With support from the EU and Germany, University SSST launches the FutureMinds Lab Youth Entrepreneurship Academy for 100 high school students.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Academy (YEA), an innovative educational programme gathering 100 students from 10 high schools in Sarajevo Canton, has been officially launched at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST). This unique initiative guides young people through a five-month process of developing entrepreneurial skills, teamwork, innovative thinking, and creating concrete business solutions.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Academy is part of the FutureMinds Lab project, implemented within the Private Sector Development Initiative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The activities build on previous achievements and the University’s involvement in the Digital Innovation Hub its4health.
The aim of the FutureMinds Lab project is to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in BiH by connecting young talents, researchers, industry, and the start-up community, with a special focus on digital and green transition, as well as the development of entrepreneurial and innovation skills.

Led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nedim Čelebić, the lead expert of the FutureMinds Lab project, the module offered high school students an introduction to the world of entrepreneurship. Through an opening lecture on what it means to be an entrepreneur in today’s society, the different forms of entrepreneurial activity, and the traits that shape an entrepreneurial mindset, students learned how ideas evolve, what drives young entrepreneurs, how to identify opportunities, and how to turn personal strengths into ideas with development potential.
This very moment—discovering one’s own entrepreneurial potential—represents the core mission of the Academy, which empowers young people in BiH to think differently, act boldly, and build a new generation of innovators.

Inspiring guests whose messages resonated strongly with the youth

The first module gained a special dimension thanks to inspiring guest speakers, whose authentic experiences conveyed lessons no textbook can teach—showing that courage, perseverance, and consistency can push personal boundaries.
EduTech Desk, last year’s Academy winners and high school students at the time, now run a registered startup. Their story offered students a powerful, tangible example that success is not reserved for “other people” from “some other countries”—but can be created right here in Bosnia and Herzegovina when young people are given the opportunity and the right encouragement.
This perspective was further enriched by Armin Durmišević, founder and CEO of e387, known for producing the first Bosnian charging stations for electric vehicles. Durmišević spoke about the challenges behind every major idea, the failures that shape character, the lessons that move us forward, and the small victories that reaffirm the purpose of perseverance.
The module concluded with Tomislav Cvitanušić, Bosnian Ironman, triathlete, and alpinist, who demonstrated—through his own example—that believing in oneself and stepping outside one’s comfort zone form the foundation of every great achievement. Together, their experiences and messages created an atmosphere that perfectly set the tone, motivation, and mindset that will guide students throughout the entire five-month Academy journey.

Five months of learning, growth, and creation

In the coming months, the Academy will guide students through all key phases of developing a business idea—from identifying a problem, researching users, and shaping solutions to creating a business model, financial plan, and final pitch before a jury.
The programme includes five modules, mentorship from industry and academic experts, and practical project work, creating an environment that encourages responsibility, creativity, and innovation.

FutureMinds Lab continues its mission of shaping a generation of young people who will build a digital, innovative, and sustainable economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.