The Strategic Importance of the Founders Retreat in the Startup Ecosystems of Western Balkans

The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP), launched in 2015, addresses these gaps by strengthening the startup ecosystems in seven countries, five of them in the Western Balkan: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

Over the years of our work in the five Balkan countries, we observed that most ecosystem actors support only one segment of the startup spectrum—idea and early stage, leaving a critical gap in post-program assistance for more mature ventures. The Founders Retreat was conceived as a strategic response to this gap, providing much-needed post-MVP support.

Identifying the gap

In many Western Balkan countries, startup support organizations have concentrated on the early stages of entrepreneurship, i.e. on starting a business. Early entrepreneurship programs are often straightforward to organize because they require less specialized knowledge and expertise; international donor agencies usually back them, and most startup support organizations have the necessary internal resources.

While these programs are essential for building a pipeline of new ventures, continuous support beyond the MVP stage is necessary to ensure the sustainability and vibrancy of the larger ecosystem. Otherwise, growing startups are often isolated, with no one to turn to for resources and guidance and they run the risk of stagnating or failing entirely just as they are beginning to gain momentum.

Without later-stage startups an ecosystem will fail to mature and to deliver globally competitive, growth-oriented companies capable of driving lasting economic impact through job creation, investment, and innovation for their countries.

Bridging the gap

For a few years, the Swiss EP team has searched for a model that could successfully respond to this challenge. Finally, in 2022, we piloted a strategic solution — the Founders Retreat.

The Founders Retreat was developed as a targeted intervention focussed on post-MVP startups. These ventures have a product in the market and generate revenue but need further support. Furthermore, the content and delivery of that support must be specific and timely to accommodate the busy schedules of teams deeply focused on scaling.

With this in mind, the retreat was designed as an intensive, immersive 24- to 48-hour experience where founders could engage with one another and with high-quality experts in areas crucial to their growth, such as sales, go-to-market strategies, business development, fundraising, and internationalization.

Spreading across the region

The concept of the Founders Retreat was first introduced in Kosovo in November 2022. Without a suitable local ecosystem actor to work with, Swiss EP took a unique approach by engaging directly with successful startup founders to create a bottom-up, demand-driven process of joint learning. The retreat was held in Brezovica, bringing together 25 companies for an intense 48-hours filled with expert workshops, mastermind sessions, and continuous networking. The success of this initial retreat led to subsequent retreats, with the most recent one in May 2024 focused on go-to-market strategies and fundraising, attracting 19 companies.

In Albania, very few organizations cater to the needs of more mature startups. Recognizing this gap, Swiss EP Albania joined forces with local organizations and adapted the Founders Retreat model to meet the specific needs of local founders. There, the first retreat was held in May 2023, with 11 startups participating. The response was overwhelmingly positive, leading to a second retreat in October 2023, where 12 startups engaged with experts on various growth challenges. Both gatherings attracted startups previously disengaged from the startup ecosystem, demonstrating the program's desirability for high-potential companies.

Startup Macedonia also adopted the Founders Retreat model for North Macedonia, turning it into a signature bi-annual community event which now spans three days, offering a more in-depth experience to the participants. The most recent retreat in March 2024 included online engagement with experts post-event, ensuring that startups could dive deeper into specific topics, refine their strategies, and accelerate their growth.

Lastly, the Founders Retreat was introduced in Bosnia & Herzegovina in December 2023. The event focused on sales strategies specifically for startups interested in scaling beyond their country. Although the retreat faced challenges, such as last-minute cancellations by some participants, the five startups that attended benefited significantly from the intensive mentoring and networking opportunities. The retreat also served as a valuable learning experience for local startup support organizations like Foundation787, who are now considering adopting the model to better serve their community.

Why the Founders Retreat is essential

After nine Founder Retreats organized in different formats across four countries, the value they bring to emerging ecosystems is most evident in these specific dimensions:

• Addressing specific needs of scaleups: The Founders Retreat fills a crucial gap by providing tailored support to post-MVP startups. These companies have already proven their product-market fit and require specific guidance—in critical areas like sales, business development, and fundraising—to scale effectively.
• Enhancing ecosystem maturity: Post-program support is a crucial indicator of maturing startup ecosystems. Through the Founders Retreat, Swiss EP contributes to the overall maturity of the ecosystems in the Western Balkans to attract more investment and to retain and grow their most promising startups, ultimately driving economic impact.
• Fostering a 'Giving Back' culture: The retreats play a vital role in promoting a culture of 'giving back'. By bringing together successful entrepreneurs as mentors, the events help create a virtuous cycle where knowledge, experience, and other resources are continuously reinvested into the ecosystem thus ensuring its long-term sustainability.
• Building stronger networks: The retreats serve as a platform for founders to build more robust networks with their peers, fostering peer learning, support, and collaboration. These relationships often continue long after the event, leading to ongoing benefits for the participants and the ecosystem.
• Driving high-impact outcomes: The impact of the Founders Retreat can be seen in the success stories emerging from each country. Strengthening the startup community in Kosovo, attracting previously disengaged startups in Albania, offering continuous learning and networking opportunities in North Macedonia. And in Bosnia & Herzegovina, the event introduced new ways of thinking about startup support and encouraging local organizations to focus more intentionally on scaleups.

Laying the foundation

The Founders Retreat model now successfully addresses what was a critical gap in the Western Balkans startup ecosystems By providing targeted support to post-MVP startups, the initiative fosters a more mature, stable, and resilient entrepreneurial landscape.

As Swiss EP continues to support these retreats, more local organizations will take ownership of the model, ensuring its sustainability and long-term impact. This will not only strengthen the startup ecosystems in the region but also help create a new generation of successful entrepreneurs capable of driving economic growth and innovation.