Record Year for BoostMeUp: The Fourth Edition of the Program Concluded
The fourth edition of the pre-acceleration program BoostMeUp concluded yesterday with a spectacular final event – the Montenegro Pitching Competition, where the best startups presented their innovative ideas before an expert jury, investors, and program partners.
This year, the program broke records – the highest number of applications to date was recorded, and all ten teams managed to develop an MVP or prototype within six months. The winning teams received a total of EUR 30,000 in financial support.
In her opening speech, Marica Melovic, Director General of the Directorate for Scientific Research Activities at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, stated: “As a ministry responsible for innovation, we are strongly committed to creating an environment where ideas take flight and entrepreneurial spirit finds firm ground. Today’s gathering is of special value because it shows that we all emphasize the importance of investing in innovation – from institutions and businesses to science and, most importantly, young creators.”
“Nothing illustrates the development of IEC Tehnopolis and the Montenegrin innovation ecosystem better than BoostMeUp,” said Djordjije Malovic, Executive Director of IPC Tehnopolis. “Year after year, it justifies its concept as a national platform for the development of Montenegrin startups. This year, we had the highest number of applications, accompanied by the strongest quality so far, and the most powerful consortium implementing the program. This year’s Montenegro Pitching Competition, as the crown of everything done during the program, is both an encouragement and a challenge for the Montenegrin innovation community.”
Winners and Awards
Ten startups competed in the finals. The best team was AI HEAL, an advanced AI solution that brings explainable and causal artificial intelligence into health diagnostics and monitoring. By using sensors, wearable devices, previous medical data, and scientific knowledge, the system analyzes patient data in real time, enabling early anomaly detection and accurate medical decisions. They received financial support of EUR 15,000. Second place went to BOCCUN, an innovative digital platform that uniquely connects winemakers and wine lovers, providing an unforgettable experience of exploring, selecting, and purchasing wine with a single click. They were awarded EUR 10,000. STARKO, which uses artificial intelligence to automate customer support and transform user feedback into concrete product improvements, came in third and won EUR 5,000. In addition to financial support, the winners received a strategy for internationalization and business scaling.
Expert Jury and Investor Evaluation
The winners were selected by an expert jury composed of: Marica Melovic (Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation), Kosta Strunjas (Deltahes), Valentina Radulovic (Science and Technology Park of Montenegro), Milena Lipovina Bozovic (University of Montenegro), Miraš Šljivančanin (One Crna Gora), Kosta Andric (ICT Hub), and Sasa Ivanović (Innovation Fund).
In addition to the jury, representatives of VC funds and business angels also conducted a special evaluation of the teams, assessing the investment potential of the projects and providing concrete recommendations for further development, including: Vladimir Nedovic (Azimut Zero, AI Venture Building & Investment Readiness), Miloš Matic (Omorika Ventures), Dane Atanaskovic – The Other Guy (DSI business angel), Miloš Kujovic (South Central Ventures), and Kristian Asani (Silicon Garden Fund).
Organizers and Support
The BoostMeUp program brings together key actors from the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating strong synergy between institutions, the private sector, and the academic community. The lead organizer of the BoostMeUp program is the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis, and program partners include the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, the University of Montenegro, ICT Hub Belgrade, One Crna Gora, the Electric Power Company of Montenegro, and the Environmental Protection Fund – Eco Fund. The program is supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and the Government of Montenegro.
BoostMeUp continues to be a key platform for the development of the startup ecosystem in Montenegro, providing young entrepreneurs with the opportunity to turn their ideas into successful business ventures.
