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.

The Challenge

Held in April 2021 — and still fully online due to pandemic safety protocols — this event continued the mission of helping early-stage innovators turn ideas into startups in just one weekend.

The challenge? Host a dynamic, collaborative, and high-impact event over Zoom and Discord — and help 40+ participants build something real in 54 hours, despite the distance.

Our Approach

‍The event opened with a keynote from Kosta Petrov, Director of the Fund for Innovation and Technology Development, setting the tone for a weekend of creative ambition.

Eight teams were formed around original startup ideas. Over three days, they participated in a fast-paced online program with the support of 9 expert mentors from across the region. The mentoring focused on idea validation, user interviews, prototyping, and pitching — all adapted for a remote setting.

Solveo’s organizing team handled every step of the virtual experience — from facilitating team communication on Discord to running workshops and mentoring sessions via Zoom. The weekend culminated in live pitch presentations to a jury of experienced startup founders and investors.

Outcomes

‍
🥇 First Place: Pick-a-Gift — An online gift platform that lets recipients choose their own gift from a curated selection, without seeing the price.

‍
🥈 Second Place: Retrend — A marketplace for accessories made from redesigned second-hand materials, with a portion of profits donated to social causes.

‍
🥉 Third Place: Influnect — A platform that matches brands with TikTok influencers in their target niche, simplifying influencer discovery and collaboration.

‍

Once again, Startup Weekend Skopje proved that distance doesn’t kill momentum — and that early-stage founders can build incredible things, even when they're apart. This edition celebrated a decade of community, creativity, and startup energy — and we’re just getting started.

‍