The Ideation phase of the RISE project has begun

07.11.2023

The Ideation phase of the RISE (Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurship) project started with the MeetUp held yesterday on the topic of potential for the development of social entrepreneurship. This event brought together the fourth generation of RISE teams for the first time, with the aim of providing additional motivation for the development of their entrepreneurial ideas and presenting the available support in the period ahead of them.

RISE onboarding

Andjela Nikcevic, project manager, presented the structure of the RISE program and the concept of strengthening the RISE community, with a special focus on the Ideation phase, which will last four months. On this occasion, the seven selected teams learned details of the activities and support that will be available to them during this phase, giving them a clear picture of what awaits them all on the RISE journey. Additionally, the support that will be available to teams within Tehnopolis as a local RISE incubator was presented.

Empathy as a key driver of change in local communities

The lecture by clinical psychologist, business consultant and expert in the psychology of communication, Radoje Cerovic, concerned the broader social context in which young entrepreneurs start the realization of their entrepreneurial ideas: “You are in an environment that, on the one hand, is not inclined to social entrepreneurship, but on the other hand, it makes room for you free because of the lack of competition, because almost no one is looking in that direction,” Cerovic pointed out.

Special emphasis is placed on empathy, which is the key driver of change in local communities. Through the use of a country comparison tool known as the “country comparison tool”, RISERS gained insight into the indicators of recent research (“power distance”, “motivation for achievement and success” and “indulgence”) in our country compared to other countries. These data provided our young entrepreneurs with a clear picture of the social and cultural context in which they engage in entrepreneurship, indicating the challenges and opportunities that await them.

In the end, it was concluded that although there are limiting factors for the development of social entrepreneurship, it is the RISERs who will be the bearers of positive changes at the local and regional level and contribute to significant progress when it comes to this topic.

At the end of the Ideation phase, participants will have the opportunity to present the social enterprise model, highlighting its impact and sustainability. The two most promising ideas will be awarded €3,000 each for business development, participation in the regional mobility program, and access to the Incubation phase.

The RISE project aims to initiate new chapters of reconciliation among young people in the Western Balkans through the development of social entrepreneurship.

The RISE project is co-financed by the Agence française de développement, the European Union, the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and the Franco-German Office for Youth (OFAJ). The project is being developed in partnership with the Regional Office for Youth Cooperation (RYCO), Groupe SOS PULSE, South East European Youth Network (SEEYN), the Franco-German Office for Youth (OFAJ), ARNO, Balkan Green Foundation, Nešto Više, Smart Kolektiv, IEC Tehnopolis and Yunus Social Business Balkans.

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