GIZ, through its Lab of Tomorrow initiative, partnered with Solveo to run the Lot 23 Incubation Program, a four-month initiative (January–April 2025) supporting early-stage ventures in the Western Balkans tackling challenges in circular economy and glass reuse. The program followed an earlier Innovation Sprint in September 2024, where four promising teams were selected to develop solutions ranging from reuse and upcycling to scalable glass recycling models.
Each team came with a different background, skill set, and product vision — but all needed structure, guidance, and momentum to take their ideas from concept to investment-ready.
The circular economy landscape in the Western Balkans is still emerging, with glass waste largely underutilized and few commercially viable solutions in the market. Although the selected teams had strong environmental intentions and some early traction, they lacked refined business models, pricing logic, and go-to-market clarity. The challenge was to take these teams from loose concepts to fundable ventures — while building their confidence and sharpening their strategy along the way.
We designed a hybrid incubation format that balanced flexibility with accountability. Each team participated in eight structured online sessions supported by tailored templates, deliverables, and resources. These virtual sessions helped shape core elements of their business — from vision and value proposition to pricing, revenue models, and early partnerships.
Between sessions, we set clear deliverables and maintained momentum through weekly follow-ups. Teams received hands-on support with customer segmentation, cost structure planning, stakeholder outreach, grant preparation, and communication strategy. We adapted coaching intensity based on each team’s readiness and needs — some required foundational branding help, while others were focused on refining their financials.
To deepen the experience and accelerate learning, we hosted two in-person workshops in Tirana. The first (Jan 30–31) focused on stakeholder mapping, competitive analysis, and risk planning. We included field visits to Selita Water, Doan Glass, and Destil Hub, giving teams first-hand exposure to supply chain dynamics. Industry experts from Akron Glass, Alpak Eco, and Creative Glass Serbia joined for Q&A sessions, offering insight and validation.
The second workshop (Feb 27–28) shifted focus to financial modeling, go-to-market planning, and investor readiness. We invited Zephyr Angels for a dedicated investor Q&A, along with legal advisors from Partners Albania to guide operational setup. A focus group with regional breweries and wineries gave teams the chance to test assumptions and receive real-time feedback from potential customers.
As Demo Day approached, Solveo worked closely with each team to polish pitch decks, refine messaging, and prepare business plans and brochures. We organized two full rehearsal rounds and offered one-on-one feedback sessions to ensure all teams were confident and clear in front of investors and stakeholders. The final pitches were delivered at Solveo’s Innovate X Festival, closing the program on a high note with interest and praise from funders, advisors, and peers.
✅ Deliverables Completed by All Four Teams
🚀 Strategic Shifts and Progress
💬 Investor & Ecosystem Feedback
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