There is a huge gap of early-stage funding in the SEE region, which limits founders to grow fast beyond their local/regional borders.
60% of SEE startups want to scale to the US, but lack support for market access and funding.
Cultural differences, high legal costs and lack of local presence and local network pose challenge with scaling in the US.
Backed by SEE's Leading Ecosystem Players and US Institutions
Scale SEE is supported by a network of 20+ VCs, Accelerators and Institutions committed to identifying and elevating exceptional startups ready for global impact.
Strategic connections with major regional corporations creating partnership and customer opportunities in the region.
Core Growth Partnership Benefits
Top US Growth Operators – Match up with vetted Growth Operators who have scaled multiple startups to $50M+ revenue, working hands-on with your team for 12 months to drive explosive growth.
US Market Acceleration – Personalized US entry strategy, warm introductions to customers, partners, and top SV Investors alongside tactical execution support that compresses years of market development into months.
Performance-Aligned Partnership – Operators earn equity and revenue share only when they deliver results, creating perfect alignment and eliminating risk associated with expansion efforts.
Core Growth Scale SEE Ecosystem Advantages:
Startup Perks Package – Exclusive discounts on essential business tools including Notion, Pipedrive, HubSpot, AWS credits, Stripe credits, and more, saving you thousands in operational costs.
Investor Access – Curated introductions to relevant investors from our extensive network, timed strategically to align with your growth milestones and funding needs.
Corporate Matchmaking – Strategic connections with major regional corporations including OTP Bank, Raiffeisen International Bank, American Chamber of Commerce, and others, creating partnership and customer opportunities in the region.
Your Path to Selection
Apply for the program
Applications will remain open for 5 weeks. The application process takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Open Office Hours
Several growth sessions with our experts open to all ambitious B2B founders until the applications are over.
Selecting top 10 startups
By the end of June, we will select the top 10 startups that will go to the next phase - immersion week in Belgrade.
Immersion Week
First week of September in Belgrade workshops and 1:1 sessions to build your US market strategy.
Top 3 selected startups
The top 3 startups that perform the best under pressure, will sign a Growth Partnership with our experts for the next 12 months.
Apply Now
Our growth experts represent the elite of US entrepreneurial talent—founders, operators, and advisors who have built, scaled, and exited multiple 7 and 8 figure ventures. They don't just teach growth; they execute it.
David F. Calabrese
With more than 20 years of experience and several multi-figure businesses, David has also led growth teams at STRV and Marketo (acquired by Adobe), developing customer acquisition engines that scale predictably and efficiently. As a mentor for top SV scaleups, he provides SEE founders with access to cutting-edge Silicon Valley growth methodologies typically reserved for elite Bay Area companies.
"The US market rewards velocity. My focus is helping founders build growth machines that can rapidly acquire and monetize customers while maintaining unit economics."
Chuck Sacco, MBA
With over 40 years of experience and three successful startup exits (one of them going to IPO), including the sales of enterprise software and mobile app companies, Chuck brings unparalleled expertise in business development and strategic positioning.
Currently, as Vice Dean at Drexel University's School of Entrepreneurship, he has guided hundreds of founders through critical growth phases while maintaining an active presence as an innovation ecosystem builder and as a LP investor in several VC funds.
"I look for founders who understand that expansion isn't just about revenue growth—it's about building sustainable, investment-ready businesses with clear paths to liquidity."
Aron Starosta, PhD
With more than 30 years of experience spanning sales, fundraising, and international expansion, Aron is the architect behind numerous cross-border success stories. Aron has built over 30 accelerator programs across 4 continents, and successfully guided startups through US market entry as Head of US Operations with more than 100 companies.
As Managing Partner at Evotx Consulting, Aron has developed a systematic approach to EU-US market entry that minimizes risk while maximizing speed to market.
"The difference between success and failure in US expansion isn't just strategy—it's execution. We provide both the roadmap and the vehicle to get you there."
12 Months to Transform Your Trajectory
If you are one of the 2-3 exceptional startups that get selected, you get:
Dedicated US growth expert working 10-15 hours weekly with your team
Direct US market entry strategy and execution support
Access to expert’s network of customers, partners, and investors
Every contract with a Growth Expert is individually negotiated by each startup.
Reduced monthly fees - as a show of commitment from the startup
Performance-based compensation - 1% of equity and 5-10% revenue share per €1M ARR added over the next 12 months (you negotiate this with the Experts)
Accelerator fee - 1% in vesting equity - only if partnership is successful after 12 months
Equity-back Guarantee - If at any point your partnership is terminated with the Growth Expert, either due to your internal challenges with growth, or a mismatch with the expert, you retain all of the equity
This isn't consultancy—it's a true partnership where we succeed only when you succeed!
The Bar is High—By Design
We're looking for B2B startups from SEE region that have already proven their worth:
At least €250K+ in annual recurring revenue
Product-market fit established
Initial funding secured OR have sufficient runway for US expansion
Clear differentiation and competitive advantage over US competition
Full-time founding team with exceptional execution ability
Readiness to commit resources to US market entry, and legal entity formation in US
If you meet these criteria, you've got what it takes to apply. If not, we recommend focusing on achieving these milestones before seeking US expansion with us or anyone else.
Apply now
The journey begins with our open office hours, where you'll gain valuable US market insights while our experts identify promising candidates for the next stage. Only truly exceptional startups will advance to our immersion week and performance partnership.
