Organization · Nonprofit Ecosystem Builder
Yunus Social Business Balkans
Yunus Social Business Balkans supports social entrepreneurship initiatives in the Western Balkans, aiming to address social issues through impactful business solutions. Founded by Nobel Laureate Prof. Yunus and others, it has been active since 2012.
Overview
What Yunus Social Business Balkans does
What Yunus Social Business Balkans is
Yunus Social Business Balkans supports social entrepreneurship initiatives in the Western Balkans, aiming to address social issues through impactful business solutions. Founded by Nobel Laureate Prof. Yunus and others, it has been active since 2012.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Nonprofit Ecosystem Builder
- Founded
- Founded in 2012
- Approximate age
- About 14 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community
- Last reviewed
- March 16, 2026
Official channels
Find Yunus Social Business Balkans elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Yunus Social Business Balkans as a funder
Investment thesis
YSB Balkans aims to empower entrepreneurs to create positive social change through various support mechanisms.
Focus narrative
YSB Balkans supports social and impact entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans through various services, including incubation and acceleration programs, investment readiness programs, coaching, and mentoring. The organization also facilitates access to financing for social and impact-oriented startups and works to develop an enabling entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region.
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Growth Equity
- Regions
- EuropeWestern Europe
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Not published
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 450
Portfolio context
YSB Balkans has supported over 450 startups with incubation, acceleration, and business development services. It has facilitated access to pre-seed, seed, and growth financing for more than 80 startups, contributing to the creation or sustenance of over 600 jobs in Albania and other Western Balkan countries.
Capability profile
Yunus Social Business Balkans as a community
Community overview
Yunus Social Business Balkans (YSB Balkans) is an organization co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus. Established in June 2012 as a social business development project in Albania, it was formally registered as an NGO in February 2013. Headquartered in Tirana, Albania, YSB Balkans has expanded its operations to cover six non-EU Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The organization aims to empower entrepreneurs to create positive social change through various support mechanisms.
Community focus
YSB Balkans focuses on supporting social and impact entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans. Its services include designing and implementing social/impact entrepreneurship inspiration and awareness campaigns, running incubation and acceleration programs, providing investment readiness programs, offering coaching and mentoring, facilitating access to financing for social and impact-oriented startups, and supporting the development of an enabling entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region.
Member value
Members benefit from access to incubation, acceleration, and business development services, as well as coaching and mentoring tailored to social and impact entrepreneurs. YSB Balkans also facilitates access to financing, helping startups become investment-ready and connect with potential investors.
Membership
- Recorded members
- 450
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- bootcamp and community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Growth Equity
- Regions
- EuropeWestern Europe
Community activity
Events and activity
YSB Balkans organizes various events, including the 'Hapide - Startup BootCamp' aimed at young entrepreneurs, held in multiple locations, and the 'Grow Popri EUSAIR Youth', a national business idea competition for youth culminating in an international competition.
Notable members
The organization has a dedicated team including co-founder and CEO Shkelzen Marku, Program Manager Sonila Necaj, Admin & Finance Manager Lindjela Begolli, and Marketing Manager Sonila Marku.
Common questions
What to know about Yunus Social Business Balkans
Upseed classifies Yunus Social Business Balkans under the Nonprofit Ecosystem Builder organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 16, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.