Meet the 3 winners of Women Startup Competition Albania

On June 18, Tirana hosted the final of the Woman Startup Competition Albania, an event highlighting the role of women in entrepreneurship and innovation. The jury, composed of successful entrepreneurs and professionals such as Nevila Dudaj, entrepreneur of Adriatik Hotel and Adriatik Travel; Linda Shomo, CEO of EasyPay; Ergyseda Prenga, Associate, EBRD Advisory for Small Businesses; Orfea Dhuci, CEO of UBA Bank; and Albana Vrioni, CEO of Vrioni Consulting and Executive Director of WOB AL, provided valuable advice and collaboration opportunities for participants. The jury asked critical questions about the contestants’ business plans, focusing on their potential for development and success.

While the jury took their time to decide the winners, a special panel was held, including well-known women for their professional profiles and contributions to women in the labor market. The panel included Ms. Herjola Spahiu, CEO of NOA SHA, Felice Emanuels, Dren Abazi Brand, Antonela Hako, Chair of WECA, Fationa Myftari, developer at Logical Albania, and Jorina Kadare, representative of Startup Albania. Discussions focused on the progress made in facilitating startups, positioning women in the labor market, and innovation in their work.

Winners of the Woman Startup Competition

At the end of the event, scholarships of 80% at the University of New Haven for the leadership program were awarded to all finalist contestants. The main prizes went to:

1. First Prize: Psikologu Online
   • As mental health issues increasingly affect people worldwide, this startup brings the idea of an online platform that makes mental health support more accessible, quick, and professional. The focus is on caring for Albanians living abroad, addressing their unique mental health needs and challenges. Psikologu Online aims to strengthen its position as a trusted platform for psychological services.
2. Second Prize: Sun Language Center
   • Currently a language course center in Sukth, Sun Language Center aims to add other services for the benefit of the local community. It plans to become a base for other educational and training programs in professional development. Through IT and soft skills courses, it aims to facilitate quick employment for the unemployed in the surrounding area.
3. Third Prize: Zahire.al
   • Zahire.al is working to create a digital marketplace to contribute to rural family economies and preserve a beloved tradition. An online market bridging the gap between rural producers and urban buyers, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting rural economies. The platform is set to launch in September with a ready website, offering unique and authentic Albanian products.
   • Other Participating Startups:

• Dr Lyke
  • This startup is developing a platform for remote medical consultations, specifically designed to bridge the gap in healthcare access for residents of remote areas by providing telemedicine services. The basic service is free, saving time and ensuring quick access to specialists. The entrepreneurial team has a medical background and has previously worked for American companies.
• Puja Creatives
  • Puja brings the idea of creating meaningful, socially and environmentally impactful products. Through Puja Creatives, the goal is to build and promote a deep connection with values, culture, art, and history while encouraging conscious consumption. Target groups include youth, diaspora, tourists, and art, history, and culture enthusiasts. This startup operates in the cultural, artistic, and artisanal sphere, offering eco-friendly products and a wide range of items like tote bags, bookmarks, postcards, and coloring books.
• SpiritCraft Albanian Souvenirs
  • They offer authentic Albanian souvenirs with QR codes for more information. An aspect that needs improvement is the production of some products in China, aiming to be 100% authentic Albanian in the future. Their mission is to create souvenirs that combine tradition with innovation. They aim to offer a new shopping experience and build a strong connection with customers. With unique products reflecting heritage and culture, SpiritCraft Albania seeks to bring a new spirit to the souvenir market.
• KreoSpace
  • KreoSpace comes with an idea for creating an innovative collaboration space located in public areas (park or terrace). The space offers a limited number of seats, which can be reserved via an app for a fee. The startup aims to provide workspaces with inspiring environments close to nature.
• Ratt Tech Legal
  • This startup aims to revolutionize the legal landscape by providing accessible innovation and legal solutions. Ratt Tech’s goal is to make law more accessible to everyone through the power of AI. Everything will be transparent and affordable for clients.

The final of the Woman Startup Competition Albania was an inspiring event for promoting women in entrepreneurship, offering a combination of practical advice, collaboration opportunities, and recognition for their work and innovation. For the second consecutive year, Women Startup Competition in Tirana had as its main supporter the EBRD Advisory for Small Businesses, financed by the EU – Western Balkans Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility (EDIF).

Supportive partners this year included leading companies in finance, innovation, and technology in the country such as fintech company Easy Pay, financial institution NOA, software company Logical Albania, Adriatik Hotel, and UBA Bank. The supporting team also included organizations like Women on Boards Albania, the State Agency Startup Albania, the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Business Climate, Albania Tech, and Businessmag.