What is it ?
A unique competition for innovative business ideas, products or services from creative and cultural industries who have the potential to grow globally.
Why participate?
Pitch your business in front of a jury of high-profile industry experts
The Cup offers to 10 selected creative and innovative startups from North Macedonia pitch their business in front of a jury of high-profile domestic and international industry experts and investors and get valuable feedback.
Get exposure and access to industry partners, experts and investors from 80+ countries
Since the competition will be fully online you will have a chance to pitch and showcase you product/service to many international experts, investors and industry partners as they can also attend the event.
Get access to an online pre-competition Bootcamp Academy
Finalists will be invited to a Bootcamp Academy that includes pitch training, tools to amp up your investor readiness and knowledge that will strengthen your business model.
Get a Digital marketplace to display your product
All finalists will get a space on this site to present their product or service. This will enable you to get more international exposure even after the competition ends.
The award
The winner gets a spot in the Global Creative Business Academy – an exclusive accelerator program and will represent North Macedonia at the Global Finals 2021 during the industry forum BRIGHT in Copenhagen (full pass)
Second and third place will get a pass to attend the Creative Business Cup Global Finals 2021 during the industry forum BRIGHT and have a chance to meet and connect with entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors from 80+ countries.
By representing North Macedonia at the Global Business Cup Finals 2021 you will:
- Compete for substantial financial rewards from 3000 to 10 000 eur
- Get the opportunity to present your business idea to an international jury and the world
- Attract international investments and international audience
- Form a network with entrepreneurs, investors, experts and mentors from 80+ countries
- Get inspired to think in new and different ways
Eligibility criteria
Who can apply?
Entrepreneurs from the creative sector:
- have the core asset of the business based on creative competencies
- have an idea with market potential
- have a company/organization registered in North Macedonia
- have not received more than 1 mil USD of external capital investment
*There are no specific requirements for the participating company in relation to age, turnover or number of employees.
What we are looking for?
- Creative and innovative solutions . It doesn’t matter if you are in a stage of ideation or if you’re already making money, as long as your business model contains creative and innovative solutions – product, service, social relations, customer approach, market etc.
- Be Commercial. Your concept must have market potential – investment potential, scalability, unique value proposition and being hard to copy.
- Own the rights to the idea with which you are entering the competition.
What are the steps?
Apply
Apply for the competition by filling the application form by 9th of May 2021
Info days
Have a question? Check the FAQ or the FB event page
Deadline
Application form closes at 23:59 on 09.05.2021
Selection of the finalists
The jury will select 10 finalists out of all registered applicants
Bootcamp Academy 14-19 May
The finalists will be invited to an online Bootcamp Academy before the competition in May
National Cup - 21 May 2021
Pitch your idea to the jury and the international community that will follow the national cup online
International acceleration programme
The winner will join the International 8-days Acceleration program to prepare for the Global Finals in June.
Global Business Cup Finals
The winner represents North Macedonia at the Global Finals hybrid event 28-29 June 2021
You already have a brilliant idea that you want to grow?
Meet our mentors and juries
Sofija Bogeva
Innovation management, Design thinking
Olimpija H. Zaevska
Strategic investment, Finance
Aleksandar Lazovski
Partnership development, Education
Slavomir Hruska
Sales and Investment strategy
Danco Dimkov
B2B Sales, Outreach, Growing
Elena Bojadjieva
Art and applied photography
Gorast Cvetkovski
Gaming, Acting, Graphic Design
Igor Madzov
Access to funding, Business Development
Faris Zacina
Investor, StartUp Builder
Almir Mukaca
Organic food production and education, TV Chef
Resad Zacina
Leader, Investor, Startup builder
Gorazd Kenny Kitanovski
Storytelling
Monika Rizovska
Brand and online community building
Petter Aasa
Digital Health, MedTech, health and wellness
Ana Andonovska
Strategic foresight, Organizational Innovation
Jasna Pocek
Interplay, interconnectivity, and influence of labor markets
more coming soon…
FAQ
Who can apply?
Entrepreneurs from culture and creative industries:
- Advertising
- Architecture
- Kraft & Artisan
- Design
- Experiences technologies
- Fashion
- Film, Video & Photography
- Gastronomy
- Leisure Activities
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Publishing
- Radio & Television
- Software, Computer Games & Electronic Publishing (for creative industries)
- 3D Printing maker
- Toys & Games
Can I join as a mentor?
Yes! If you are interested in supporting the startups from the creative and cultural industries to get prepared for the National Cup get in contact with us.
How to get a media pass for the Global Finals 2021?
Creative Business Cup Media Passes are provided for journalists/editorial members of the press. If you are a communication/PR professional, blogger or non-editorial employee of a media company, get in touch with CBN network at [email protected] to discuss the possibilities.
Working language?
Main working language for the Bootcamp and the National Cup is English. However, the regular communication between the organizing team and the finalists will be on Macedonian as well some of the one on one mentorship sessions.
Criteria - How can I win the competition?
The winners of Creative Business Cup will be startups that show a high level of creativity and present a business concept with great market potential, which resulted from extraordinary business execution.
Creativity:
- Change the value chains of the Creative Industries or use creative competencies to change the value chains in other industries. Think innovation and disruption.
- Rely on creative skills as a key to the success of the business.
- Engage customers or others in creative processes.
- Innovate in terms of their product or service, social relations, customer approach, markets or other areas.
Market potential:
- Investment potential.
- Scalability.
- Unique value propositions.
- Create and impact new markets.
- Present a strong overview of the existing market situation.
- Present a good understanding of risks and possibilities.
Business Execution:
- Have a good team with complementary skills and good experience.
- Demonstrate the presence of financial and strategic flair within the team, thereby combining creative and business skills
- Present a robust business model.
- Address relevant issues regarding Intellectual Property Rights.
- Have a strong rollout strategy in place
Can I join as an investor?
Yes! If you are interested in supporting the startups from the creative and cultural industries from North Macedonia you are more than welcome to take part in the National cup either as an attendant, mentor or jury member. Get in contact with us for more details.
Who is organizing the Creative Business Cup Global Finals?
Creative Business Network powers Creative Business Cup, the world Creative Business Network empowers startups in the Creative Industries, connects them to investors and global markets and strengthens their innovative capabilities to the benefit of the industry and society
See more – https://cbnet.com/faq/ or ask a question [email protected]
Where will the National Cup take place?
This year due to the circumstance the National and the Global Cup will be fully virtual.
We will use the ZOOM tool for communication and the CBN National Group channel for communication
The Global Creative Business Cup
A destination for all creative minds, innovative thinkers and future leaders. A global competition with 70+ creative supernovas, brilliant keynote speakers, judges and investors! The global finals are held each year at the Bright Conference (28-29 June 2021) – a two day meet-up that brings together creative businesses and people interested in entrepreneurship and innovation from all corners of the world. The conference focus is on new creative and cultural businesses in the creative industries to motivate, sharpen and develop the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
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