Call for entries for the Program for Sustainable Businesses 2022 is successfully closed, receiving applications from enterprises with strong social and environmental impact in Serbia. The first level of selection is currently underway, which includes the evaluation of the received applications by the evaluation commission. Candidates who passed to the shortlist of the selection will be invited after May 5 to an interview, based on which the final selection of participants will be made. Enterprises with the greatest potential for further business development and social impact will have the opportunity to apply for an innovative financial instrument – an interest-free loan worth up to EUR 50,000.00. During the five months of the program, the participants of the program will work together with a team of experienced business mentors, entrepreneurs and investors on a business development strategy and on preparing them for impact investments from Serbia and abroad.
Through an intensive program of interactive workshops and 1-on-1 mentoring, enterprises will analyze and improve their business model, develop financial business projections, social impact reports and presentations for domestic and foreign impact investors. Enterprises will also have the opportunity to connect and develop cooperation with other organizations, enterprises and companies in Serbia, which operate responsibly towards the community and the environment. Since Smart Kolektiv is part of the leading European and global networks that bring together impact investors and organizations supportomg the growth and development of an economy with social impact, enterprises eill grt a chance to present themselves to domestic and foreign investors. Companies will be supported to improve the measurement and communication of their social impact in accordance with internationally recognized methodologies and sustainable development goals.
The Program for Sustainable Businesses is part of the Smart Impact Fund – Fund for the Development of Sustainable Economy, which will invest about half a million euros in the next 5 years in initiatives and companies that contribute to sustainable and positive changes in their communities. The Fund strives to provide long-term professional and financial support to social enterprises in various stages of development and thus contribute to the development of an economy with positive social impact. By 2024, the program will invest about half a million euros in initiatives and enterprises that contribute to sustainable and positive changes in their communities.
The Program for Sustainable Businesses is implemented with the support of: EFSE Entrepreneurship Academy, Open Society Foundation, the Balkan Trust for Democracy of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Belgrade.
The Smart Impact Fund was launched by Smart Kolektiv in 2019 with support of the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) and the former USAID-funded Framework for Giving project that was implemented by the Coalition for Giving led by the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation.
More information about the program can be found on our website.
