The first module of the Raiffeisen Future Builders SME Academy

The Academy is held in parallel in Sarajevo and Banja Luka, and the very first meeting showed that in Bosnia and Herzegovina there is a generation of young entrepreneurs who want clarity, structure and knowledge that can be applied immediately and who are truly ready to work on building healthier and more stable businesses.

The first module was devoted to key financial topics for the development of early and growing companies:

· cash flow management,

· budgeting,

· investment planning,

· understanding of banking criteria for young businesses.

Through practical examples and interactive work, the participants got a clear picture of what it means to run a financially sustainable business and how to make decisions that create long-term results.

Partnerships that empower young entrepreneurs

The Raiffeisen Future Builders program together with Raiffeisen bank is implemented by the Alphabet group with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Financial support for the program in the form of funds for technical cooperation is provided by the European Union, Luxembourg, Sweden and Italy through the Central European Initiative.

These partnerships allow participants up to the age of 35 to have access to modern knowledge, mentors and tools completely free of charge.

“Supporting young entrepreneurs and the growth of small businesses is one of the strategic focuses of the EBRD in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through programs like the Raiffeisen Future Builders Academy, we want to enable the new generation of leaders to acquire the skills necessary for success in the modern economy. We are glad to see this much energy, curiosity and willingness to learn already at the first module,” pointed out Stela Melnic, director of the EBRD office in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Finance as the foundation of sustainable growth

Raiffeisen Future Builders SME Academy is a modern educational program designed to provide young entrepreneurs with knowledge in financial management, digital transformation, risk management, improvement of business processes and growth in the domestic and international market. The program includes a series of modules, mentoring sessions, networking events and practical assignments.

“The development of small and medium-sized enterprises is one of the key priorities of our bank. We created the Raiffeisen Future Builders program to offer knowledge that can help young companies immediately – practical, concrete and focused on results. We are proud that together with partner institutions we are building a more sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in BiH.” said Edin Hrnjica, member of the Management Board of Raiffeisen Bank dd Bosnia and Herzegovina

See photos from the workshops in the attachment, and the second module is already in preparation and brings more advanced topics, deeper discussions and even more practical tools for company growth.

We would like to thank all participants, partners and donors for their support. Special thanks go to the young entrepreneurs whose energy characterized both events.