At 1 000 metres above sea level and far from everyday distractions, SEE UP and EY turned a snowy weekend on Divčibare into a three-day masterclass in growth. The goal: connect our Cohort 1 startups with EY’s senior managers and sector experts, blend fresh entrepreneurial energy with decades of global advisory insight-and leave the mountain with sharper strategies and stronger networks.

Elevating the Partnership

SEE UP’s sales-first accelerator model meets EY’s worldwide expertise in finance, M&A, strategy and transactions. Together we’re building a bridge that helps founders move faster from early traction to investor-ready scale. The Divčibare retreat marked the first in a series of “experiential clinics” designed to take mentorship out of the boardroom and into an environment where conversations run deeper and ideas climb higher.

What Happened on the Mountain

Pitch Sessions with Purpose

Each of our four startups-LampoVet, Better & Better, Moree and Farmit—opened the weekend with a concise, data-driven pitch. EY’s audience listened not just as potential advisers but as real-world customers, partners and investors.

Round-Table Deep Dives

After the pitches, founders rotated through thematic tables-financial modelling, go-to-market, regulatory, IP strategy, marketing-staffed by EY specialists. Discussions were candid and tactical: how to structure cross-border sales, which KPIs unlock Series A interest, and when to spin up international entities.

One-on-One Clinics

EY mentors then paired with each startup for private sessions. Founders left with tailored action points, fresh industry contacts and follow-up sessions already booked.

Spotlight on the SEE UP Panel

The collaboration peaked again at the EY Startup Weekend, where SEE UP hosted an interesting panel. Teodora Pećanac, CMO of SEE UP, moderated a lively discussion with Ib Dyhr Norholm and Lukas Dyhr, principals of a Danish family office with more than 100 global investments. The duo shared why Southeast Europe is now on their investment radar, what makes emerging ecosystems attractive, and how founders can position themselves to capture international capital. The session drew a packed audience of entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers-and underscored EY’s and SEE UP’s joint commitment to opening new funding avenues for regional innovation.

The Road Ahead

The Divčibare retreat and EY Startup Weekend panel are only the first milestones in the SEE UP × EY alliance. Over the next period we’ll run follow-up workshops, and open EY’s international network to future SEE UP cohorts. If you’re an entrepreneur eager to tap into this combined force-or a corporate leader looking to plug into the region’s most promising startups-reach out. Together, we’re climbing higher than any one of us could alone.