Resilience & Innovation Summit Start-up Competition Showcases Innovative Tourism Companies in Southeast Europe
Sarajevo, June 10, 2024 – A start-up competition held as part of the two-day Travel & Tourism Resilience & Innovation Summit last week drew innovative and entrepreneurial minds dedicated to addressing modern challenges in the travel and tourism sector to Sarajevo. Out of four companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region invited to pitch their ideas at the competition, Montenegrin startup Final Find emerged as the winner for its innovative app that helps hosts guide guests to their locations.
The Summit’s Start-up Competition targeted travel tech start-ups from Southeast Europe that are driving innovation in tourism with a focus on digital solutions, AI-driven ventures, and e-services. FinalFind from Montenegro, GemsAround from Moldova, as well as Sarajevo VRX Immersive Museum and ViaBalkanika from Bosnia and Herzegovina were invited to pitch their ideas before a 4-member jury made up of Finance in Motion Investment Manager Amra Omeragić, Amadeus Ventures Investment Manager Juan Chamarro Romeu, SABRE Corp EMEA Public Relations Sr. Principal Peter Melcher and Chemonics International Senior Vice President Tetyana Dudka.
“We received 12 outstanding applications from different countries in Southeast Europe and selected 4 to come and pitch during the Summit. They were all brilliant and absolutely inspiring. Unfortunately, we had the challenging task to agree on one, and we all agreed that Final Find is the winner today, but they are all winners, they all had outstanding and innovative ideas.” stated jury member Tetyana Dudka.
Final Find stood out among the competitors with its innovative approach to solving a common problem faced by the tourism sector. "Accommodation providers were spending an inordinate amount of time guiding guests to their locations,” explained Dražen Stojović, one of the founders of Final Find. “Our app aims to streamline this process, enhancing the visitor experience and freeing up valuable time for the hosts."
Final Find was awarded $10,000 for its winning idea, which it will use to develop the app, including adding functionalities for offline usage.
The Travel and Tourism Resilience & Innovation Summit, held on June 6-7, was co-organized by the US Government through the USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) project, the Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council and Travoluton, and attracted distinguished speakers and participants from around the world, all dedicated to discussing and developing strategies for the future of tourism.
The Summit aimed to “cultivate resilience, innovation, and inclusivity in the tourism sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond,“ said USAID Bosnia and Herzegovina Mission Director Courtney Chubb. “I am very excited to see the creative ideas that will come out of this summit that will help create prosperity, new jobs, and opportunity in the tourism sector while preserving and honoring local culture and communities.“
USAID Turizam is a five-year, $20 million project launched in 2020 to partner with BiH to tap into the vast potential of its tourism industry. Through this project, the U.S. government is strengthening the tourism sector workforce, improving access to finance for tourism businesses, developing innovative tourist products, harmonizing policies and regulations, and helping BiH build its international brand and promote BiH destinations to travelers all over the world.
The U.S. Agency for International Development is leading the U.S. Government's efforts to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies. To date, the U.S. Government, primarily through USAID, has provided $2 billion in assistance to support economic, democratic and social progress in BiH.
To learn more about the USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina project, please visit: https://www.usaid.gov/bosnia-and-herzegovina/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-developing-sustainable-tourism-turizam-bosnia-and-herzegovina