07/05/2026
🚀Business Innovation Academy- Turning Business Challenges into Innovation Opportunities
✅On 5 May, we successfully concluded the first cohort of the Innovation Academy with a final Demo Day event that brought together innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration in action.
🏢 Over the past 5 months, 14 businesses participating in the Academy thoroughly analysed their business models and identified real business challenges and innovation needs within their companies.
🤝In response, 20 startups worked intensively to design and develop more than 30 innovative solutions addressing 15 concrete challenges presented by the businesses.
💡 The Demo Day was more than a pitching event — it was a practical demonstration of how collaboration between SMEs and startups can accelerate innovation, digital transformation, and problem-solving in Kosovo.
🎤 From process improvement and customer experience to digital solutions with AI and new business opportunities, startups showcased creative and impactful ideas tailored to the needs of local businesses.
🤝 This journey highlighted the importance of open innovation models, where corporates and startups work together to co-create solutions, exchange knowledge, and build long-term partnerships that strengthen the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.
👏 A big thank you to all businesses, startups, mentors, and trainers: Safet Rama, Arta Istrefi, Krasniqi, Berisha, and Piraj, partners, and supporters who contributed to making the Innovation Academy a success.
We want to thank the Deputy Minister of MINT, Mr. Mehmeti, for his participation and acknowledgment🙏
🌍 We are proud to see new collaborations emerging and look forward to supporting the next generation of innovative solutions and partnerships in Kosovo.
👉Stay tuned- looking forward to the next cohort soon!
''This program is implemented by VentureUP and supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) the EU – Western Balkans Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility (WB EDIF)’’.
A huge thank you to Swiss EP Kosovo for providing support with international and national experts, Private e Biznesit- , as well as to - Kosovo ICT Association and Park Prishtina for the facilities.