As part of the 4th cycle of the RISE program, the last MeetUp with program participants in 2023 was organized on December 27, along with a New Year’s get-together.
This event provided an opportunity for program participants to connect with experienced entrepreneurs who shared their knowledge, experiences, and key lessons learned from launching and managing successful businesses with a strong impact. Valuable experiences were shared by Dragana Jovčić, co-founder and operational manager of Uradi Zaradi; Aleksandar Šćepanovic, co-founder of several companies including Zanateria, Hostel Montana, Ulje na vatru; and Nikoleta Kosovac, co-founder and program manager of Liceulice.
Special guest of this MeetUp was Neven Marinovic, founder and director of Smart Kolektiv and the Responsible Business Forum. He shared his rich experience in launching social businesses, emphasizing particularly important lessons and recommendations for developing successful B2B partnerships with the business sector. This MeetUp was supported by U.S. Embassy in Serbia.
This is the fourth time that the Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs is conducting a free support program for the development of social entrepreneurship ideas. The program simultaneously takes place in six Western Balkan countries with the goal of enabling motivated and dedicated young people to develop their ideas and make the region a better place. During the four-month “ideation phase,” six to eight teams in six countries will build their ideas from scratch to a business model. On this journey, they will receive support from experts and mentors, guiding them through all the crucial steps in launching a social enterprise. Afterward, the two best teams from Serbia, and a total of 12 teams from the region, will receive additional financial and practical support to carry out their idea and enhance the development of their business during the “incubation phase.”
The RISE project is supported by the Agence Française de Développement, the European Union; Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ), PULSE (Groupe SOS), South East European Youth Network (SEEYN), ARNO, Balkan Green Foundation, Nešto Više, Smart Kolektiv, IEC Tehnopolis and Yunus Social Business Balkans. The RISE program in Serbia is implemented with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade.
