The Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), as part of the Scale Up Factory project focused on developing and internationalizing domestic startups, has launched a new support program called “Start 2”. The program is aimed at promising companies and will be showcased at Gitex Europe in Berlin on May 21, 2025. The event will provide opportunities for startups to network with potential business partners and investors not only from Germany but globally. The program is being carried out in collaboration with German partners and includes seven Serbian startups that have achieved over 250,000 euros in revenue, secured investments exceeding 500,000 euros, and participated in one of the Innovation Fund programs.
“Start 2” is designed to introduce Serbian startups to the German market, including its specificities, through workshops organized at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Digital Transformation. The program also aims to connect promising technology companies with experienced mentors.
“The goal is for the mentors of our startups to schedule meetings in Germany with investors, partners, and users. In the final stages of the program, the mentors will assist in continuing and deepening these relationships,” said Nebojša Bjelotomić, an advisor to the president of PKS for the development of the startup ecosystem.
The “Start 2” program also includes participation in the Gitex Europe conference, which will take place from May 21 to 23 in Berlin. This will be an additional opportunity for Serbian startups to make new connections with potential partners and users. PKS will continue to support these startups to ensure their success and the program’s ongoing implementation.
“We hope these are the first steps to putting Serbian startups and Serbia on the map as successful exporters of technologically innovative products,” said Bjelotomić. He also noted that in recent years, the export of software services has become the most valuable export category for Serbia.
“We aim for the next step to be a significant leap in the export of software and other technological products,” Bjelotomić added. He highlighted that in the past decade, the export of IT services from Serbia has grown nearly tenfold. While the quality and capabilities of Serbian engineers are recognized, Serbia’s positive image must be leveraged further with stronger support for the sales and marketing of software solutions. He emphasized that exporting is challenging and requires in-depth knowledge about both the products and the target markets, including understanding the market rules, competition, and consumer preferences.
PKS is committed to pushing the boundaries of Serbia’s economic positioning through its support of startups and its collaboration with the German organization “Start 2 Group” (https://start2.group/). This group has been instrumental in assisting startups at all stages of development, particularly with internationalization and market entry. For over a decade, “Start 2 Group” has helped German technology companies expand into foreign markets, and they have supported foreign startups entering the German market. The organization has previously promoted German technology companies in markets such as the USA, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, while also helping tech entrepreneurs from Japan and South Korea reach German users.
In conclusion, PKS sees technological innovation as a key asset to enhancing Serbia’s presence on the global market and aims to provide more extensive support for Serbian startups as they expand internationally.
