Do you want to strengthen your own entrepreneurial skills?
Do you want to assess the feasibility of a business idea and learn how to create a business plan?
Do you need financial support for your business idea?
Do you want to start or improve your own start-up business?
Do you want to have the support of experts from different fields and mentors in business growth and development?
Do you want to meet and network with other entrepreneurs?
apply for:
PUBLIC CALL FOR PARTICIPATION – THE BUSINESS INCUBATOR IMPAKT
STARI GRAD SARAJEVO
Basic information
IMPAKT Sarajevo Investment Foundation and Youth Employment Project (YEP), which is being implemented with the support of the Government of Switzerland, and which in the period 2018-2020, in cooperation with more than 40 local communities and public employment services in Bosnia and Herzegovina realized YEP business incubator which supported the establishment of over 200 new business ventures throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, continue to implement activities related to support the development of entrepreneurship and job preservation of entrepreneurs and small businesses, in cooperation with local communities, cantons and employment services in Bosnia and Herzegovina. More information about the YEP/IMPAKT business incubator is available at www.impakt.ba.
In 2021, as part of the joint cooperation between the Mozaik Foundation, IMPAKT Investment Foundation and the Municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo, the IMPAKT business incubator program will be implemented. It will include an entrepreneurial training program for at least 25 young people from the Municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo and financial, professional and mentoring support for 5 new business ventures in the Municipality, access to the online community Lonac.pro (entrepreneurial counseling available 24/7), individual meetings with Startup Studio staff (5 hours during one cycle) as well as the possibility of applying for additional partnership investment in the amount of up to 40,000 BAM. More information about the Startup Studio program of the Mozaik Foundation is available at www.startupstudio.ba.
The program is implemented with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The Public call is published for participation in the program of entrepreneurship development IMPAKT business incubator in 2021.
Program description
IMPAKT business incubator is a comprehensive program for incubation of business ideas or support for the realization of business ideas and consists of the following components:
- Entrepreneurial training lasting 6 days for a maximum of 2 months focused on developing a business plan and business model and strengthening entrepreneurial skills, during which training participants have continuous professional and mentoring support of trainers in the development of tasks and final development of business plan and business model.
- Preparation and implementation of the presentation of business ideas before the expert commission for the evaluation of business plans and business models.
- Award of non-refundable financial support in the amount of up to 5,000 BAM for the best evaluated business ideas (up to 5 business ideas in the Municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo)
- Professional and mentoring support in the further growth and development of the business in accordance with the assessed needs.
- Access to the online community Lonac.pro – entrepreneurial counseling for participants through which they will have the opportunity to ask questions to which they will receive an answer within 48 hours (at the latest), available 24/7.
- Individual meetings with Startup Studio staff – Candidates are provided with individual consulting interviews with experts from the Startup Studio program regarding questions for their business model or on a specific topic, e.g., marketing.
- Possibility to apply for partner investments up to 40,000 BAM – Access for additional partner investments in the amount of 40,000 BAM is provided for program users who meet the criteria of the IMPAKT business incubator and have the potential for development according to the criteria of the Startup Studio program of the Mozaik Foundation.
All the listed forms of support will be offered only to those entrepreneurs who successfully master the individual cycles of the program. Support in each subsequent cycle is conditioned by the successful completion of the previous cycle of business idea incubation. In case of non-fulfillment of the undertaken obligations by the beneficiaries, the IMPAKT Investment Foundation and the representatives of the involved partners reserve the right to exclude any entrepreneur from the support process at any time.
Who can apply?
- Young people 18 to 35 years old with a registered place of residence in the municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo.
- Young people 18 to 35 years old, owners of existing businesses based in the municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo registered within a year from the date of the public call interested in developing entrepreneurial skills and realization of business ideas on business expansion (new products/services, entering foreign markets, etc.).
- Civil society organization (citizens’ associations and foundations) based in the Municipality of Stari Grad, interested in starting social entrepreneurial ventures in the form of companies or formal business.
Additionally, it is necessary
- That the applicant has a business idea that he/she wants to start and establish a formal business in the form of entrepreneurial activity as a core business or additional activity, a company with at least one employee. In the case of start-up business, it is necessary to ensure the employment of at least one young person (18 to 35 years old) for a period of one year.
- That the applicant belongs to one or more target groups as stated below.
- That the applicant has the minimum technical skills to manage the production process or manage business activity.
- That the applicant has at least completed high school or college or has job experience related to his/her business idea.
Target groups:
- Unemployed young people 18 to 35 years old who are actively seeking employment, with a registered place of residence in the municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo;
- Employed young people 18 to 35 years old with a registered place of residence in the municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo, who would like to start their own business;
- Young people 18 to 35 years old, owners of existing businesses based in the municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo, who are registered up to one year from the date of the public call interested in developing entrepreneurial skills and implementation of business ideas on business expansion (new products/services, entering foreign markets, etc.).
Proposals for participation in the Program
To participate in the IMPACT Business Ideas Incubator, it is possible to apply with a business idea which as a result implies formal establishment of a business entity and/or realization of a business idea on business expansion (new products/services, entering foreign markets, etc.), 12 months startup businesses owned by a young person 18 and 35 years old. Eligible forms of business venture are: a company with the obligation to employ, crafts and related activities or other activities as a primary or secondary activity, an association operating according to the principles of social entrepreneurship with the obligation to employ one employee 18 and 35 years old. Additional activities are not acceptable unless the realization of the business idea implies the transition to the main and/or additional activity.
Also, employees of public employment services, municipal administration bodies and members of their immediate families cannot participate in the Program.
Restrictions on the areas or industries from which business ideas come are those required by law. In addition, business ideas that have a negative impact on human health are not acceptable (e.g., production, processing or marketing of alcoholic beverages or tobacco products, production that has a significant impact on pollution, etc.). In the field of social entrepreneurship, the FBiH Social Entrepreneurship Platform developed by the Federal Employment Agency within the Youth Employment Project (YEP) is used as a reference document that prescribes the values, basic concepts and principles of social entrepreneurship.
How to apply?
Applications on the appropriate application form must be submitted no later than June 30, 2021. The application form can be downloaded electronically, on the official website of the Municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo www.starigrad.ba or by e-mail: admira.muhic@starigrad.ba.
In addition to the application form, the following additional documentation has to be submitted:
- Copy of registration – for existing businesses
The completed form and supporting documents can be submitted in writing. The written application is submitted in a sealed envelope to the Protocol office of the Municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo, indicating “Za učešće u programu IMPAKT inkubator poslovnih ideja”, address Zelenih beretki no. 4, 71000 Sarajevo.
After the expiration of the deadline of the public call, applications are evaluated from the aspect of fulfillment of administrative requirements. Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be rejected.
How can I get more information?
If you need more information, please contact the Service for Local Development and Affairs of the Local Community of the Municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo, Zelenih beretki no. 4, phone number 033 282 364 or via e-mail admira.kadic@starigrad.ba as well as on the phone number: 033 202 043 and e-mail info@impakt.ba.
