We create environment that encourages startup founders to develop innovative products and services!
Unique pre-seed support program Raising Starts helps you in the earliest stages of innovation development, even if your project is only in idea stage.
perceive it
validate it
and develop it
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR RAISING STARTS 4.0
Applications are open until 11th October at noon.
* The program was created through the project "Technopark Serbia 2 - Boosting exports through technoparks" supported by the Swiss Government
Raising Starts gives you the opportunity:
TO HAVE SOMEONE TO RELY ON
TO ACHIEVE YOUR PLAN
TO LEARN
TO COUNT ON WHAT IS YOURS
TO DEVELOP
TO CREATE NETWORK
What to expect:
Phase 1
Your idea and your team have passed the selection phase and we welcome you to the Phase 1. We will help you to validate your business idea through various workshops, trainings and mentor sessions, using Lean Startup methodology.
Demo day
You PITCH your idea before the jury! Do not worry, your team will be well prepared for this. Those with highest grades will pass on to the Phase 2.
Phase 2
It is time for fine polishing – in this phase, we provide extended support for the development of your product/service through additional workshops and training, “1 on 1” mentoring sessions with international and local expert from different areas of business development as well as grant funds up to 20.000 CHF.
Your global success begins in your region!
STP Belgrade
City of Belgrade, Central and Northern Serbia
STP Niš
Southern and Eastern Serbia
STP Čačak
Western Serbia
Who can apply:
YES if:
YOU ARE STARTUP TEAM
(at least 2 members) with clearly defined roles in development of a business idea, or
YOU ARE MICRO COMPANY
with majority of shares in Serbian ownership, registered for no more than two years on the date of announcement of the Public Call.
YOU DEVELOP:
Innovative and technological solution, either hardware or software
You proved its technological feasibility by a document, experiment or a prototype
NO if:
you have already raised more then 20,000 CHF from different sources (VC, loans, credits), from public or private sectors
your startup is owned by a mother company
you belong to one of the following industries:
– production or distribution of weapons and ammunition.
– production or distribution of alcoholic drinks (except beer and wine).
– production or distribution of tobacco.
– gambling, casinos and similar companies.
*detailed list of criteria and industries is given in the Raising Starts Guide and Public Call
Applications are open until 11th October at noon.
What do we expect from you
Commitment to development of your idea
Openness for new knowledge, experiences and approaches, as well as for communication with other participants and organizers
Proactive approach during the program
Why the program Raising Stars is important for you?
You have a great idea or the first prototype, you understand all its details and each day you find another argument for its importance, but there is much broader picture. A spark of inspiration created something interesting, but you are far away from something that a market or possible investor would understand and consider. You and your team must gain some basic business knowledge, such as finance, sales, promotion, approach to customers or similar. With Raising Starts you get necessary acceleration and support. Mentors that were “in your shoes” and had plenty of similar dilemmas, will dedicate their time so that no questions will be left without adequate answers.
Mentors and experts
Dušica Lukač
Founder, DL Capital Partners
Đuro Stojanović
Co-founder, Uhura Solutions
Lisa Rose
Senior Manager Entrepreneurship For Development at Royal Academy of Engineering
Anthony Kypreos
Advisory Council Member & Venture Partner, UN Sustainable Development Goals
Đuro Stojanović, CEO i Co-founder Uhura Solutions
Raising Starts is an amazing program that allows founders to learn from amazing mentors, gain valuable business experience and make great business connections. It is one of the best accelerator programs in this part of Europe, building the fastest-growing community focused on the founders’ success!
Lena Miladinović, Co-founder Oupost
We are really glad to be a part of Raising Starts program, which enhanced our business knowledge, further defined our concept, and led us to make our first startup steps. STP Belgrade community drove innovation and opened many doors, providing necessary skills and connections. Programs like this are definitely needed in the early startup stages, bringing expert support that makes it much easier to start and expand an innovative business globally.
Vladimir Božović, CEO & Founder ZenCV
The level of support, guidance and insightful advice from the Raising Starts team and its network of mentors was well beyond my expectations, which is one of the main reasons why we are now on a steep uphill trajectory towards success. Now we know exactly what we need to do and how to do it!
And the story does not stop here
After the program you become
Part of STP community
As a part of the community you can finally exchange opinions, visons, and ideas with others who, such as you, dream big. A world of great opportunities is constantly opening and expanding to you.
That is visible
Investors (VC funds, business angles and others) and potential clients are now around you, and you and your team are trained, prepared and ready for negotiations and new opportunities. Foreign markets are finally available, and local and international events are booked in your calendar.
And is continuously expanding
You surrounded by representatives and founders of great startups with whom you can start new initiatives and resolve common issues.
With the support
STP is always there to support further development of your business, providing access to modern and innovative infrastructure and laboratories, increasing your visibility and approach to investments.
Glossary
Innovation
Proved technological feasibility
Pre-seed finance
Incubation
Accelerator
Science Technology Park
About the Project:
Program Raising Starts is created through the project “Technopark Serbia 2 –Boosting exports through technoparks” under the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Swiss Government (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO). The project is conducted by Science Technology Park Belgrade, in partnership with Science Technology Park Niš and Science Technology Park Čačak.
The project puts into focus the creation of supportive environment that will enable young people to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to faster develop innovative products and services and enter global market. With the aim of straightening the competitiveness of the Serbian economy, increasing exports and new jobs, the Project will support the establishment and development of up to 100 new startup companies in Belgrade, Čačak and Niš during the 4 years.
With support of
