Case study: business acceleration programme, North Macedonia

In 2025, the Sasa Foundation launched a ‘business acceleration programme’ in North Macedonia to support local entrepreneurs in transforming business ideas into structured, investment-ready plans, alongside access to a pilot grant-funding scheme to help bring them to market.

From 27 applications submitted, 19 individual ideas were selected by an independent panel for development into business plans. The first training phase, delivered in H1 2025, covered five core modules: business ideation, business planning, financial planning, marketing and pitching. A total of 18 participants took part in practical workshops delivered by four experienced trainers. 

The second phase focused on one-to-one mentorship. A team of six mentors provided targeted support in pitch preparation, ahead of business plan presentations to an independent jury responsible for grant selection.

Through a combination of structured training, expert mentorship and performance-based funding, the programme aims to support economic diversification in communities connected with the mine, helping to build sustainable businesses that can contribute to long-term resilience beyond the life of mining operations.