The highly anticipated event, Get in the Ring Albania 2024, organized by ASDO and supported by a consortium of remarkable companies, culminated in an exciting final night on May 28 at the National Experimental Theater (ArtTurbina). The event marked a significant moment in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship within Albania and the Albanian-speaking region, providing a platform for startups to present their innovative ideas and compete for an opportunity to participate in the prestigious Get in the Ring Global competition.
Event Summary
Get in the Ring is a global startup competition that connects promising entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and potential partners from around the world. Unique in its format, startups present their ideas in a boxing ring, showcasing their solutions and business models before a live audience and a panel of judges. This format not only tests the business skills of the startups but also their ability to engage and impress under pressure.
Mentoring Day – May 27
The journey to the final night began with an intensive mentoring day on May 27, where selected startups received guidance from experienced mentors from various fields.
The mentoring session included experts such as Eldisa Zhebo (Leadership and Teamwork), Arlinda Causholli (Communication), Admir Malaj (IT), and Guust Selhorst (Landscape Design), who provided invaluable insights and feedback for the startups.
Final Night – May 28
The final night, hosted by Blendi Salaj, was a grand celebration of innovation, where 12 selected startups competed in rounds, each presenting their ideas before a live audience and a distinguished panel of judges:
- Hendrik Halbe: CEO – Unknown Group, The Hague, Netherlands
- Martin Eyerer: CEO – Green City Development Group, Berlin, Germany
- Diana Leka: Director of the Secretariat of the Investment Council in Albania
- Akan Ajdini: CEO – IUTE
- Mario Bracci: CEO – Titan Albania
The evening began with welcome speeches from:
- Keti Luarasi – Deputy Mayor of Tirana
- Arjani Ymeri – Director of the Startup Albania Agency
- Reinout Vos – Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Albania
After the opening speeches, the evening continued with the battle rounds between the competing startups.
Ada Ilia, the organizer of Get in the Ring Albania, expressed her thoughts on the event and her experience with the program:
“I feel privileged to present an international program for the startup ecosystem in the country. Startups are the engine of innovation, creating new ideas and jobs that positively impact our society. GiR Albania has played a key role in supporting and promoting these initiatives, creating an ecosystem that helps young entrepreneurs realize their dreams and contribute to the country’s economic development. During the three days of the event, we saw great dedication and true passion from the participants, who shared innovative ideas in various fields, from the environment and psychology to real estate. This initiative aimed to create a platform where young entrepreneurs can showcase their innovative ideas, receive support, and build important connections with international investors and mentors. We better understood what support is needed to further develop the startup ecosystem in the country and what we will bring next year to contribute more.”
The competition included a variety of startups, each bringing unique solutions and innovations:
- Panairi Online: SEO and web profiles for Albanian businesses.
- Pronar.al: A marketplace solely for virtual tours of real estate.
- SNET: AI-integrated software solutions.
- Garazhi.al: A platform for buying and selling vehicles.
- Suapr: An AI platform that helps high school students with homework.
- GreeCon: Eco-friendly business solutions.
- Psikologu Online: Online psychological treatment services.
- Mamir: An online course platform with video lectures.
- Factory 31: An authentic Albanian fashion brand.
- Gauzebag: Eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics.
- LookUp: A digital parking management system.
- VrapOn: A taxi booking app for Albanian citizens and tourists.
After a series of impressive presentations and a rigorous evaluation process, the results were announced:
- Winner: Geart Ferhati with Suapr
- Geart Ferhati, founder of the AI platform Suapr.com, was declared the winner of the ‘Get in the Ring Albania’ competition, earning the right to represent Albania in the largest global startup competition ‘Get in the Ring Global.’ Suapr.com is an innovative platform that uses artificial intelligence to help students with their homework by offering interactive and personalized lessons. The platform provides detailed explanations for each exercise, making learning more engaging through personalized avatars and voice lessons. It is user-friendly, allowing students to easily navigate between different subjects and learning materials. This innovation in Albanian education has been praised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in Albania and supported by the technology giant Gjirafa.com. In just two months since its launch, user interest has been very high, with approximately 9,300 users registered and the platform reaching 1.4 million hits. Soon, Suapr.com will expand beyond Albania’s borders, with the team already working on educational materials for Kosovo and North Macedonia. Despite being only 17 years old, Geart Ferhati has proven to be a creative and visionary entrepreneur, expected to have a significant impact globally during the competition in ‘Get in the Ring Global.’
- Second Place: Garazhi.al
- Third Place: Gauzebag
The evening was not just about competition but also celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit. Inspirational speeches and presentations from all the startups highlighted the immense potential and creativity within the Albanian startup ecosystem.
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