Breaking Barriers: Funding & Opportunities in the Balkans
summary
Regional investors report that 95% of AI startups have zero value, say hardware and cybersecurity attract new defense and supply‑chain funding, and Europe‑wide decoupling fuels a hardware is becoming sexy again comeback. Capital outstrips dealflow: organizers estimate 150 million euros in Croatia alone over the next years, funds accept pre‑revenue bets, thresholds blur, and successful exits like CircuitMess, Photomath and Infobip serve as the proof points that build local follow‑on funding.
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chapters (11)
- 0:00Introduction and welcome
- 1:07AI hype and market surprises
- 6:09Funding growth in the Balkans
- 10:23Investor vs startup dynamics
- 14:50Startups becoming more selective
- 16:55Hardware startups and founder exits
- 19:51Advice for Balkan entrepreneurs
- 24:46Investor traction thresholds
- 27:33Remote teams and global startups
- 29:18Balkans startup competitiveness
- 29:39Next Balkan unicorn predictions
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