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GIST Net

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GIST empowers young science and technology entrepreneurs through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing to advance their startups.

Since 2011, GIST has partnered with the private sector to reach over 27 million innovation community members globally. GIST catalyzes startup solutions that address economic and developmental challenges through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing. GIST has provided training for over 15,000 startups who have gone on to generate over $250 million in revenue.

04/10/2026

Science and technology entrepreneurs from Bosnia & Herzegovina–this training is for you!

Are you ready to take your idea to the next level? GIST’s Innovates: The Balkans 10-week pre-accelerator program taught by Arizona State University is returning in 2026 for more startup founder training, mentoring, and resources! We want to help build your entrepreneurial skills and bring your ideas to market, as well as provide opportunities for you to connect with mentors in the U.S. and build connections with U.S.-based investors and companies.

Application extended to 17 April! Secure your place in the 2026 cohort today!

https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

04/09/2026

Science and technology entrepreneurs from Serbia–this training is for you!

Are you ready to take your idea to the next level? GIST’s Innovates The Balkans 10-week pre-accelerator program taught by Arizona State University is returning in 2026 for more startup founder training, mentoring, and resources! We want to help build your entrepreneurial skills and bring your ideas to market, as well as provide opportunities for you to connect with mentors in the U.S. and build connections with U.S.-based investors and companies.

APPLICATION EXTENDED! Apply by 17 April! https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

Photos from GIST Net's post 03/29/2026

FINAL WEEK TO APPLY!

GIST INNOVATES | The Balkans is a ten-week pre-accelerator training program modeled after the Lean Startup methodology.

This opportunity will 💪empower innovators with 🛠️training, 👩🏻‍🏫mentoring, and 🚀resources to build their entrepreneurial skills and bring their ideas to market, as well as provide opportunities for teams to connect with mentors in the U.S. and build connections with U.S.-based investors and companies.

Apply by 6 April, 2026! 👉https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

03/23/2026

Don’t wait! Only two weeks remain for you to apply for this 10-week pre-accelerator program fully funded by the U.S. Department of State and taught by entrepreneurship experts from Arizona State University. GIST Innovates: The Balkans provides tools you can use right now to improve your startup.

This opportunity will 💪empower innovators with 🛠️training, 👩🏻‍🏫mentoring, and 🚀resources to build their entrepreneurial skills and bring their ideas to market, as well as provide opportunities for teams to connect with mentors in the U.S. and build connections with U.S.-based investors and companies. Apply today!

👉https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

03/21/2026

Don’t wait! Only two weeks remain for you to apply for this 10-week pre-accelerator program fully funded by the U.S. Department of State and taught by entrepreneurship experts from Arizona State University.

GIST Innovates: The Balkans provides tools you can use right now to improve your startup.

Learn more👉 https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

03/16/2026

There are just three weeks left to apply for this 10-week pre-accelerator program fully funded by the U.S. Department of State and taught by entrepreneurship experts from Arizona State University. GIST Innovates: The Balkans provides tools you can use right now to improve your startup.

This opportunity will 💪empower innovators with 🛠️training, 👩🏻‍🏫mentoring, and 🚀resources to build their entrepreneurial skills and bring their ideas to market, as well as provide opportunities for teams to connect with mentors in the U.S. and build connections with U.S.-based investors and companies. Apply today!

👉https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

03/13/2026

GIST Innovates: The Balkans isn't like other accelerator programs for startups. Listen to what past participants have to say!

Are you ready to take your idea to the next level? Apply now for GIST Innovates: The Balkans, a 10-week pre-accelerator program designed to bring your science and technology solution to market.

Learn more👉 https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

Innovation Centre Kosovo

03/04/2026

We love hearing from program participants that GIST Innovates: The Balkans was valuable and important to their success.

Learn more about GIST Innovates: The Balkans is a 10-week pre-accelerator program fully funded by the U.S. Department of State and taught by entrepreneurship experts from Arizona State University.
Apply today!
👉https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

Photos from GIST Net's post 02/27/2026

GIST is excited to announce our 4th INNOVATES: The Balkans program is now accepting applications for 2026!

🤔What is INNOVATES: The Balkans? It’s a 10-week pre-accelerator program implemented by Arizona State University that empowers Balkan science & technology entrepreneurs to take the next step towards building their successful startup.

💡What does the program offer? One week in person for workshops, mentoring, and resources to help participants bring their ideas to market. Plus, 9 weeks of virtual mentorship, opportunities for building connections with U.S.-based investors and companies.

This is a perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs from Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Learn more and apply now! 👉https://www.gistnetwork.org/balkans

06/05/2025

🔥What a week! And what a way to cap it off! We have seen so much growth and discovery from the teams over the last 4 days here in Tirana, Albania for GIST's Innovates The Balkans program. We want to give a big shout out 📣 to everyone who participated in the final presentations today. It takes so much 💪 courage and grit to seek out the answers to the tough questions. But everyone did that this week. The entire GIST team is incredibly proud of all the startups in this program! 🎉🏆🎉🏆🎉🏆

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SeniorLab
RemoteBuddy

KOSOVO
Abler
FarmTrace
Smart Glue Gun

NORTH MACEDONIA
AirTime AI
Pic a Pro
Ridlix

SERBIA
CyberParent
GetData
Includify

United States Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina
U.S. Embassy Belgrade
U.S. Embassy North Macedonia
U.S. Embassy Pristina, Kosovo
Innovation Centre Kosovo

06/04/2025

👏👏👏 It’s Day 3 of GIST Innovates the Balkans!

Teams presented the results from their interviews with potential customers. And worked to better understand customer pain points. Instructors helped teams understand these new discoveries. 🔥

Teams also explored their industry ecosystems to determine where their solution fits within their ecosystem. 🎉

Tomorrow is the final day where, using everything they have learned this week, teams will present their startups in a brand new way! 💅

United States Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina
U.S. Embassy Belgrade
U.S. Embassy North Macedonia
U.S. Embassy Pristina, Kosovo
Innovation Centre Kosovo

06/03/2025

Day 2 in Tirana with the GIST Innovates the Balkans program. 🎉

Today the teams worked through Customer Workflows. The founders developed their own Customer Workflows to discover and confirm customer pain points and understand their solution’s part in the workflow. 👏👏👏

Teams then met with instructors to work on their interviews.🔥

United States Embassy to Bosnia and Herzegovina
U.S. Embassy Belgrade
U.S. Embassy North Macedonia
U.S. Embassy Pristina, Kosovo

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