Opening of the Regional Innovation Startup Center in Vranje
On Friday, September 26, 2025, in the presence of numerous guests, representatives of institutions, industry, and the education sector, the Regional Innovation Startup Center (RISC) in Vranje was officially opened.
This new space serves as a meeting point for innovators, startups, and educational institutions, with the goal of strengthening the innovation potential of the southern region and creating a more supportive environment for the development of entrepreneurship and digital technologies.
As Innovation Factory, we had the pleasure of organizing a panel discussion within the program titled “Monetization Models in Startups, Creative Industries, and IT Services”, focused on one of the key questions for every young company: how to think about sustainable business and the right revenue model from the very beginning.
The panel was moderated by Tadej Kurepa, Program Director at Innovation Factory, and the speakers included:
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Ivona Pinjak, Ad Monetization Specialist at GameBiz Consulting, who spoke about properly setting up advertising and monetization models in the gaming industry;
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Aleksa Peruničić, founder of BoarVenturers, who highlighted the importance of a creative approach to business models and the courage to experiment;
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Jovana Nešić Ličanin, Co-founder and COO of SwiftyLabs, who shared her experience transitioning the company from outsourcing services to developing its own product and a B2B sales model;
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Dušan Krstić, founder of RoboShepherd, Koško, and Rentomat, who shared his entrepreneurial journey and emphasized the importance of motivation, innovation, and constant adaptation to the market.
The panel sparked a dynamic discussion on real-world challenges and monetization practices across various sectors—from creative industries to tech startups—and demonstrated how crucial knowledge, collaboration, and openness are for building sustainable, innovative businesses.
The opening of the RISC Center in Vranje represents an important step toward the balanced development of Serbia’s innovation ecosystem and strengthening support for entrepreneurs across all regions of the country.