Expert Support, Cash Prize, and a Business Trip to the USA for the Best Startup Ideas

Applications are now open for the second generation of the “BoostMeUp” pre-acceleration program, which helps the best Montenegrin startups grow and launch on the market. All creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs, and companies organized in teams can apply by submitting their idea or creative solution via the form on the website www.boostmeup.me do 10. novembra 2021.

To that end, Info Days will be organized for all those who wish to learn more about this year’s program. The events will take place on October 22 in Nikšić (“Tehnopolis”) and on October 28 in Podgorica (at the “Telekom” premises). Both events will start at 6 PM, and interested participants   can register via email at [email protected].

The six selected teams will go through a five-month training program, covering six key modules:

Business model development
Market research and analysis
Technology development and prototyping
Intellectual property protection
Pitching skills
Financial management
For each module, participants will have access to mentors with regional and international experience, as well as a local mentor.

In addition to expert support, the teams will receive financial assistance of €6,000 each, while the top three ideas will be selected in the final competition – the Montenegro Pitching Competition.

Upon completion of the program, participants will also gain access to business incubator support, including resources such as the Data Center, TechLab Tehnopolis industrial design lab, FILA innovation lab, BioLab Tehnopolis biotechnology lab, as well as coworking spaces and other infrastructure provided by project partners.

The special prize for the best teams is a trip to the USA, where they will have the opportunity to present their ideas to potential investors.

A key highlight of the program is the engagement of international, regional, and national mentors, including:
Tanja Senekovič (Slovenia), Petra Karanikić (Croatia), Vladimir Nedović (Netherlands), Nedeljko Milosavljević,phd, and Đorđe Ćelić,phd, (Serbia), Darko Ivanović (Montenegro), and many others.

The “BoostMeUp” pre-acceleration program serves as a national platform aimed at enhancing Montenegro’s competitiveness and digital transformation through the development of an innovative ecosystem, the creation of innovative companies, the improvement of knowledge and skills, and the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture. It facilitates access to regional and international markets for innovative and entrepreneurial projects.

The program is fully aligned with the S3 National Strategy, which promotes a new model of economic development focused on targeted support for scientific research and innovation activities.

The leading partner of the program is the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center “Tehnopolis”, while the Science and technology park of Montenegro, IT company “Amplitudo,” and Crnogorski Telekom are program partners. The program is co-financed by the Ministry of economic development of Montenegro, and Rakuten Viber is the official program partner.