Preda+ is an NGO focused on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship across Macedonia. With fintech on the rise, they wanted to help early-stage teams go beyond pitching ideas and start solving real problems.
To do that, they partnered with Solveo to run a week-long Design Thinking program, integrated into the Preda+ Fintech Hackathon. The goal: help teams build products grounded in user needs—not assumptions.
In a space like fintech, great tech alone isn’t enough. Most early teams start building before they've validated if the problem is even worth solving.
Preda+ wanted to shift that mindset. The goal was to guide six startup teams through a practical, hands-on process that would help them test ideas, build prototypes, and pitch solutions that actually resonate with users.
Over five focused days, we ran an intensive program covering every stage of the Design Thinking process—tailored specifically for fintech founders. From mapping users and pain points to validating ideas and refining prototypes, the program was structured to balance learning with doing.
Here’s how it played out:
Throughout the week, teams worked closely with Solveo facilitators, UX designers, and mentors. Sessions were practical and interactive—focused on clarity, speed, and learning through doing.
By the end of the sprint, teams had clearer user insights, sharper product positioning, and stronger pitch decks.
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