Today marks a significant event for aspiring business mentors in North Macedonia. Organized under the EU4EG project, a comprehensive training session was set up to equip new mentors with essential skills and tools to support startup founders across four economic regions.
The EU4EG project has established a network of business mentors through regional acceleration programs across North Macedonia, namely:
- Business Innovation Centre at SEEU – Tetovo (Polog region)
- University St. Paul the Apostle / Prime Point Partners Consulting – Ohrid (South-West region)
- Preda Plus Foundation – Bitola (Prespa region)
- Albiz Foundation / Dauti Komerc – Skopje (North-East region)
“Through the Accelerator Programmes supported by the EU4EG project we have already seen over 30 startups and their founders develop the potential to be investment-ready, sustainable businesses. For these future drivers of North Macedonia’s innovation-led growth to really seize the opportunities before them, the advice that they can receive from knowledgeable and world-wise Mentors plays a key role. Events like today, that combine the Business Mentor Training with networking and match-making opportunities with Startups, is important for the entrepreneurial ecosystem here and forms a key part of our strategy to improve and expand the number of Mentors and Business Angels willing and able to engage and support local startups.” – said Mr. Mark Barrett, Project Manager, GIZ, EU for Economic Growth project.
The primary goal of today’s training session is to expand the network of business mentors who will be available to the regional StartUps. More specifically, the training had the objective to equip participants with essential knowledge, methods, and tools for effective mentoring, and also introduce them to the Mentor platform hosted by Startup Macedonia. Some of the topics that were discussed were: reasons for mentoring, difference between mentoring, coaching and advising, benefits for business mentors, the relation between mentor and mentee etc. After the training, mentors and mentees joined a session of networking and exchange of experience. This session signifies a crucial step towards empowering entrepreneurs through structured mentorship and support networks.
Personally, attending a EU4EG event for the first time was truly eye-opening. We often hear about the importance of mentoring for startup development, but it’s through participation and real experience that its true value becomes clear. I had the opportunity to engage in some fascinating discussions with several mentors about my startup.- Driton Mehmedi, co-founder of Avtopazar
I am very happy to be here today, proudly representing my startup, Best Online Assistant, at this networking event among mentors and fellow new startups. Just last year, I was a mentee myself in this very program, so I truly understand the invaluable role mentoring plays. Mentoring is crucial, especially for fundraising and making your startup sustainable. I am passionate about mentoring in the realms of women entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. – Elizabeta Jovanovska, founder of Best Online Assistant, mentor and mentee in EU4EG.
EU for Economic Growth project is co-funded by the EU and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, implemented by GIZ North Macedonia and AREA Science Park from Trieste, Italy.
