Expert support, prize money and participation in international conferences
Registration for the third generation of the “BoostMeUp” pre-acceleration program, within which the best Montenegrin startups are developed and launched on the market, has begun. All creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs and companies can register their idea or creative solution in teams by filling out the form on the website www.boostmeup.me until September 15th, 2023.
The benefits for the participants are the support of renowned experts from all the required fields through six modules, material support for idea development in the amount of 7,000 euros for the six best teams, as well as covering the costs for participation in international conferences in order to promote their startups for the three best teams in at the final of the program in the amount of 4,000 euros per team.
At least six teams will go through a six-month training program within which they will master six modules:
- business model development;
- marketing research and market analysis;
- technology development and prototyping;
- intellectual property protection;
- financial management;
- pitching and presentations.
For each of the mentioned modules, users will have at their disposal a mentor with regional and international experience, as well as a local mentor.
In addition to expert teams, financial support in the amount of 7,000 euros is provided. Upon completion of the program, the participants will be provided with the support of the business incubator, which, among other things, includes the use of the resources of the Data Center, the Industrial Design Laboratory – TechLab Tehnopolis, the FILA innovation laboratory, the Biotechnology Laboratory – BioLab Tehnopolis, as well as the use of the coworking space and other infrastructure of the project partner IEC Tehnopolis.
Special award the three most successful teams will have the opportunity to present their idea at a larger regional event where representatives of VC funds, business angels, accelerators and other potential investors will be present, with costs covered in the amount of EUR 4,000.00 per time.
The special quality of the program this year is also made up of international, regional and national mentors: Petra Karanikic, Ph.D. (Croatia), Marija Janjusevic, M.Sc. (Montenegro), Vladimir Nedovic, Ph.D. (Netherlands), Milos Milosevic, Ph.D. (Serbia), Djorđe Celic, Ph.D. (Serbia), Vladimir Vanja Vulic, MSc (Montenegro) and others. Adequate mentors from the University of Montenegro and from the NTP Belgrade mentor base will be provided for the special needs of the teams.
The pre-acceleration program “BoostMeUp” is a national platform that aims to increase competitiveness and digitize the economy of Montenegro through the development of an innovative ecosystem and the creation of innovative companies, the raising of knowledge and skills, the creation of new values, entrepreneurial culture and easier access to regional and international markets for innovative and entrepreneurial projects. The program is fully aligned with the priorities of the S3 national strategy, which emphasizes a new model of economic development based on targeted support for scientific research and innovative activities and hits several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The holder of the program is the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis, and the partners are the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, the University of Montenegro, Montenegrin Telekom and Science and Technology Park Belgrade. The program is co-financed by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro.