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Raiffeisen/EBRD "SME Future Builders" Academy completed

 
  • Award ceremony of the Academy and presentation of the EBRD Youth in Business program 
  • "We grow with Raiffeisen"

(Sarajevo, 18.03.2026) – The SME "Future Builders" Academy was successfully completed at the beginning of March. The Academy was led by Raiffeisen Bank, in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and was held in cooperation with Alphabet Group d.o.o. Banja Luka, a leading organisation in the field of human capital development and the SME sector. The SME Future Builders Academy is part of the broader Youth in Business program, which supports young entrepreneurs in the Western Balkans by addressing youth unemployment and improving access to finance. 

"We are proud of the successful implementation of an innovative initiative where young leaders from the SME segment had the opportunity to participate in customised modular trainings, connect with real business experience through mentorship from experienced business leaders, but also with other participants from the business and financial world. "We are pleased that young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to develop key financial, leadership and digital skills for efficient business management, attracting investments, and strengthening their market position and competitiveness, and we believe that they now possess an important resource for the development and growth of their businesses," said Lars Frankemölle, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank, highlighting the Bank's strategic commitment to combining financial instruments with structured advisory support in order to build stronger and long-term relationships with customers.

The EBRD is pleased to continue its partnership with Raiffeisen Bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the aim of supporting young entrepreneurs through the Youth in Business program. With donor support, the program helps young business owners gain
access to finance, skills, and mentorship to develop sustainable businesses. Today's event highlights our shared commitment to the next generation of business leaders. Developed along with Raiffeisen Bank, the Young Leaders Academy demonstrates how targeted training, mentoring and networking can help youth-led Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises grow across the country. "We congratulate the participants and look forward to supporting their further development through advisory services and improved access to finance," said Stela Melnic, EBRD Country Director for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The award ceremony for the participants of this program will be held on March 25, 2026, and during this promotional event, the EBRD's Youth in Business program, will be presented. It is a program that supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises managed or owned by young people under 35. The program includes young business leaders and managers of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and provides them with access to tailored advisory support and financing with the aim of providing them with access to knowledge, business expertise, financial resources and other key resources to overcome challenges, develop new competencies, improve business results and open up new opportunities for growth. The EBRD Youth in Business program is supported by the European Union, Sweden, Italy and Luxembourg, through the EBRD Small Business Impact Fund (donors include Italy, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Business – EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund, the United Kingdom and the United States).

This event will gather representatives of the SME business community, the EU and other donors of the YiB program, chambers, hubs, innovation centres and universities from Sarajevo, and will be held on the premises of Shop Circle BH, a company specialising in e-commerce and digital solutions, helping brands improve their online sales and market presence. It focuses on innovative approaches and customised strategies for business growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina.