Endeavor, the global network supporting high-impact entrepreneurship, has announced the launch of the second edition of Dare2Scale Western Balkans, its flagship growth program for late-stage startups. This year’s cohort brings together 14 innovative founders from N. Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo who are ready to take their businesses to the next stage.
Dare2Scale will run from September to December, helping entrepreneurs unlock the next stage of their growth. The program offers group workshops, personalized mentorship sessions with Endeavor mentors and senior PwC consultants, and access to a powerful regional network of investors and business leaders.
Across the Western Balkans, founders are driving innovation and creating businesses with the potential to transform their industries. Dare2Scale helps them seize that opportunity through hands-on guidance in funding, strategy, operations, and international expansion, while fostering a collaborative community of founders who learn and grow together across borders.
This year’s Dare2Scale cohort reflects the program’s industry-agnostic spirit, bringing together a diverse mix of ventures – from cybersecurity and edtech to traditional enterprises and creative agencies. Despite their varied sectors, the selected companies are united by a common ambition – international expansion.
As they prepare to scale, participating founders identified several shared priorities: strengthening sales capabilities, developing international go-to-market strategies, and refining business planning to ensure long-term sustainability. These needs will shape the core of Dare2Scale’s upcoming workshops and mentorship sessions.
In addition to tailored programming led by Endeavor, participants will benefit from PwC’s expert guidance in areas critical to scaling – financing, leadership strategy, and organizational and HR management. Now, for the second year, PwC will provide dedicated support from senior consultants across its offices in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo.
Following a successful pilot in 2024, the Western Balkans edition returns with an even stronger regional scope. Participants will work alongside peers from Bulgaria as part of a joint Kick-Off and Demo Day, forming a single platform for Southeast Europe’s most promising companies. The 2025 edition also brings in regional entrepreneurial champions as speakers, promoting cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The 2025 Dare2Scale Western Balkans program is made possible through the support of key regional partners: Gjirafa, Keiretsu Forum, Startup Club Skopje, and Swiss EP. PwC returns for a second year to provide mentorship across the cohort, while South Central Ventures joins the program as the Western Balkans Capital Partner.
“What excites us this year is how Dare2Scale is becoming a bridge between ecosystems: connecting North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo with Bulgaria and the wider Endeavor network. But just as important as the mentorship and strategic guidance is what happens between the founders themselves. When ambitious entrepreneurs from different countries exchange ideas and challenges, they create relationships that outlast the program and strengthen the entire region,” says Ivo Atanassov, Program Manager, Dare2Scale:Our aim with this second Western Balkans edition is to lay the groundwork for long-term collaboration across Southeast Europe.”
Meet the Dare2Scale 2025 Western Balkans Cohort
Bilanc Shpk is an Albanian software company. They have developed several accounting and business management software packages. Focused on providing high-quality software with continuous customer support, Bilanc Shkp currently operates in Albania and Kosovo.
FitKit is a pay-per-use SaaS platform that turns wellness benefits from a sunk cost into a measurable asset. Through a proprietary credit-based model, they give employees on-demand access to 1,000+ fitness, mental-health, nutrition, spa, and volunteering services, paying only for what they actually use.
Kidsday is a digital platform that simplifies the daily operations of childcare centers, preschools, and kindergartens. It helps educators save time, improves communication with parents, and supports each child’s growth with AI-powered tools for planning, observation, and reporting. Already used in the US, UAE, and across the Balkans, Kidsday is redefining how early years education is managed and delivered.
Microtica is an AI DevOps automation platform that enables teams to ship software faster by automating the entire cloud infrastructure and application deployment process. Trusted by startups and enterprises alike, Microtica accelerates innovation while keeping full control in the hands of the development and operations teams.
Sentry is a cybersecurity firm delivering premium cyber offensive and defensive services, including AI Security Testing, AI Red Teaming, Penetration Testing, Red Teaming, Secure Code Reviews, and fully managed security for products and infrastructures.
SHIGI Studio is a Pristina-based creative powerhouse dedicated to transforming ideas into impactful designs and strategies. By seamlessly blending brand strategy, art direction, and media expertise, SHIGI crafts personalized solutions that bring brands to life.
Why Agency is a bold, creative powerhouse that helps brands stand out and scale through strategy, design, and content that hits different. From branding and digital campaigns to full-scale production, they craft work that’s not just seen – it’s felt.
Dare2Scale is Endeavor’s flagship growth program for ambitious late-stage startups. Started in Bulgaria, the program now supports founders across Southeast Europe through its Bulgarian and Western Balkans editions – including N Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo.
Since its launch in 2019, Dare2Scale has supported more than 70 companies and 120+ founders, helping them accelerate growth, expand into new markets, and connect with Endeavor’s global network of mentors and investors. The program runs annually from September to December, combining practical workshops, personalized mentorship, and a final Demo Day where participants showcase their progress to regional investors and ecosystem leaders.
