TECH BOOST PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

APPLY NOW FOR THE PRE-ACCELERATION PROGRAM

Are you an early-stage entrepreneur with an innovative product or service that leverages technology? Are you looking for ways to boost your business and seeking investment opportunities to finance your startup idea? We have news for you!

ICK has teamed up with one of Europe’s top accelerators, Startup Wise Guys, along with the lead Canada-based incubator, accelerator, and advisory firm Spring Activator to bring startups from Kosovo and the region an educational set designed to empower early-stage entrepreneurs and help them scale.

Powered by the EFSE Entrepreneurship Academy and supported by EU, the entire Tech Boost series consists of pre-acceleration and acceleration phases. The program offers a chance for a startup to enter the acceleration phase and win an award of €15.000. But that’s not where this journey ends! Startups who get to be chosen for the acceleration phase have the opportunity to pitch to investors and secure much bigger investment funds for their businesses.

Applications for the TECH BOOST PRE-ACCELERATION (September–December 2021) are now open!

All entrepreneurs with early-stage technology businesses (such as CleanTech, HealthTech, AgriTech…) are eligible to apply. Unsure if you’re a tech business? Scroll down for further eligibility info.

WHAT IS TECH BOOST PRE-ACCELERATION?

Tech Boost Pre-acceleration is a 10-week program powered by Startup Wise Guys to empower early-stage tech entrepreneurs with the knowledge and experience to take their businesses to the next level, to be implemented from September-December 2021. So far, 2 Tech Boost pre-accelerators have been successfully implemented in the Western Balkans.

What you will get:

Access to SWG’s online platform for startup development with training materials; delivered by top European and international startup mentors;

Participation in a series of workshops tailor-made for program participants;

The chance to meet successful European startups and hear about their experiences;

Intensive mentorship support from local and international mentors;

Practical takeaways from weekly challenges such as a new pitch deck and customer discovery insights;

What you will learn:

Company-building basics such as values and metrics;

Defining your business goals and building a product development plan;

Defining your customer persona;

Sales and lead generation techniques;

Crafting a successful pitch and building relationships with investors;

Legal basics;

OPPORTUNITIES AFTER TECH BOOST PRE-ACCELERATION

Get the chance to be a part of the first regional accelerator and to win €15.000 to grow your business!

Apply and compete for a much bigger investment opportunity!

Upon completion of Tech Boost Pre-acceleration, the 12 best-rated startups from the Western Balkan region will be invited to be a part of the very first regional Tech Boost Stars Accelerator (January–May 2022) powered by Spring Activator, and implemented in cooperation with the Startup Wise Guys.

There are two things that this program insures to Tech Boost Stars, that you don’t want to miss:

Tech Boost Stars will not only dive deeper into more advanced phases of business development with additional training, a pitch bootcamp, and personalized advisory, mentoring. They will be lucky enough to compete for a bigger investment opportunity their startup needs for further scaling.

Tech Boost Stars Accelerator will culminate in a regional pitching competition „Pitch Balkans“ where entrepreneurs will demo their businesses to investors for a chance to win a secured award of €15.000. This competition will give all participating startups valuable exposure to key players (e.g. local and regional investors, business angels etc.) in the industry and the potential of easier access to international markets.

*In order for a startup to be able to be selected from among 12 participants for the first regional accelerator, it is necessary that it has previously completed the Tech Boost pre-acceleration program.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR TECH BOOST PRE-ACCELERATION?

Applicants must fulfill ONE of the following:

Have already developed a concept of their idea or an MVP (minimum viable product);

Already have a product in the market;

Will launch their product within the next 6 months;

Your company DOES NOT need to be registered yet.

Tech startups are considered as the following:

You have a product or service that somehow uses technology, not limited to IT;

You can be any tech: example industries include CleanTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, Urban Tech, FinTech…;

If you’re not sure whether your startup is Tech, simply ask us whether you are eligible to apply.

Click the following button to access the application form:

KEY DATES

Tech Boost Pre-acceleration application deadline: 24.09.2021.
Selection process: 28.09.2021.
Announcement of selected teams: 30.09.2021.

In case of questions, please contact: [email protected]

ABOUT THE TECH BOOST PROGRAM PARTNERS

STARTUP WISE GUYS

Startup Wise Guys is a leading European B2B accelerator, present in Baltic countries with program participants from around the world. In 2019, they received a VC fund of the year award for Central and Eastern Europe. SWG can brag with a startup success rate of over 77% and with being one of the most active „early stage“ investors in Europe with over 185 companies in their portfolio.
More information: www.startupwiseguys.com

SPRING ACTIVATOR

A certified B Corporation®, Spring Activator is a global incubator, accelerator, and advisory firm that empowers entrepreneurs, investors, and entrepreneurial ecosystem builders to change the world through innovation. With its advisory services, it has helped over 70 different incubators, accelerators, foundations, and governments across 5 continents enhance their capacity to maximize impact both in their local communities and globally. Through its impact programs, Spring has helped more than 750 entrepreneurs create 350 companies and raise over $24M in funding.
More information: www.spring.is

EFSE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY

The EFSE Entrepreneurship Academy is an initiative of the Development Facility that provides direct support to small businesses throughout Southeast Europe and the EU Eastern Neighbourhood Region. EFSE works together with on-the-ground organisations, such as local incubators and accelerators, to supply entrepreneurs with training, resources, mentoring, networking opportunities, the chance to receive financial backing, and more. In this way, the EFSE Entrepreneurship Academy provides the self-employed with essential tools for success – in the spirit of EFSE as “The Entrepreneurship Fund”.
More information: www.efse.lu/entrepreneurshipacademy

INNOVATION CENTRE KOSOVO

Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK) is the leading integrator of youth, startups and innovative businesses in Kosovo, aiding the economic growth, youth employability, visibility and prosperity of Kosovo. The work of ICK is based in three main pillars including The Startup support program which offers resources for entrepreneurs to create and develop successful companies through incubation, financial support, consulting, training, networking and international match-making; The skills and development program which delivers training services for tenants in the incubator and market-oriented, high-quality courses, upgrading the skill-sets of the general workforce; The co-working space offers a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration, and collaboration opportunities to grow the positive impact of your work. It represents a mix of an innovation lab, Co Working space, a business Incubator, a social enterprise, and tech-community center.
More information: ickosovo.com

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