It is with great pleasure that we present to you 7 young teams who will embark with us on their first entrepreneurial journey – the RISE program!
The call for application for the RISE program was opened during September. Over 50 young people, motivated to bring positive changes into their communities, applied for the program. Based on the reviewed applications, the selection committee selected 7 teams with whom we will work on their business development and social impact in the next 4 months.
Bedpack – The imperative of environmental protection and the desire to help their fellow citizens without proper home, connected this dynamic duo in a team called Bedpack. These 2 girls decided to establish a company that will use recycled materials and textile waste to make pet beds and then set aside part of the profits to make specially designed and comfortable sleeping bags that will be available for homeless people in Belgrade.
Naša priča – A team of social workers has joined forces to launch a company through the RISE program that will provide people with disabilities in Indjija with the opportunity for creative creation, growth and a secure income. This company plans to answer one of the key problems that our fellow citizens face every day – social exclusion and economic insecurity.
Green Hospitality – The team called Green hospitality came up with the idea to design a green catering standard, a service that would help caterers make their business greener and more sustainable and provide customers with a quality, local product that will be recognized in the community as eco friendly.
Izađi u grad – The Go Out Bar team combines activism and an entrepreneurial spirit! The idea of this group from Novi Sad is to start a cafe that, in addition to an attractive location and a carefully selected range of drinks, would provide employment opportunities for transgender people as well as other LGBT people who have difficulties. when finding a job due to discrimination.
Smilje, magično bilje – Did you know that immortelle oil has many healing properties? is used in phytotherapy and is also highly valued in the cosmetics industry? The Smilje, magic plants team plans to offer a quality, natural and socially responsible product to the domestic and foreign markets through the production of this oil. In addition, the mission of the girls who make up this team is to support and empower the local population and small producers who will be included in their production chain.
Ski Easy – Ski Easy are young, ambitious and eager to make a change! This team that is united by love for skiing and winter sports, during RISE will work on the development of an application that aims to solve the problem of navigating and crowds on the ski slopes and to contribute to the pleasure and safety of both skiers and hikers during the summer months in the mountains.
Pa, to sam mog’o i ja – How to bring contemporary art closer to a wider audience? How to remove the label of the incomprehensible and the elite from contemporary art? Two young art historians from Belgrade have decided to tackle this problem and launch a podcast that would primarily open new opportunities for young people to explore contemporary art in an accessible, understandable and fun way.
RISE – Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs is a regional support program for young social entrepreneurs implemented by Smart Kolektiv within Serbia.
During the 4 months of the Ideation Program, these teams will build their idea from scratch to the business model. Also, they will have the support of experts and mentors, with whom they will go through all the important steps in starting a social enterprise. During the Incubation Program, the two best teams from Serbia, i.e. a total of 12 teams from the region, will receive additional financial and practical support to implement their idea and develop the business of their social enterprise.
The RISE project is developed and supervised by a consortium consisting of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), GROUPE SOS Pulse, the South East European Youth Network (SEEYN), the Institut Français and the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ), and implemented by six local incubators – Smart Kolektiv (Serbia), IPC Tehnopolis (Montenegro), ARNO (Northern Macedonia), Balkan Green Foundation (Kosovo), Nešto više (BIH) and Yunus Social Business (Albania). RISE is co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO). More about the RISE program >> WEBSITE
