A soft-landing, tailor-made program to help innovation and technology ecosystem in Albania, 12 companies and startups from Albania will start a journey to explore a European ecosystem during a 5-day trip to Slovak Capital of Bratislava.

Bridge2EU program organized by SOVVA and ICTSmedia with SlovakAid financial support is a studying program that will help selected companies and startups learn and understand from a new ecosystem of companies and startup in technology.

During this program selected startups will visit Slovak accelerators, incubators and area with large concentration of startups. Meetings will local companies from innovation ecosystem will help them share their experience with business leaders in Slovakia.

Applications for Bridge2EU are opened until October 10 and you can join by following this link: http://uplift.al/bridge2eu. Startups and companies selected to Bridge2EU program will be announced on October 17 after the Selection Bootcamp. The trip to Bratislava will take place during 13-17 December.

Why join Bridge2EU?

Selected startup of Bridge2EU will have access to a program made specifically to help and support young companies and startups in technology to gain access on finance, meet potential partners and even new consumers.

Bridge2EU want to create new connections with key industry players between Albania and Slovakia and help startups meet companies from local innovation ecosystem. Visiting this new ecosystem means opportunities for international expansion as well opportunities to scale your business globally.

As its name suggest, Bridge2EU, by visiting Slovakia, Albanian tech companies and startups can view Slovakia as an entry point into European market and innovation ecosystem.

5-day trip to Slovakia

Startups will visit big innovation hubs such as accelerators, incubators and area with large concentration of startups. They will meet local investors, startups, ecosystem leaders, partners and consumers.

Bridge2EU Agenda

Day 1

  • 09:00 – 12:00 – Arrivals and Welcome
  • 12:00 – 13:00 – Get to know your peers, group speed networking
  • 13:00 – 14:00 – Introduction to Slovakia & EU market – SARIO
  • 14:00 – 15:30 – Slovak startup ecosystem overview
  • 15:30 – 16:30 – Startup success story 1
  • 17:00 – 19:00 – Networking & Social event

Day 2

  • 09:00 – 10:30 – Slovakia & investment landscape, SIH
  • 10:30 – 12:00 – Startup success story 2
  • 12:00 – 14:00 – Lunch & investor panel
  • 14:00 – 15:30 – Slovak incubators & accelerators
  • 16:00 – 17:30 – Setting up a business in Slovakia: Tax, legal and incorporation
  • 18:00 – 19:00 – Networking

Day 3

  • 09:00 – 12:00 – Mentoring sessions with mentors and investors
  • 12:00 – 14:00 – Panel with industry representatives
  • 14:00 – 15:30 – Meeting corporation 1 – successful collaborations with startups
  • 15:30 – 17:00 – Meeting corporation 2 – how they work with startups
  • 17:00 – 19:00 – Small pitching event + social

Day 4

  • 09:00 – 17:00 – Active participation at the event, tbc
  • 17:00 – 20:00 – Networking

Day 5

  • 09:00 – 10:30 – Meeting ecosystem player 1
  • 10:30 – 12:30 – Meeting ecosystem player 2
  • 12:00 – 14:00 – Feedback session & planning next steps
  • 14:00 – 18:00 – Departures