In Belgrade, 12 of Serbia's most promising teams presented their innovative solutions aimed at addressing social and economic challenges at the first Marc Impact national event, held at the American Resource Center.

A panel of experts from the finance, business development, and social impact sectors selected two winning teams, Ride & Stride and NRG Čačak, to represent Serbia at the regional level.

Ride & Stride, a B2B app for monitoring work commutes with leaderboards and eco-rewards, which directly contributes to reducing CO2 emissions and making sustainability part of daily employee routines, took first place. NRG Čačak, second place, offers certified hazardous waste management services, inclusive employment, community education, and e-waste collection programs.

Over the past six months, all 12 teams had the opportunity to work directly with mentors who helped strengthen their business ideas and develop sustainable business models. The national winners will present their innovative ideas to an international panel of investors at the Re:Marc event in Budapest on June 18. The best contestants at the regional level will compete for a financial grant of between €15,000 and €20,000.

- “The quality of the solutions we've seen today confirms that local innovators are keeping up with global trends. Participants in the Marc Impact program are not just focusing on profit, but creating sustainable business models that enhance our local communities,” said the Association for Cultural Affirmation (ASK), which is implementing this program in Serbia.

In addition to the winners, projects addressing sustainable production, new technologies, and innovative employment models for hard-to-employ groups were presented.

The Marc Impact Program is an international initiative aimed at strengthening the capacity and financial sustainability of impact businesses. The program is implemented in several countries in Central and Eastern Europe, with support from international and local partners, including ERSTE Foundation, Erste Social Finance Holding, IFUA Nonprofit Partner, and SIMPACT. The program's organizer in Serbia is the Association for Cultural Affirmation (ASK).