Final Event of the BoostMeUp Program

The final event of the first pre-acceleration program in Montenegro, BoostMeUp, the Montenegro Pitching Competition, took place on September 22, 2020, at the The Chedi Luštica Bay hotel.

This event provided a unique opportunity for seven of the most successful teams to present their creative and innovative ideas to the public, after nine months of work and development. The teams took their first step toward the national, regional, European, and global markets.

Out of 47 registered participants, 19 entered the Bootcamp, and seven teams presented their ideas at the final event. Three top participants were selected. The first place was awarded to Orhis, the second place went to Flourish, and the third place was claimed by Amaturn. The prizes for the best participants were provided by Crnogorski Telekom.

This national program, aimed at developing Montenegro’s innovative ecosystem and supporting young people whose ideas represent the future of the country’s digital and business environment, was realized by a consortium led by Innovation and entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis, in cooperation with the Science and technology park of Montenegro and Amplitudo.

“We worked hard, completed 7 modules, built knowledge and skills, created prototypes, and now we finally present the results of the teams who developed their startup ideas with regionally and globally recognized experts in innovation. During this time, much has been done to stimulate the quality and accelerated development of the innovative business community in Montenegro, primarily through the adoption of the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) and two new laws. Conditions have been created for the community to grow. These ideas and teams will be the first beneficiaries of this new environment,” said Ratko Bataković, executive director of IPC Tehnopolis, at the final event.

The entire project was realized under the patronage of the Ministry of Science of Montenegro.

“This is part of the government’s startup support program introduced at the end of 2018. Our innovation ecosystem was not functional at that time, but today, thanks to innovation incentive laws that offer numerous benefits for startups, that has changed. The need for digital solutions is endless, and we can find and fill these niches, as we saw tonight. Our vision is a future innovative digital Montenegro,” said Sanja Damjanović,phd, Minister of Science.

She expressed satisfaction with the quality of ideas and human capacities available in Montenegro: “Tonight, we had great teams, and the jury had a difficult task in choosing the best ideas because all the ideas were outstanding. We are looking at a new Montenegro, where young people will be the driving force behind our innovation and technological development, contributing to IT becoming our future industry.”

The winning team, Orhis, expressed their satisfaction with the program.

“We are extremely happy with the program because, before we joined, we didn’t even realize what we would learn, the experiences we would gain, and the people we would meet. In the end, it turned out that the whole experience and working with mentors led us to success, to being first in this competition. I must add that we have participated in various programs, but none were anywhere near as good as this one. However, additional work and product development await us, and we will try to develop it to its final version and break into the market with the help of Tehnopolis and all the partners in Montenegro and abroad.”

Innovative Solutions Presented:

Orhis – A smart pot that grows plants for you The Orhis team presented an automated smart pot that allows for easier, higher-quality, and more enjoyable plant cultivation. The system of sensors collects data that controls essential growth factors such as irrigation, antibacterial effects, and energy generation using solar panels. The smart pot gives users real-time data on the plant’s status.

Flourish – An app to help you become the best version of yourself The Flourish team believes their app can change an individual’s life by improving emotional and social intelligence. Their solution is a “social-emotional coach” that contributes to career development, better relationships, and overall well-being, with just 10 minutes a day spent on educational games tailored to individual needs.

Amaturn – Your personal studio for creating video content The Amaturn team has found a way to make anyone a professional video content creator in a quick and practical way. Their product is a small, practical kit that connects to your smartphone, replacing bulky and expensive equipment typically needed for high-quality video and audio recording from multiple angles.

Solar Villager – Innovative vineyard monitoring system The Solar Villager team created a self-sustaining system for vineyard monitoring and protection. Their solution addresses issues such as automation, quality loss, and resource use, focusing on providing sensors for managing vine growth, water supply, and protection from adverse weather conditions.

Partour – Adventure through parkour and tourism The Partour team created a digital tourist guide based on the concept of an adventure game. When visiting a cultural or historical landmark, the app activates and brings the site to life, providing fun and informative details about the location, local food, and more.

SunBun – A solar-powered cooking solution The SunBun team developed a solar cooker that allows you to cook without electricity or gas. The device captures sunlight and generates enough heat to cook food in 35-45 minutes, offering not only savings but health benefits and environmental protection.

Seljak.me – Digital marketplace for digitized farmers The Seljak.me team created a platform that addresses the challenges faced by Montenegrin farmers, including the sale of products and the accessibility of critical information. The platform allows farmers to easily market and sell their products while gaining unlimited access to important agricultural information.

Jury: The best teams were selected by a jury headed by Sanja Damjanović, phd, Minister of Science, and included Vanja Zorić Šundić (IPC Tehnopolis), Velibor Bošković (Science and technology park of Montenegro), Boris Banjac (Amplitudo), Dušan Banović (Crnogorski Telekom), Tarik Zaimović (Bild Studio), and Blažo Crvenica (Uhura Solutions).

Source: IPC Tehnopolis