As part of the 5th cycle of the RISE program, the first Meetup event was held on December 23, bringing together young entrepreneurs, creatives, and enthusiasts. This event served as a platform for idea exchange, networking, and inspiration, in an atmosphere filled with positive energy and motivation for future projects and collaborations. 

The event was made even more valuable by the guest speakers Anica Spasov from the “Naša kuća” Association and Katarina Ejdus from the company “Women on the Way.” Participants had the opportunity to hear inspiring stories from these successful social entrepreneurs, who shared their experiences and challenges they faced in the development of their businesses. 

Through an open and dynamic dialogue, young entrepreneurs received valuable advice and practical guidance that will help them further develop their business ideas. The Meetup highlighted how the exchange of knowledge and experiences can be key to empowering a new generation of social entrepreneurs. 

This event once again confirmed that the RISE program represents a unique opportunity for young people to develop their ideas, build sustainable businesses, and contribute to the community through social entrepreneurship. 

RISE – the Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs is a support program for young social entrepreneurs, implemented in Serbia by the organization Smart Kolektiv since 2019. This is the fifth cycle of the free support program for the development of social entrepreneurship ideas. The program is simultaneously running in six Balkan countries with the goal of enabling motivated and dedicated young people to refine their ideas and make the region a better place to live. During the 4-month “ideation phase,” six to eight teams in six countries will build their ideas from scratch to a business model. Along the way, they will receive support from experts and mentors, going through all the important steps in launching a social enterprise. Afterward, two of the best teams from Serbia and a total of 12 teams from the region will receive additional financial and practical support to implement their ideas and improve their business development in the “incubation phase.” 

The RISE project is supported by the Agence Française de Développement, European Union (EU), Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ), PULSE (Groupe SOS), ARNO, Balkan Green Foundation, Nešto Više, Smart Kolektiv, IEC Tehnopolis, and Yunus Social Business Balkans.