Nature Returns and Connectology have just completed the 4th Academy for Entrepreneurs in Tetovo, North Macedonia, gathering 8 teams of local entrepreneurs who presented their ideas to develop businesses that could have a positive impact on the conservation and management of the Shar Mountain National Park.
Coordinated by Connectology through Vladyslav Saviak and Igor Matzov together with Nature Returns and local invited speakers, this academy was aimed to support the teams of entrepreneurs that presented valuable business ideas. The academy took place from September 23 to 25, 2025, in the city of Tetovo, and offered participants practical knowledge in entrepreneurship, pitch development, and funding frameworks. We expect now these entrepreneurs to deliver their final business proposals by the end of October, paving the way for their eventual business launches
Part of a transboundary protected area shared with Kosovo and Albania, this is the largest park in North Macedonia and combines spectacular mountain landscapes, lakes, river valleys, and forests, with many peaks above 2000m of elevation. Lynx, several bat species, chamois, and Egyptian vultures represent part of the large list of species in this area.
Main threats to this amazing and young National Park are related to disturbance by unregulated access and activities, to forest fires, waste, and collection of plants and fruits in the woods. The businesses ideas presented intend to tackle those threats by planting the plants for producing the local mountain tea; by producing pellets from the wood debris in the forests; and by developing and regulating tourism activities in a way that the rules of the park are respected (e-bikes, stargazing tours, establishing a via ferrata, organising summer schools or launching a web platform where the operators that follow a code of conduct can be promoted).
We now look forward to seeing these ideas to be presented as final business plans to be supported by Nature Returns’ incubation grants, helping the Shar Mountain remain a living example of how people and nature can thrive together.
