Today, on March 3, 2026, the Digital Loop Accelerator (DLA) Demo Day took place at the Pyramid of Tirana, marking the closing event of a four-month program supporting Albanian startups working in the field of the circular economy.
Held from 10:00 to 14:00, the event brought together entrepreneurs, mentors, partners, institutional representatives and members of the innovation ecosystem, creating a space for presentation, reflection and discussion about the future of sustainable entrepreneurship in Albania.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Mr. Kushtrim Shala, Executive Director of ALBICT, who highlighted the importance of supporting innovative ideas that contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly economy.
Following him, Mr. Marcel Thomkins, Component Manager of EU4CELC, emphasized the role of collaboration and the support of the European Union in advancing the circular economy in Albania.
The journey of the program over the past four months was presented by Mr. Vikas Malhotra, Project Head of DLA, who shared insights into the teams’ progress, the intensive mentoring process and how initial ideas evolved into concrete business models.
Startup Pitch Sessions
The core part of the day was dedicated to the startup pitches.
Each team had 5 minutes to present their idea and 7 minutes to answer questions from the jury.
Session One
The first session featured presentations from:
- Tritech – aiming to reduce electronic waste through testing and online resale of used laptops.
- Taste, Don’t Waste – helping HoReCa businesses sell products close to expiration at discounted prices, reducing food waste.
- Stoa – an online platform for selling second-hand clothing that promotes reuse and sustainable fashion.
Session Two
The second session included:
- DailyMeals – offering unsold meals at reduced prices for consumers.
- Vish Unik – recycling and transforming textile waste into new products for the market.
- Market Box – selling near-expiry supermarket products at discounted prices.
The startups presented in front of a jury composed of representatives from GIZ, the private sector, and the startup ecosystem, who evaluated their potential for economic and environmental impact.
While the jury deliberated, a panel discussion titled “Albanian Startups: Go Global From Day 1” took place.
The discussion focused on the importance of thinking globally from the early stages of a startup journey, encouraging entrepreneurs to build scalable models and pursue international ambitions beyond the local market.
First Prize: Tritech
Tritech is a circular economy marketplace that is transforming how electronic devices are bought and sold in Albania and Kosovo.
As the first dedicated online platform in Albania for used electronics, Tritech provides verified listings, door-to-door delivery, secure payments and return policies, making second-hand technology safe, accessible and trustworthy.
Second Prize: Stoa
Stoa is an application for buying, selling and renting second-hand products, focusing on fashion and small household items.
The platform uses an innovative auction-based structure and collaborates with second-hand clothing stores to extend product lifecycles and reduce textile waste.
It also offers additional services such as authentication of high-value items, repair services and partnerships for upcycling.
Third Prize: DailyMeals.al
DailyMeals.al is an intelligent food application in Albania that transforms restaurant food surpluses into affordable daily meals for consumers.
By reducing food waste, increasing restaurant revenue and improving access to quality meals, the platform creates both economic and social impact.
The program is implemented by ALBICT and Maverick Nation within the framework of the project “EU 4 Circular Economy and Livable Cities”, co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ Albania in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
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