Creative Business Cup 2022 - North Macedonia edition
Overview
SmartUp delivered the second national edition of Creative Business Cup North Macedonia in partnership with UMPACI, building on its 2021 launch of the competition to again connect North Macedonian creative and innovative startups with the global Creative Business Cup network spanning more than 70 countries. SmartUp ran expert advisory sessions, pitch coaching, and business mentoring for 10 selected finalist startups, preparing them for the national final in Skopje before a jury of regional entrepreneurship and business innovation experts.
SmartUp's competition selected Best Online Assistant (BOA) — an online platform supporting education, digital upskilling, and employment for people with disabilities — as national winner, sending BOA to the Creative Business Cup Global Finals in Copenhagen, with Med-Rep Group and Sara Simoska Arhitektura placing second and third. Beyond the competition, SmartUp connected finalists to further training and mentoring opportunities, including SKALA School scholarships and a presentation slot at the Creative Industries Fair, extending support for these startups' growth beyond the event itself.
The challenge
Creative startups continued to face barriers in accessing international markets, investors, acceleration programmes, and global business networks.
Early-stage entrepreneurs required tailored mentoring to strengthen their business models, refine their value propositions, and improve their pitching and investor readiness.
The national creative industries ecosystem needed stronger collaboration, greater visibility, and more opportunities for startups to connect with experienced entrepreneurs, experts, and international innovation communities.
Activities and methods
1. Organized the second national Creative Business Cup North Macedonia, attracting innovative startups from across the creative and cultural industries.
2. Selected 10 finalist startups, which participated in a structured support programme including expert advisory meetings, business mentoring, and pitch training to prepare for the national competition.
3. Organized the National Creative Business Cup in Skopje on 27 May 2022, where finalists presented their business solutions before a jury composed of leading experts in entrepreneurship, startup development, marketing, and business innovation from North Macedonia and the region.
4. Connected participating startups with experienced entrepreneurs, startup coaches, investors, and business development experts through mentoring sessions, networking opportunities, and individual feedback designed to strengthen their investment readiness and business growth potential.
5. Selected Best Online Assistant (BOA)—an online platform supporting the education, digital upskilling, and employment of people with disabilities—as the national winner. BOA earned participation in the Creative Business Cup Academy and represented North Macedonia at the Creative Business Cup Global Finals in Copenhagen (27–28 June 2022).
6. Recognized Med-Rep Group (2nd place) and Sara Simoska Arhitektura – Movable Furniture (3rd place) for their innovative business concepts, while the top three startups also secured an opportunity to present their solutions at the Creative Industries Fair organized by the Balkan Cinema Cities Regional Fund and UMPACI later that year.
7. Secured additional capacity-building awards for finalists through project partners and jury members, including scholarships for SKALA School programmes, business training sessions, mentoring meetings, and professional coaching aimed at supporting further business development beyond the competition.
Impact and learning
The second edition further strengthened North Macedonia's creative entrepreneurship ecosystem by providing startups with practical business development support, expert mentoring, and direct access to international innovation networks. Participants enhanced their entrepreneurial competencies, refined their business models, strengthened their pitching skills, and expanded their professional networks through interactions with national and international experts.
The competition also created tangible post-competition opportunities by connecting finalists with additional training, mentoring, and business support programmes, helping them continue developing their ventures beyond the event itself.
A major achievement was the international representation of Best Online Assistant, which joined the Creative Business Cup Academy and represented North Macedonia at the Creative Business Cup Global Finals in Copenhagen, demonstrating the country's growing capacity to develop innovative, socially impactful, and globally competitive creative startups.
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