Oppotunity for grant funding up to 40K EUR
AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program



Oppotunity for grant funding up to 40K EUR
AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program



Oppotunity for grant funding up to 40K EUR
AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program

AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program

PREDA Plus AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program aims to bring a transformation through technology in the competitiveness and international perception of the agri-business & tourism sector in Resen, Prespa region and N. Macedonia as a whole.

We are looking for innovative startup ideas focused on new technologies with the potential to significantly impact or improve current operations in Agri&Food Industry and Sustainable Tourism.

If you have an Innovative startup idea to induce innovation in the Food&agricultural Industry and Sustainable tourism, then we are more than happy to have you in our start up program.

Sign up to participate in the AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program





24 March 2023 - 30 June 2023
Call for ideas

Call for ideas of startup teams on AgriTech & TourTech will be open from 24 March 2023 - 30 June 2023

Attendess MUST participate in teams. The number of members in the team (together with the team leader) for this Program can be at least two and at most five.

One applicant / Startup / Startup Team may submit only one application. A person can only be enrolled in one application.

Our focus is on women, young people under 40, and vulnerable groups that will have their economic activity and the new jobs created in the Prespa region.

Applicants will be informed about status of their application via e mail on 15 July 2023

June – September 2023
AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program

AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program is designed to guide, coach and grow ambitious early-stage technology entrepreneurs, accelerate the process of defining a proven business-model based on a set methodology and set of best practices for rapidly growing startups.

Each selected startup will get tailor-made workshops and support services, covering a total time period of 3 months using Startup Design Methodology individual tailor-made according the ideas and applicants needs.

29 - 30 September 2023
Bootcamp, demo day & pitching and opportunity for grant

Successfully graduated start-ups / teams will spend 24 hours on a bootcamp validating their ideas&networking, mentored by professionals from the industry.

At the end of the bootcamp each team will pitch their idea to a panel of potential investors, business angels, executives, VC’s, corporations and entrepreneurs.

Opportunity for receiving grant.

Successfully graduated start-ups / teams will have an opportunity to apply for the EU4EG startup grant scheme and receive up to 50.000 EUR with min. 20% co-financing.

Location for the event will be additionally provided

Area of challenge

Agri & Food Technology

  • Agriculture production technologies: novel crop inputs, digital farming processes (drones, sensors, IoT, predictive analytics, automation), irrigation technologies supply chain management, traceability innovations, monitoring systems, disease prediction & prevention, cellular agriculture, sustainable food production, use of natural fertilisers, etc.

  • Food technologies: innovative value-added products, food processing & manufacturing, alternative proteins, food safety, process automation, innovative packaging etc.

  • Support services in agriculture and food: energy efficiency, renewable energy, circular economy, agri-finance and e-commerce, marketing solutions, bio waste and bio leftovers solutions, soil carbon markets, etc.

  • Post-harvest technology solutions: innovative apple-based end products (full menu), storage, transport, etc.

Sustainable Tourism

  • Smart resource use: for e.g. energy and water, local agricultural products etc.

  • Circular economy and waste management

  • Sustainable destination strategy and systems for its management

  • Sustainability certificates and labels

  • Visitor engagement and satisfaction

  • Communication, marketing and sales

  • Human resources and internal management

  • Technology and digitalization

  • Access to finance and incentives

Example of technologies that can be used, not exclusively: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data, augmented and virtual reality, etc.

What we offer

Oppotunity for grant funding up to 40,000 EUR Non-financial assistance of calculated value of 3.500 EUR per team composed of:

Tailor-made trainings, lectures, workshops that helps to create business model

Mentoring and consulting from industry & domestic international experts

Networking with people form the startup ecosystem

Successfully graduated start-ups / teams that will complete AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program of Preda Plus will be offered the following services:

Boot Camp Weekend

Boot Camp Weekend including Demo Day pitching Event, where they can pitch their business idea / concept in front of PREDA Plus Startup Program business angels, investors, VC’s, corporations and partners.

Opportunity For Grant

Opportunity to apply for the EU4EG startup grant scheme (up to 50.000 EUR with min. 20% co-financing) for:

  • Purchasing new modern machinery and equipment, production lines, tools and measurement instruments for scaling-up, increasing production capacity, improving business processes, product quality and production efficiency
  • Purchasing business support services, but not as the sole activity and/or only if related to the above-mentioned investments

Supporting Services

Additionally, a set of services will be added as supporting services on top of the seed-investment (such as: knowledge hub services, networking events, additional mentorship, consultancy, infrastructure, R&D, etc.) if applicants are in need of such services


Startup Program

Idea Selection Criteria:

  • Innovation & creativity of the solution

  • Scalability (Adoption to changing needs)

  • Understanding of the problem described

  • Team compatibility

We welcome ideas that:

  • has a technology orientation through its operation and/or services/products

  • has either developed prototype of its new innovative product or service OR it is in the developing stage of prototype of its new innovative product or service

  • intends to commercialize its innovative new product or service

  • is innovative and creative

  • has potential for growth and scalability (adoption to changing needs)

  • is either providing solution in agri-food industry and sustainable tourism

  • shows team compatibility

Conditions:



In order to be eligible for admission in the AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program applicants must constitute one of the following:

  • Startup team

    Each team consists of members, one of whom should be the team leader. The number of members in the team (together with the team leader) for this Program can be at least two and at most five.

    Criteria for start-up teams:

    • majority of team members have Macedonian citizenship

    • has the potential of fast incorporation and scaling

    • the economic activity, and the new jobs are created

  • Startup legal company

    Company legally established as a for-profit entity in N. Macedonia (corporation, LLC, partnership or sole proprietorship).

    New or early-stage business from one to three years old (on the closing date of call)


Eligibility for funding in the EU4EG startup grant scheme
(up to 50.000 EUR with min. 20% co-financing)

Condition:

  • Startups who had successfully graduate the acceleration program of Preda Plus

  • Create economic activity (jobs) in Prespa region(Municipality of Resen).

You can find more informations on this link

How much does cost participation in the AgriTech & TourTech Startup Program?

Free admission! Appling with great business idea is the only condition for participation in the program.

If I apply with idea, Am I granted entry in the program?

No, only a limited set of teams will be able to participate in the Programme. Each applied idea will be evaluated. Applicants will be informed about status of their application via e mail on 15 July 2023.

Can I register as an individual?

No. Attendees MUST participate in team. Each team shoud be composed of 2 to 5 members. In the application form, you should provide role and contact details of each member of the team.

What are the benefits of participation in the program?

  • Each selected team for the program receive non-financial assistance of calculated value of 3.500 EUR per team.

  • Successfully graduated start-ups / teams will spend 24 hours on a bootcamp validating their ideas&networking, mentored by professionals from the industry.

  • Possibility for pitching dea to a panel of potential investors, business angels, executives, VC’s, corporations and entrepreneurs.

  • Opportunity for receiving grant up to 50.000 EUR

What kind of business idea can I come up with?

  • There two areas of challenge you can choose from for this startup program Agri & Food Technology and Sustainable Tourism.

  • The focus of the program is on women, young people under 40, and vulnerable groups that will have their economic activity and the new jobs created especially in the Prespa region.