Belgrade, December 6, 2021 – In November and December we have organized three meetups with the goal to promote cases of successful young social entrepreneurs and innovators from Serbia to raise awareness on social entrepreneurship as innovative and sustainable approach for local challenges. During the meet ups, SK team has also promoted the call for start ups to participate in our Program for sustainable ideas – start-up incubation program which will be implemented from January to June 2022. The meetups were organized in partnership with Deli from Niš and Startit from Novi Sad. At the meetups, the participants could get inspired and learn from experiences of successful entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs – Dragana Jovčić (Uradi Zaradi), Nikoleta Kosovac (Liceulice), Aleksandar Šćepanović (Zanateria i Hostel Montana), Oskar Marko (Cropt) and Nikola Stanojević (SOMA). The speakers shared their tips and gave practical advice on how to start and develop successful impact businesses.
The Program for Sustainable Ideas is being implemented with the support of the US Embassy in Belgrade. The Program for Sustainable Ideas is being implemented for the first time in Serbia and is part of the five-year strategy and program of the Smart Impact Fund – Fund for the Development of Sustainable Economy. 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 companies that contribute to sustainable and positive changes in their communities.
The Smart Impact Fund program is implemented with the support of EFSE Entrepreneurship Academy – EFSE Entrepreneurship Academy and EVPA – European Association for Entrepreneurial Philanthropy. The Program has been launched by Smart Kolektiv with the support of the Framework for Giving Project, funded by United States Agency for International Development USAID and implemented by the Coalition for Giving, led by the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation. Members of the Coalition are Trag Foundation, Catalyst Foundation, Smart Kolektiv, Serbian Philanthropic Forum, Responsible Business Forum and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
