Client Overview

Techstars Startup Weekend is a globally recognized program designed to support early-stage startup creation through immersive, community-driven events. It’s a 54-hour sprint where developers, designers, marketers, and startup enthusiasts come together to pitch ideas, form teams, and build real prototypes. Solveo has proudly served as the community leader and organizer of Startup Weekend in Macedonia since 2018.

Тhe Challenge

Sustainability isn’t a buzzword — it’s a necessity. But turning it into a startup? That’s where real innovation happens.

For this edition of Startup Weekend, the goal was clear: gather ambitious participants from across the country and give them a platform to build solutions that help the planet. From resource reuse to zero-waste packaging, the ideas had to drive both business and environmental impact.

ProCredit Bank Skopje joined as a key partner, recognizing the alignment with their long-term mission to support young entrepreneurs and green innovation. The event needed to create space for bold thinking, collaboration, and execution — all in one weekend.

Our Approach

Over 60 participants joined the 3-day experience hosted at ProCredit Bank’s central branch. They were supported by more than 20 expert mentors, including startup founders, UX designers, marketers, and sustainability advocates.

Solveo facilitated the full program from start to finish — Friday night idea pitches, team formation, mentor matchmaking, and hands-on support throughout the 54 hours.

The weekend also included:

• A panel discussion featuring four standout founders from Macedonia’s green startup scene: Gorjan Jovanovski (EarthCare.ai), Monika Rizovska (Ways2Help), Olga Rajcik (Challenger), and Katerina Ilijovska (Yes for Less).
  
  
• Deep-dive mentoring sessions covering business model development, branding, validation, and early prototyping.
  
  
• A pitch finale judged by a panel of five industry professionals from the fields of tech, design, and business.
  
  

Every team worked on a sustainability-focused idea — from mobile apps and biotech solutions to zero-waste tools and food tech platforms.

Outcomes

🥇1st Place – EcoSolve Pods
Biodegradable packaging that dissolves in water and replaces single-use plastics.

🥈2nd Place – Makshrooms
A mushroom-growing startup that uses recycled coffee waste and produces eco-fertilizer.

🥉3rd Place – NutriAI
An AI-powered mobile app that offers personalized nutrition plans based on user input.