About Stay and Thrive

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.

A space created for young people, dreamers, doers, and future changemakers who believe that building a life, career, or even a business right here in Kosovo is possible. Here, you’ll find inspiring stories from people who started small and grew big. You’ll also discover fresh ideas to spark your own journey, and insights that reveal just how much potential our country holds.

The project is led by Jeta Zagragja, CEO and Founder at AnchorzUp, and Dr. Aidan Hehir, Professor of International Relations at the University of Westminster, with support from the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS).

Mission

Inspire young people to stay in Kosovo and showcase the region’s exceptional entrepreneurial talent. Connect students with successful entrepreneurs, proving that thriving businesses and innovation are not just possible, but within reach in Kosovo.

Investigate, Impact, Inspire

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.

Our Purpose

Connect young people with entrepreneurs

Provide direct access to real-life examples, mentorship, and guidance, so students and aspiring professionals can see practical paths for starting a business or building a career in Kosovo

Provide actionable recommendations

Deliver research-based insights to policymakers and stakeholders that lead to better programs, policies, and opportunities for youth development.

Promote entrepreneurship as a viable career

Highlight proven strategies, success stories, and resources that make starting a business or professional career in Kosovo realistic, sustainable, and rewarding.