Building Bridges across the startup ecosystems of Berlin, Sarajevo and Tirana!

Applications are now closed!

Thank you to everyone who expressed their interest for the program and took the type to apply to the upcoming delegation trip to Berlin and EU Market Access course with Ecosystem Connectors! Check out the ‘How it works’ section for the next steps to know where we stand in the selection process, and keep an eye out on your inbox over the next days.

The delegation trip will take place as part of a network collaboration with our sister project, the Ecosystem Connectors | Berlin Kyiv, with the goal of building bridges across all four ecosystems (Berlin, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine). If you’re based in Ukraine and interested to join, check out the page here.

Why Apply?

By applying to Ecosystem Connectors, you have the chance to take part in an all-expenses-paid one-week trip to Berlin encompassing:

2 in-person workshops

covering topics such as pitching and investor readiness.

Site visits

in sector-based groups to key players in the Berlin ecosystem to kickstart collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Networking opportunities

in your group of startups and support organizations travelling to Berlin from Ukraine, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina and with Berlin-based actors.

Global visibility

and access to potential partners and investors at GITEX, Berlin´s cross-industry tech summit and expo!

Building connections

After the one-week trip to Berlin, further steps will be taken to build on the connections established during the trip to create sustainable collaborations.

Online webinars

A tailored series with 5 workshops covering what you need to know for EU market access, such as customer discovery, marketing strategies and law and taxes in the EU.

Webinar series

While the delegation trip is limited to 10 spots, we have up to 25 additional spots for the EU market webinar series. If you cannot travel, or if your business is not selected for the trip, you can still have the chance to take part in the webinar series if you sign up. You can also indicate in the form if you’re only interested in the webinar series.

Preliminary schedule for your stay in Berlin!

The delegation trip activities scheduled from May 19 to May 23. Participants are expected to arrive in Berlin on May 18 and depart Berlin on May 24. Participants may extend their stay beyond 24 May at their own expense.

Introductions
Pitching & Investor Readiness Workshop - Part 1
Presentation by Berlin Partner
Sector-Specific Networking Events
Preparation for GITEX and Networking Training
Welcome Dinner

Pitching & Investor Readiness Workshop - Part 2
Sector-Specific Events
Preparation for GITEX and Networking Training

GITEX Tech Summit Day 1
B2B Meetings & Networking
Pitching at GITEX

GITEX Tech Summit Day 2
B2B Meetings & Networking
Pitching at GITEX

GITEX Tech Summit Day 3
B2B Meetings & Networking
Farewell Dinner

Who can join?

We are looking for up to 10 founders to join the Ecosystem Connectors exchange trip:

You are a startup founder with a business based in Albania or Bosnia and Herzegovina
Your service/product shows potential for growth and can be scaled to the EU market
You operate in a sector with significant growth and collaboration potentials in both Tirana/Sarajevo and Berlin
Your startup has raised traction and is looking to expand to the EU market.

Download the selection and eligibility criteria (0.28 MB PDF)

Download the FAQ (0.27 MB PDF)

What does the application and selection process look like?

The aim of the application process is to ensure that your business would benefit from taking part in the delegation trip. All applications will be reviewed according to the eligibility and selection criteria.

Preparing your application

Review eligibility and selection criteria. Download and carefully review the eligibility and selection criteria document to familiarize yourself with the program requirements.
1st round of the selection process

Fill in your application form for the 1st round of selection. It takes around 20 minutes. Through the form, you have the chance to elaborate about yourself, your business, why you’re working towards expansion to the EU market, and what you expect to gain from the program. If you are eligible and among the top scoring applicants, you will receive an e-mail to continue to the next round.
2nd round of the selection process

Upload your documents. Once you receive the form for the second round, please prepare and upload the following documents: Your CV/Resume, your personal ID/passport or proof of residence, and the business registration certificate. You can further support your application by proof of traction.
3rd round of the selection process

Join us for a 30-minute chat. If your application proceeds to the third and final round of selection, our team will reach out to you to arrange a 30-minute interview with you between the 17th and 28th of March to learn more about your business and your expectations from the trip.
Final results

Check your inbox! If you are accepted into the Ecosystem Connectors program, we will reach out to you by the beginning of April 2025 to let you know and invite you to join the onboarding call which will take place in the first week of May.

Timeline

2 Dec 2024

Launch Event in Berlin

10 Feb 2025 - 9 Mar 2025

Applications Open

Mar - Apr 2025

Selection Process for the Delegation Trip

Feb - Oct 2025

Monthly Virtual Connectors Sessions

Mar - Apr 2025

Ecosystem Connectors Magazine Publication

6/7/8 May 2025

Onboarding Session

19 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Delegation Trip to Berlin

Jun - Oct 2025

Online Webinar Series

Sep - Oct 2025

Delegation Trip to Sarajevo and Tirana

Learn more about the Virtual Connectors sessions

Virtual Connectors is a monthly activity of the Ecosystem Connectors | Berlin Sarajevo Tirana project, bringing the networking experience to you wherever you’re based. The sessions bring people together from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Berlin to share learnings and experience, startup stories, and market access insights.

Upcoming sessions will be announced here soon. Stay tuned.

Learn more about our other programs in the region!

The Ecosystem Connectors project builds bridges across European entrepreneurship ecosystems with the aim of encouraging a stronger economic integration through facilitating partnerships, knowledge sharing and resource exchange between entrepreneurs and stakeholders.

Learn more

About the partners

The project is funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH through the “Bund-Länder-Programm – German Government and Federal States Program (BLP)” in cooperation with the non-profit organization enpact.

The project is being implemented in Albania with the support of the EU4Innovation project and in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the support of the Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion (SEDEP) project.

About the partner projects

EU4Innovation

The European Union, Germany and Sweden work to create high paying jobs in Albania, by developing the innovation economy. The project leverages on Albania’s human capital, entrepreneurial and research potential. The project is funded by the European Union with co-funding by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Sweden. The project is implemented by GIZ Albania and the Swedish Embassy in Albania.

Visit website

SEDEP

SEDEP is aiming to improve the employment situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through its support for the digital and green transformation of the economy. The project is co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Government of Switzerland and implemented by Deutsche Geselleschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The project component “Strengthening of Vocational Education and Training in Bosnia and Hercegovina” (SVET) aims to strengthen the vocational education and training system to ensure the qualified labour force necessary for the country’s sustainable economic development. The project component “Private Sector Development” (PSD) is primarily targeting the transformation of businesses towards a more digital and green economy ensuring a competitive and innovative economic ecosystem.