The five-day BoostMeUp Bootcamp of the pre-acceleration program has started at IEC Tehnopolis. The 20 selected teams will have the opportunity from October 14 to 18 to acquire key skills, knowledge, and resources necessary for advancing their startup projects.
The start of the Bootcamp was marked by speeches from key representatives of institutions that played an important role in the realization of the BoostMeUp program, who are not only supporters of innovation in Montenegro but also leaders in their respective fields.
Marija Raznatovic, Acting Director General of the Directorate for Innovation and Smart Specialization of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation, opened the event by welcoming all attendees and wishing the team success over the next five days. “The Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation truly believes in the change brought by Montenegro’s innovation community. Together with you, we are creating a favorable environment and will continue to support the development of the startup community. Thanks to Tehnopolis and all partners, we believe you will make the most of the coming days to improve your skills with the mentors and find the right path to realize your ideas,” she stated, emphasizing that the Ministry will continue to support the startup community and the innovation ecosystem.
Đorđije Malović, Executive Director of IPC Tehnopolis, also addressed the audience, welcoming all attendees, whom he called friends of IEC Tehnopolis, and participants of the BoostMeUp Bootcamp. He thanked all the partners involved in the project, highlighting that this is the strongest partnership yet, increasing the value of the program.
“I am sure this will further enhance the already serious program. I owe special thanks to our partners for providing an exceptionally representative prize fund, making the rewards significantly higher than in previous years,” he added.
He also thanked the IEC Tehnopolis team for making the fourth edition of BoostMeUp better than the previous ones, planting the seed for each subsequent edition to surpass the last.
Next, Branko Mitrovic, CEO of One Montenegro, expressed his honor to be part of the Tehnopolis community and future leaders of entrepreneurship, the people on whom our future economy depends.
“Make the most of every moment, learn from every situation, and be brave with your ideas. One will continue to support you on this journey because we believe in you and the potential you carry,” Mitrović said.
Tomas Damjanovic, Head of Corporate Communications at EPCG (Electric Power Industry of Montenegro), also addressed the attendees.
“Today’s opening ceremony of the BoostMeUp Bootcamp program is an important step in the development of our community, and from the perspective of EPCG, particular importance is given to the advancement of green energy and sustainable development, to which we are all committed. The program itself is guided by the S3 strategy, where green energy is one of the priority areas,” he emphasized.
He added that the collaboration with Tehnopolis is not a strategic partnership but a natural synergy, as they share the same goals and visions, and it is an honor to have established this partnership this year, supporting both the organizers and participants.
Finally, Drasko Boljevic, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Fund, spoke, emphasizing that these topics and ideas should become an integral part of the work of institutions dealing with this field and should be included in annual work plans in the years ahead.
Strong partnerships guarantee the quality of the program. Therefore, a contract was signed during the Bootcamp, formalizing future collaboration, thanks to which the BoostMeUp program’s prize fund will be significantly larger than in previous years.
With this, the Bootcamp was officially opened, where teams will work with mentors and participate in expert-led sessions to improve their business models and learn how to position them in the market. Additionally, participants will have the chance to get acquainted with Montenegro’s startup ecosystem and, through short pitches, present their ideas and participate in workshops covering topics such as design thinking, agile methodologies, idea validation, and business plan creation.
The final day of the Bootcamp (October 18) will be the highlight of this part of the program, as teams will present their ideas to a professional jury during Demo Day, which will decide which ideas will move forward to the five-month pre-acceleration program that includes both financial and non-financial support.
For more information about the program and event results, visit www.boostmeup.me or contact us via email at info@boostmeup.me.
The program is led by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis, in collaboration with key partners from the business and innovation sectors, including the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, the University of Montenegro, ICT Hub Belgrade, One Montenegro, EPCG, and the Environmental Protection Fund (Eco Fund). The program is supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation and the Government of Montenegro.
