The last workshop of the Program for Sustainable Businesses with the topic of ‘’Pitch and public appearance’’ was held on Septembar 21st in Smart Kolektiv. The workshop was led by our longtime associate and business consultant Sonja Dakic, who was preparing participants for pitch session at which enterprises will have the opportunity to apply for an impact investment from Smart Impact Fund.  

During the workshop, participants were practicing how to pitch their enterprises in three minutes in the best possible way, whereupon Sonja Dakic gave them feedback and tips how to improve their pitching skills.   

With this workshop, the workshop segment of this year’s Program for Sustainable Business if finished. After six workshops and numerous 1-1 meetings with mentors, representatives of ten enterprises are now ready for the next step. They will present their projects to Smart Impact Fund Advisory Board and potential investors at the Pitch session, and based on their decision, one or two businesses will get interest-free loans from Smart Impact Fund.  

This was the last out of six workshops designed with the goal that the ten enterprises further develop their business development strategies and prepare for impact investments. During the five months of the program, participants undergo an intensive training process, and will also have the opportunity to apply for an innovative financial instrument – interest-free loans worth up to EUR 50,000.00.  

Their businesses contribute to solving different social problems – from environmental to employment problems of people with disabilities – Get to know them!  

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 five 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 EVPA – the European Venture Philanthropy Association 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.