Inside Growpreneur Demo Day: The Night Albania’s Startups Took the Stage
On April 11th,at Innovation Hub, the stage belonged to the dreamers, the builders, and the next wave of Albanian innovation. For 12-14 weeks, Growpreneur startups had been immersed in strategy, mentorship and guided expertise.
Eight early-stage teams, each with a bold vision, pitched to a room of real investors, and proved that the startup ecosystem in Albania isn’t just alive. It’s thriving.
What Happened on Demo Day
The evening opened with remarks from Shkelzen Marku (CEO of YSB Balkans), Sebastian Berwanger (EU4Innovation), and Thomas Kösters (Deep Ecosystems), each highlighting the collective effort behind building Albania’s startup infrastructure and the power of founder-first programs like Growpreneur.
A compelling keynote from Grant Van Cleve, President of AmCham Albania and Managing Partner at Hangar75, reminded everyone that global ambition can, and should, start local.
That set the stage for a powerful Growth Talk panel titled “Attracting Startup Investments”, featuring expert voices from across the region:
🔹 Ravik Mima, Keiretsu Forum SEE
🔹 Mark Crawford, Chairman at AKSIONER Group
🔹 Dritan Musolli, Digit Sapiens
🔹 Grant Van Cleve, President of AmChamb
Moderated by Aneida Bajraktari of Balkans Capital, the panel gave founders rare access to what investors are really looking for.
Startups That Took the Stage
Eight startups pitched their solutions in front of a live audience of investors, mentors, partners, and media. Each team had just 3 minutes to deliver a pitch that captured both heart and business logic.
Here’s who pitched and what they’re building:
Almanart – Your digital guide to Albania’s cultural scene. Discover, engage, and experience art, all in one place.
BeachMaster – One app to reserve your sunbed, order snacks, and skip the beach chaos.
Stampisti – Sustainable, customizable fashion for conscious creators and eco-minded consumers.
Pronar.al – Smart real estate at your fingertips,virtual tours, no middlemen, just one click to buy.
Switch Technologies – Teaching tech and building websites to empower Albania’s next generation of digital talent.
SunEasy – Book your spot on the beach in real time, right from your phone.
Komuniteti – Tools for modern buildings, transparent, efficient, and green property management.
Gjelber & Vytal – Albania’s first healthy restaurant & retail startup leading the circular economy shift by launching the Vytal reusable packaging system.
When Pitches Turn into Possibilities
Several startups walked away with tangible next steps:
🏆 Growpreneur Prize – €1,500 Internationalization Support Voucher awarded to BeachMaster, Stampisti, Komuniteti, Almanart, and Switch Technologies
Investor Commitments & Interest
Stampisti & Komuniteti – Received follow-up interest from Ravik Mima, CEO of Keiretsu Forum SEE.
Stampisti – A potential €20,000 investment + mentorship from Rrezart Lahi, Kozma Seferaj, and Grant Van Cleve
Almanart – Interest in a €10,000 investment, plus strategic brand support from Rrezart Lahi
Switch Technologies – Mentorship and potential future collaboration with Tomi Kallanxhi and Gerti Boshnjaku
Thank You to Our Investors & Partners
Demo Day wouldn’t have been possible without the trust and dedication of our investor panel, who engaged with the startups not only as investor panel, but as future collaborators:
Ravik Mima, Rrezart Lahi, Kozma Seferaj, Mark Crawford, Gerti Boshnjaku, Dritan Musolli, and Grant Van Cleve, thank you for asking the hard questions, giving honest feedback, and believing in the future these founders are building.
And to our partners:
EU4Innovation, YSB Balkans, Deep Ecosystems, Keiretsu Forum SEE, Alban Global, Germin, Geek Room. Albania Tech, Business Magazine and SIPRI, thank you for supporting this journey from day one and helping create a space where innovation truly thrives.
🚀 What’s Next?
Demo Day might be the final chapter for this cohort, but for these startups, it’s just the beginning. Whether closing deals, expanding to new markets, or applying the lessons learned, their journey continues.
