an acceleration programme launched for innovative financial solutions for urban transformation in the Western Balkans.
Description
BOOST: Urban Future Finance (UFF) is a regional acceleration programme powered by UNDP Europe and Central Asia and implemented with the support of SocialTech Lab, designed to identify, accelerate, and scale innovative financing solutions for urban development.
The programme responds to persistent urban finance challenges across the Western Balkans—such as limited municipal budgets, regulatory constraints, and low investor engagement—by supporting mission-driven innovators using digital technologies, civic tech, blockchain, AI, and new governance models.
BOOST UFF brought together startups, social enterprises, municipalities, non-profits, and academic institutions from six countries to strengthen their solutions through structured acceleration, expert mentorship, and direct engagement with cities, investors, and public institutions. The programme culminated in a regional Demo Day, where leading solutions pitched to UNDP, cities, and investors. Three standout ventures were awarded for their innovative approaches to urban finance, civic engagement, and green transition.
Structure of the Programme
- Regional open call selecting up to 20 innovative urban finance solutions from the Western Balkans
- Four-week BOOSTCamp in Montenegro, including an in-person immersive bootcamp hosted in the region
- Capacity-building workshops on impact measurement, business models, digital transformation, and innovative finance
- Expert-led mentorship delivered by UNDP, SocialTech Lab, and international practitioners
- Peer-to-peer learning, pitch training, and ecosystem networking with cities, investors, and policy actors
- Demo Day showcasing solutions to UNDP, municipalities, and potential investors
Programme Impact
Accelerated 19 innovative
finance solutions addressing urban challenges across 6 Western Balkan countries
Strengthened participants’ capacity to
design scalable, financially viable, and impact-driven solutions for cities
Enabled practical applications
of emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, and civic tech in urban finance
Awarded three winning ventures
with USD 10,000 each to further scale solutions in participatory budgeting, civic engagement, and clean energy adoption
Fostered cross-sector collaboration between
startups, municipalities, civil society, investors, and international organizations across the sector.
Contributed to a growing regional ecosystem
advancing sustainable, inclusive, and digitally enabled urban transformation
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