Building through uncertainty: how resilient are startup founders in Serbia?

Overall instability reduced the capacity and coherence of startup support organizations, leading to fewer and more reactive programs. While a handful of core public and private initiatives continued operating and some investment activity persisted, overall ecosystem momentum slowed significantly, with fewer startups, cautious investors, and reduced growth dynamics. For example, while in 2024, 104 startups benefited from Swiss EP support through programs run by our partner organizations, in 2025, only 69 startups were in this group.

A combination of uncertainty, disrupted talent flow, and weakened support structures led to a clear loss of momentum compared to 2024, with effects that will persist.

Despite all the constraints, startup founders remained focused on product development, international customers, and long-term growth. Rather than waiting for ideal conditions, many learned to operate under such circumstances—stretching resources, navigating legal complexity, and depending heavily on personal networks. The ability to keep moving forward, even in unstable conditions, signals a growing resilience among Serbian startup founders.

One of the founders building through the uncertainty is Marko Lazić, co-founder of Luccid.

A builder who came back

Marko has always been a builder. Trained as an architect, he began his career designing physical spaces, but technology was never far from his mind. In 2016, he launched his first startup project at the intersection of architecture and tech. And, as he puts it, “failed gloriously.”

“That failure didn’t stop me,” Marko says. “It taught me what not to do.”

After years of working in Germany, Marko decided to merge his two worlds: deep domain expertise in construction and the emerging possibilities of AI. In 2022, just as the first GPT models appeared, he quit his job in Berlin and committed fully to building again.

This time, with intention.

From ideas to market reality

Marko’s startup journey formally began at Antler (an early-stage VC that helps founders find a co-founder), where he was forced to question every assumption, test ideas relentlessly, and search for real market demand rather than just interesting technology. This continued through acceleration programs at Science and Startups Berlin, Xpreneurs in Munich and AI Campus Founders in Heilbronn, where the idea for Luccid (a specialized AI solution for manufacturers of building materials) evolved through constant iteration.

“Those programs were valuable,” Marko says. “They forced us to focus on what the world actually needs, not what we thought was cool to build.”

Yet, as his journey progressed, Marko realized that people mattered more than programs.

He especially values the connection he made through Swiss EP. For the past few months, Marko has been working with Gabriel Makinwa, a mentor who deeply understands the construction industry.

That's rare. Most mentors give generic advice. However, Gabriel understands our market, our customers, and the way deals actually close in this space. That kind of match makes a real difference when you're trying to sell into a traditional industry.

Beyond Swiss EP, Marko credits a small circle of trusted individuals, from tech leaders to sales coaches and investors, for providing honest, no-nonsense support when it mattered most.

Building in Serbia: reality, not romance

Choosing to build in Serbia has been both a competitive advantage and a constant challenge.

The downsides are structural, and they raise questions about trust: “There’s no Stripe, the legal and financial structures are outdated, investment instruments like SAFEs or KISS notes are difficult or impossible to use. Fundraising becomes a legal headache,” Marko continues, “ In the end, there’s still a trust gap when you say you’re a small startup from Serbia, trying to sell an enterprise deal to a 100-year-old company in a traditional industry.”

On the upside, lower costs allow founders to stretch a limited runway much further than in Germany, Western Europe, or the US. That breathing room can be the difference between survival and shutdown. And there is a strong regional network.

This became especially clear to him after participating in the Founder Games, a regional accelerator and TV show, with exposure to more mature founders from Eastern Europe:

“The networking was incredible. I met founders with great minds, with way more mature products, and real traction. Talking to them gave me new perspectives, and some of those connections are still active today; we share feedback, ideas, and even help each other out.”

The reality of building

Alongside Luccid, Marko also co-created CopyBeats (an AI-backed content creator for startup founders), a lighter, faster-moving project that allows for experimentation, humor, and creative freedom. While Luccid operates in a serious, traditional industry, such as construction and building, with long sales cycles, CopyBeats moves at startup speed and keeps Marko energized.

But regardless of the project, the emotional reality remains the same.

“Most days, building a startup means waking up and wondering what the hell you’re doing,” Marko says. “There’s a version of me that wants to quit, complain, and dwell on how lonely this journey can be.”

Showing up anyway, day after day, is the real work. Marko adds:

That stubborn consistency, after hearing ‘no’ a hundred times, is what keeps pushing me forward,” Over time, you grow thicker skin. Every step outside your comfort zone becomes fuel for the next one.

What does this story tell us about Serbian startup founders?

Marko’s journey shows a broader truth about Serbia’s startup ecosystem. Despite instability and limited support, founders continue to build, adapt, and look outward. International experience is flowing back home, expectations are rising, and resilience is becoming a learned skill.

Startups from Serbia have always been resilient, but recent events have made them even more resourceful and self-aware. They are learning to value networking, personal connections, and meaningful relationships more than institutions.

In general, 2025 represents both a test of ecosystem resilience and a period of lost momentum. However, stories like Luccid show that it is quietly developing the capacity to endure uncertainty and sustain long-term progress.