Based on its experience in implementing projects and programs to support entrepreneurs – primarily young people and women – the Institute for Development and Innovation has highlighted a noticeable lack of professionals specifically engaged in helping entrepreneurs develop their business ideas.
According to publicly available data, there is growing support, both material and mentoring, within the innovation-driven startup ecosystem. However, the same cannot be said for traditional entrepreneurship, which, unlike scalable startup models, often represents the best solution for improving the economic status of vulnerable groups in the labor market.
Aside from financial assistance and subsidies provided by state institutions, other forms of support necessary for business development are either lacking or insufficient to meet the needs of entrepreneurs aiming to make their business ideas sustainable and economically independent.
Entrepreneurs’ Needs in the Early Stages of Business Development
Nenad Jevtović, on behalf of the Institute for Development and Innovation, spoke at the Business Forum in Brčko about the importance of building a support workforce for traditional entrepreneurs. He presented the results of the Institute’s ongoing efforts to promote traditional entrepreneurship.
Particular attention was given to the process of selecting entrepreneurs for support programs, as well as to identifying the specific skills they need when developing their business ideas. Experience shows that entrepreneurs primarily need support in shaping their business ideas and entering the product or service testing phase as early as possible. Subsequent support is required in branding, marketing strategy development, and business promotion.
Business Forum for Companies from Brčko and Loznica
The Business Forum for companies from Brčko and Loznica provided an opportunity for representatives of state authorities, entrepreneurs, and civil society organizations to meet and discuss the challenges they face.
The Forum was opened by the Mayor of Brčko District, Siniša Milić. Indira Lević Muharemović and Bojan Lučić addressed the participants on behalf of the Development and Guarantee Fund of Brčko and the Business and Entrepreneurial Incubator in Loznica, respectively. Nenad Jevtović, Director of the Institute for Development and Innovation, spoke as a representative of the third partner in the NESESER project, highlighting the development and establishment of business and entrepreneurial incubators in Brčko and Loznica.
The project “NEwly established Start-up Enterprise SERVICES – NESESER” is being implemented within the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Serbia – Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014–2020. The contracting authority is the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia, and the project is financially supported by the European Union.
