Tirana Slush'D, the first event of its kind in Albania, brought together high-ranking government officials and company leaders at the Pyramid of Tirana to support young entrepreneurs and the startup ecosystem.

Inspired by the well-known 'Slush' format, this event received strong support from BALFIN Group and focused entirely on the importance of innovation in business.

Among the speakers, Samir Mane, President of BALFIN Group, described innovation as an essential philosophy for every entrepreneur, driven by the courage to take risks. 'It’s important to have a bold mindset. If I hadn’t taken risks, the BALFIN Group wouldn’t be here today,' Mane emphasized.

Tirana Slush'D showcased 10 startups, and 4 were awarded for their outstanding innovation.

The jury responsible for the awards included: Peter Vesterbacka, the founder of Slush'D and developer of the mobile game 'Angry Birds'; Edlira Muka, Chief Executive Officer of  BALFIN Group; Grant Van Cleeve, President of the American Chamber of Commerce; Ardian Hoxha, President of the KFSEE Chapter; Sokol Duma, Deputy Minister of Culture, Economy, and Innovation; and Michael Csonga, General Partner at 'Zero One Hundred VC'.

‘Bliss’, the first online therapy platform in Albania for mental health issues, was one of the winning initiatives. Its creators, thanks to support from the Finnish Embassy and BALFIN Group, will have the opportunity to travel to Finland to present their product to foreign investors.

Another winning initiative was 'Garazhi,' which aims to transform the vehicle market in Albania and the Balkans. 'Garazhi' will receive a loan of €100,000 from Tirana Bank, part of  BALFIN Group, to develop its activities.