Apply Now: Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs

RISE (Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs) with its ten partners, supports any venture by young people in the Western Balkans that aims to have a positive social or environmental impact on their ecosystems. The project will contribute to the development of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem and improve access to social entrepreneurship for young people in the Western Balkans region.

What is a Social Business?

• A social enterprise is a type of business entity that seeks to achieve social or environmental goals while also generating sustainable financial returns. Unlike traditional for-profit businesses that primarily focus on maximizing profits for shareholders, social businesses aim to address societal issues, create positive impact, and improve the well-being of communities or the environment.
• It operates by providing goods and services for the market in an entrepreneurial and innovative fashion and uses its profits primarily to achieve social objectives.
• It is managed in an open and responsible manner and, in particular, involves employees, consumers and stakeholders affected by its commercial activities.

What do they offer?

• RISE focuses on helping young changemakers turn their powerful ideas into sustainable social enterprises. The tailor-made support programme, RISE Journey, is implemented by six local incubators in the Western Balkans region.  At each stage, you will be accompanied by a local incubator that will provide training and technical skills to the entrepreneurs. The RISE Journey consists of 2 phases: the Ideation Chapter and the Incubation Chapter.
  • The Ideation Chapter (from October 2024 to February 2025):  You will have access to a series of trainings, and mentoring sessions about social entrepreneurship and interculturality. At the end of the ideation chapter, you will present your social business model addressing the identified problem, with impact and sustainability. Two of the best social business ideas will be selected and will receive financial support of €2,500, an expedition in Western Balkans and a regional incubation programme. The third best social business idea selected will be able to take part in the expedition in Western Balkans.
  • The Incubation Chapter (from March 2025 to June 2025): The support programme continues with a regional dimension!
    • You will complete the training with the aim of creating a working prototype of your idea, while travelling around the region at a regional Bootcamp to meet Risers and at the RISE expedition, which will introduce you to the region’s social enterprises.

Eligibility Criteria

• Young people from 16 to 35 years old from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, speaking English well enough to actively participate in an international program, in a group of a minimum of 2 persons that have:
  • Availability and readiness to participate in a program with 4 hours of active participation per week and meetups during 3 months ideation phase, whether these are in online or offline format.
  • High motivation to learn about social entrepreneurship and to be involved in a regional intercultural program
  • The ambition to develop a concrete idea with social impact
  • The willingness to learn from other actors in the region
  • At least, have identified a social/environmental issue they want to tackle
  • At most, worked on their idea on a small scale / at a personal level, without having engaged in a real business activity yet.
  • The idea impact is regional or local

Who cannot apply?

• Projects that have already been supported/funded by another existing support program delivering similar training and knowledge to entrepreneurs
• Incorporated/registered entities
• Political parties, government and state agencies
• Scholarships ideas
• Capital funding ideas
• Research ideas
• Projects already selling their products or services
• Ideas with discriminatory practices, risking to create or reinforce divisions
• Ideas where the main impact is outside the region.

For more information, visit RISE.