A Conversation on Innovation, Global Experience, and Building the SEE Startup Ecosystem

We’re pleased to share that Dušan Obradović, General Manager of SEE UP Accelerator and founder of Bold International Group, was recently featured on the Startup Generator podcast, hosted by Andrea Mladin. The episode, titled “From Global Experience and Personal Innovation to SEE UP Accelerator”, explores Dušan’s diverse professional journey and the broader vision behind launching SEE UP — the first private startup accelerator in Southeast Europe.

With a background in political science and early experience in public sector leadership roles, Dušan made a significant career pivot by joining Alibaba Group in Southeast Asia, where he spent over three years as a regional risk manager. This international exposure and hands-on involvement in one of the world’s most dynamic digital ecosystems shaped his approach to innovation and entrepreneurship.

Upon returning to the region, Dušan founded Bold International Group, a venture studio that has since developed and launched multiple startups in the fields of pet tech, health, and consumer innovation. The studio has become known for building companies from the ground up — from product development to market entry — with a strong emphasis on commercial viability and early-stage traction.

Today, through SEE UP Accelerator, Dušan is applying this experience to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs across Southeast Europe. SEE UP supports market-validated startups in industries including Pet, FMCG, Biotech, Health, and FinTech, providing capital, hands-on mentorship, and access to a growing regional and international investor network.

The podcast episode dives deep into the challenges of building meaningful ventures in emerging markets, the importance of timing and strategic partnerships, and why now is a critical moment for the SEE region to strengthen its innovation infrastructure.

You can listen to the full episode here: