Retaining Youth Through Business and Culture
Stay and Thrive is a project focused on Kosovo’s youth and entrepreneurship. Its goal is to provide insights, highlight opportunities, and support young people in building careers and businesses in Kosovo.
The project is led by founding organizations and research partners, with support from KFOS – Kosovo Foundation for Open Society and stakeholders who are committed to creating opportunities for Kosovo’s youth.
Investigate, Impact, Inspire
Stay and Thrive connects students with successful entrepreneurs, proving that thriving businesses and innovation are possible and are within reach in Kosovo.
Investigate
We analyzed why young people decide to stay or leave Kosovo and the challenges faced by local business and cultural entrepreneurs. Key findings include:
- 33.4% of young people who had emigrated in early 2024 expressed a desire to return.
- Kosovo’s unemployment rate dropped 15.1%, the largest decline in the region.
- GDP growth exceeded the regional average.
Impact
Based on these findings, we developed recommendations for the government and key stakeholders. These focus on creating high-quality local opportunities, improving infrastructure, and fostering an environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.
Inspire
We highlight success stories of entrepreneurs who started small and built thriving businesses in Kosovo. These examples show that local opportunities exist and can be leveraged by the next generation of young professionals.
Your Space to Dream, Build, and Grow
Through our research, we discovered inspiring stories from individuals who began small and achieved significant growth.
You’ll also discover fresh ideas to spark your own journey, and insights that reveal just how much potential our country holds.
Blendrit Elezaj - Co-founder and Managing Partner at Tactica
Blendrit is the founder and managing force behind a portfolio of three companies: Tactica, a results-driven digital marketing agency transforming U.S. and international brands through data and strategy
Why Stay and Build Your Future in Kosovo
Kosovo is growing faster than the regional average
Rising prosperity:
Steady progress in GDP
GDP per capita reached €6,497 in 2024, about 50% higher than in 2008, showing steady progress toward regional peers.
Growing Investment:
Direct investments are rising
Direct investments in Kosovo reached €90.96 million by January 2025, up 12.2% from the same period last year.
Affordable Living:
The most affordable in the region
Consumer prices are 31.7% lower than in Serbia and 23.2% lower than in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The potential for startups and innovation is real. Young people are already returning, and 33.4% of young people who emigrated in the first half of 2024 expressed a desire to return to Kosovo.
Kosovo is becoming a place where your ideas can grow, your career can take off, and your future can thrive right at home.
Featured Activities
Activities that brought fresh perspectives and bold ideas to strengthen opportunities for young people in Kosovo.