RISE supports young change-makers in developing their impactful ideas into sustainable social businesses. Our tailor-made support program, RISE Journey, is being implemented by 10 partners from the Western Balkans, Germany and France. For more information you may also check the project page at: www.risewb.org

Who Can Apply?

Groups of young people (of a minimum of 2 persons/group) from 18 to 35 years old, from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, that have:

• Availability and readiness to participate in a program with 4 hours of active participation per week and meetups during 3 months of 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.

• Their idea impact is regional or local

Who Cannot Apply?

• Incorporated / registered entities

• Political parties, government and state agencies

• Scholarships ideas

• Capital funding ideas

• Research ideas

• Ideas with discriminatory practices, risking to create or reinforce divisions

• Ideas where the main impact is outside the region

What Are the Criterias For Selection?

Key criteria: The key criteria that applicants will need to demonstrate are:

• Strong motivation to participate in the program, the mindset of a true change-maker and commitment to fully participate in 3 months of ideation program

• How the idea tackles a critical social/environmental issue

• The potential for the idea to become a sustainable business

• More than half of the team members speak English.

Advantageous criteria: Additional points are going to be awarded if the idea:

• Is innovative and implemented in a local context

• Has the potential to scale or replicate in the region.

• Has the potential to create additional jobs.

• Respects gender-equality principles

For the first phase, Ideation Chapter, 36 RISE Ventures from the region are going to be selected for a 3-months long ideation process (6 from each – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia). The Ideation Chapter will help you build your ideas from scratch to a solid project, while being supported by experts and mentors, covering all of the important subjects in social entrepreneurship.

In parallel, design thinking workshops will take place to enhance problem-solving skills for the participants.

After building up your idea, you will have an opportunity to pitch your idea on the Demo day, and get a chance to be financially and practically supported to implement your ideas towards positive impact on the community. In total, 12 teams will be selected, two per Local Incubator.

The selected Ventures will continue the RISE Journey with the Incubation Chapter. This phase is dedicated to:

1. Testing and validating your social business model through a tailor-made support program and a business development grant

2. Regional mobility opportunities, such as RISE Bootcamp and RISE Expeditions to visit your peers, role-model businesses and trainers/mentors/experts across the Western Balkans region and get more inspiration, knowledge, know-how and connections

The Journey comes to an end with a Final RISE regional event, attended by all of the stakeholders of the project to recognise and celebrate our achievements!

To summarize, RISE Journey consists of:

1) The Ideation Chapter – lasting for 3 months

• Tailor-made programme to help you develop your idea

• Demo day – pitch presentation in front of a Jury

2) The Incubation Chapter – lasting for 4 months

• Testing and validating your idea supported with business development grant

• Regional mobility opportunities

• Final event