Are you ready to be among them?
⏰ Applications are open until 30th of May
Powered by Furtherance Network
Scale SEE is organised by Furtherance Network Venture Studio from Belgrade through the YTILI initiative supported by the US State Dept and American Councils. The Furtherance team consists of seasoned professionals in the startup and IT ecosystem of the Balkans.
Started in 2020, and worked with more than 50 startups on Sales and Fundraising activities, and helped raise more than 5M EUR, and close multiple Enterprise Seven-figure deals.
Scale SEE is designed for B2B startups from Southeast Europe with at least €250K in annual recurring revenue, established product-market fit in their home market, and a clear rationale for US expansion. Eligible companies should have a full-time founding team, a scalable technology product, and sufficient runway to invest in US market entry. We focus specifically on B2B companies with proven traction that are ready to scale beyond regional limitations.
While our performance partnerships are designed for companies with €250K+ ARR, we encourage earlier-stage startups to participate in our open office hours. These sessions provide valuable insights about US market entry and growth strategies that can help you reach the eligibility threshold. Our goal is to support the entire SEE ecosystem, and open office hours are our way of providing value to founders at all stages while identifying high-potential companies for future cohorts.
The immersion week is an intensive 5-day program in Belgrade where our US experts work closely with several selected startups. The week includes workshops on US market strategy, one-on-one coaching sessions, group activities, and final pitch presentations. It serves two purposes: providing valuable growth insights to all participants and allowing our experts to evaluate which 2-3 companies they'll select for the 12-month performance partnerships. All travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of participating startups.
Our performance-based model aligns incentives between your startup and our growth experts. Selected companies will work with a dedicated US expert for 12 months, with the expert receiving compensation tied directly to results: 1-3% equity and 5-10% revenue share for each €1M in ARR added during the partnership. This structure ensures our experts are fully committed to your success, as they only win when you win. A modest monthly retainer of $2,000-3000 covers basic engagement costs.
The formal partnership concludes after 12 months, but the relationship typically continues in various forms. Our growth experts often transition to ongoing advisory roles, and many choose to make additional personal investments in their partner companies. The equity component ensures our experts remain aligned with your long-term success well beyond the initial engagement. Additionally, all program graduates join our alumni network, gaining access to continued support, introductions, and community resources.
While attendance at open office hours is not mandatory for consideration, it's highly recommended. These sessions provide valuable insights about US market entry and allow our experts to identify promising candidates for further engagement. Companies that actively participate in office hours have a higher likelihood of being invited to subsequent stages of the selection process. However, exceptional startups can still apply directly or be referred by our partner network.
Time commitments vary by program stage. Open office hours require 1-2 hours every other week. If invited to 1:1 expert sessions, expect 2-3 hours of preparation and a 1 hour meeting. The immersion week requires full-time commitment for 5 days in Belgrade. Finally, the 2-3 selected companies should be prepared for 8-10 hours weekly of direct collaboration with their growth expert during the 12-month partnership.
Scale SEE differs from traditional accelerators in three key ways: 1) Our performance-based model ties expert compensation directly to your results, ensuring perfect alignment of interests; 2) We focus exclusively on US market expansion for B2B companies, with experts who have specific experience scaling companies across borders; and 3) Instead of short-term mentorship, we provide 12 months of hands-on execution support from dedicated growth experts who work directly with your team. We're not just advisors—we're execution partners.
Our model primarily rewards growth in US market Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), with experts receiving 1-3% equity and 5-10% revenue share for each €1M in new ARR added. Additional performance metrics include new US customer acquisition, sales pipeline growth, conversion rates, and customer acquisition costs. All KPIs are formalized at the start with quarterly reviews to track progress and ensure transparency.
Yes, we have the equity-guarantee clause in the contract. We have formal reviews at months 3, 6, and 9 where both parties evaluate progress against KPIs. If targets are consistently missed, there's a 30-day improvement period, after which either party can initiate termination. Any vested equity based on achieved results remains with the expert, while future vesting stops immediately. We approach these situations pragmatically, as forced partnerships don't benefit anyone. The 1% vesting fee that the accelerator takes will only be vested if the whole 12 months have been successfully completed.
Our experts provide comprehensive support including: direct customer and partner introductions, sales material development, contacts on US entity formation and banking setup, US hiring strategy and talent acquisition, marketing and positioning for US audiences, and PR/media relationship development. While our experts provide strategic guidance across all areas, specialized services (legal, accounting) are handled through our network of trusted providers at preferential rates.
Fundraising during the partnership is often a positive outcome that our experts can actively support. The agreement includes standard anti-dilution provisions through the first post-partnership financing round. Our experts can help prepare investment materials, provide investor introductions, and participate in presentations. Most investors view our performance-based model positively as it demonstrates commitment to US market execution with aligned incentives.
Beyond the core growth partnership, Scale SEE provides participants with a comprehensive perks package including significant discounts on essential business tools like Notion, Pipedrive, HubSpot, as well as valuable AWS and Stripe credits that can save thousands in operational costs. Additionally, our team facilitates strategic introductions to relevant investors from our extensive network and corporate matchmaking with major regional institutions like OTP Bank, Raiffeisen International Bank, and the American Chamber of Commerce. These connections can lead to valuable partnerships, pilot projects, and enterprise customer relationships to accelerate your growth both regionally and in the US market.