[Владимир Петровић]

First Start Tel Aviv Competition in Serbia at the Royal Palace for most innovative young Serbian companies

Belgrade, 3 July 2014 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted “Start Tel Aviv” event at the Royal Palace today. This competition was organized together with Embassy of Israel in Belgrade, and HE Mr Yosef Levy, Ambassador of Israel to Serbia welcomed the participants together with HRH Crown Prince Alexander II.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II welcomed guests and said: “It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to host Start Tel Aviv competition at the Royal Palace and to offer our teams the chance to go to Tel Aviv, second biggest startup capital in the world. My Foundation and Royal Council for entrepreneurship think highly of this cooperation with the Embassy of Israel in Serbia. We hope that we will through this, but hopefully many other joint projects help Serbia increase innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives through the experiences and knowledge of a true startup nation.”

HE Mr Yosef Levy, Ambassador of Israel to Serbia said: “There are lot of similarities between Israel and Serbia. We are small countries with an extraordinary history, full of inspiration and hope, but our greatest treasure are young people who create a future. Israel has recognised that and we invest in young generations for decades, because of their creativity and courage are the secrets of success.”

“Start Tel Aviv” this year will gather competitors from 17 major cities, and Belgrade will join London, Berlin, Dublin, New Delhi, Helsinki, Oslo and other cities. More than 20 startup companies from Serbia applied with creative projects from web design, mobile communications, and security. Four members committee of Hagai Arbel, General Manager of Veriest Venture, Israel, David Scoch from Serbian Private Equity Association (SPEA), Itaj Milner, deputy ambassador of Israel and representative of Serbian Business Angels Network (SBAN) have chosen the contestants, and COFA games will go to Tel Aviv.