready to commit at least one person (if not more) for a period of 4 weeks for up to 2 hours a day (a total of 8 hours per week) to participate in the program, mentoring, and masterclasses
  • Interested in presenting Live in the MatchIN forum and discussing funding with over 50 investors

Track 1: Angel/Accelerator Track (€50K - €200K)

  • Product is pre-launch or launched and tested with clients
  • Targeting the markets of Western Balkans and having global Aspirations
  • The Startup is searching for investment in equity between €50K and €200K

Track 2: VC Track (€200K - €2M)

  • The product is launched on the market with several paying clients
  • Targeting the Global Market and seeing the Balkans only as a Testing Ground
  • The Startup is searching for investment in equity larger than €200K

Focus

We are looking for tech startups operating in one of the following verticals and sectors (not exclusively):

Business & ICT

AI & Analytics & Big Data

Fintech & Insurtech

Smart Cities & Home

Industry 4.0 & Proptech

Transport & Logistics

Planet & Sustainability

Healthcare & Wellbeing

Food & Agritech

Timeline

Feb 27, 2023

Applications open

Apr 10, 2023

Applications close

Apr 11, 2023

Top 50 selection

Apr 16 - May 12, 2023

Individual Mentoring & Advidory Program

Apr 16 - May 12, 2023

Masterclasses each Wednesday

Jun 12, 2023

Meetup with Investors

Participation Benefits

Masterclasses

Work with experienced experts and get honest feedback on your work

undefined
Investors

Talk with investors and find out what they want before meeting them live

undefined
Community

Meet peers from all over the region and be a part of the regional founders network

undefined
Advisors

Engage with mentors and Advisors who know how to close an investment

undefined
Proffessional Deal Room

Well prepared deal room ready for due diligence

undefined

Free Credits and Special deals form Partners

undefined

Free tickets to MatchIN Investor Forum Ohrid 11-12 May 2023

undefined

Selection Committee & Investors

Meet Selection Committee and Investors who will be bringing their industry and market knowledge to support participants' business development!

  • Ardian Hoxha, Keiretsu Forum SEE

    Ardian Hoxha

    Chapter President, Keiretsu Forum SEE

  • Ewa Chronowska, Vestbee & Next Road Ventures

    Ewa Chronowska

    CEO, Vestbee & Partner, Next Road Ventures

  • Vojta Rocek, Presto Ventures

    Vojta Rocek

    Partner, Presto Ventures

  • Alexandru Bogdan, ROCA X

    Alexandru Bogdan

    CEO, ROCA X

  • Csaba Kakosy, Day One Capital

    Csaba Kakosy

    Managing Partner, Day One Capital

  • Onur Can, APX

    Onur Can

    Senior Investment Manager, APX

  • Tatjana Zabasu Mikuž, South Central Ventures

    Tatjana Zabasu Mikuž

    Managing Partner, South Central Ventures

  • Enis Hulli, 500 Emerging Europe

    Enis Hulli

    General Partner, 500 Emerging Europe

  • Martin Garaj, J&T Ventures

    Martin Garaj

    VC Associate, J&T Ventures

  • Martin Jankoski, Constantia New Business

    Martin Jankoski

    Junior Investment Manager, Constantia New Business

  • Michael Mizrahi, Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem

    Michael Mizrahi

    Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development, Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem

  • Cristobal Alonso, Startup Wise Guys

    Cristobal Alonso

    Global CEO & El Patron, Startup Wise Guys

  • Stephane Gantchev, LAUNCHub Ventures

    Stephane Gantchev

    Partner, LAUNCHub Ventures

  • Max Gurvits, Bulgarian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association

    Max Gurvits

    Board Member, Bulgarian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association

  • Edi Demaj, KODE Labs

    Edi Demaj

    Co-Founder, KODE Labs

  • Eli Velasquez, Investors of Color Network

    Eli Velasquez

    Managing Partner, Investors of Color Network

  • Mirela Yordanova, Seedcamp

    Mirela Yordanova

    Network & Community Manager, Seedcamp

  • Chris Wehbe, Lendable

    Chris Wehbe

    CEO, Lendable

  • Mateja Lavrič, QLECTOR

    Mateja Lavrič

    Managing Director, QLECTOR

Evaluation Criteria for TOP 20 decided by a Selection Committee and Investors in the:

  • TEAM: Comitment and ability of a team to execute the vision
  • BUSINESS MODEL: Is there a compelling business model and stable revenue stream?
  • PRODUCT: Does the company have an innovative technology/product/service?
  • MARKET: Is there a clear demand for the product and market size?
  • UVP: How unique is the startup's overall offering?
  • TRACTION: What are the current stages of the product, pipeline, and partnership?
  • MATCH: Is the company a potential fit for engaged investors?

Powered By

Nest  Studio logoKeiretsu Forum SEE logoVestbee logo

NEST is a Venture Advisory studio From SEE connecting tech founders with global Aspirations to investors and Markets. Keiretsu Forum is the world's largest network of angel investors, i.e. capital and financial resources, with 53 chapters on 4 continents. The Keiretsu Forum investment community includes private investors providing start-up and venture capital. Keiretsu Forum SEE envisions connecting the Balkans as a single market and joining entrepreneurs and Investors from 9 countries.

Program Partners

  • Startup Macedonia logo
  • Innovation Centre Kosovo logo
  • Start BiH logo
  • DigitalDen Montenegro logo
  • Fondacija 787 logo
  • SEEU Tech Park logo
  • FITD logo

Investors

  • 700 Accelerator logo
  • Seavus Accelerator logo
  • X Factor Accelerator logo
  • Business Accelerator UKIM logo
  • Prime Point Partners logo
  • Preda Plus logo
  • Ventureup logo
  • Coolab logo
  • Uplift logo
  • Hub387 logo
  • Digital Serbia initiative logo
  • NextRoad
  • 500 Startups logo
  • Launchub logo
  • Earlybird Ventures logo
  • FRC logo
  • Constantia new Business logo
  • J&T ventures logo
  • South Central Ventures logo
  • Ceed BA logo
  • Meta Change Capital logo
  • APX logo
  • Vitosha logo
  • seedcamp logo
  • Arena Ventures logo
  • ICThub logo
  • Core Angels logo
  • Angel Capital Association US logo
  • Funderbeam logo
  • Basic Math logo
  • Brightly ventures logo
  • Metavalon logo
  • Mediterranean Angels logo
  • IT labs logo
  • Efino logo
  • Credo Ventures logo
  • Day One Capital logo
  • Venture Friends logo
  • Depo Ventures logo

Sponsors

  • Swiss Entrepreneurship Program logo
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH logo
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development logo
  • United States Agency for International Development logo
  • FITD logo

Supporting Team & Contributors

  • Igor Madzov, NEST

    Igor Madzov

    Investment Director, NEST

  • Hristijan Volkanovski, Startup Macedonia

    Hristijan Volkanovski

    Program Coordinator, Startup Macedonia

  • Kamelija Kostovska, Startup Macedonia

    Kamelija Kostovska

    Community & Digital Marketing Coordinator, Startup Macedonia

Join Western Balkans Investment Readiness Startup Program and take your company to the next level