StartUP Lab: U.S.-Albania Economic Leadership & Innovation Exchange

About this funding opportunity

1. Project Background, Goals, and Objectives

American Corners in Albania have a consistent record of delivering youth entrepreneurship and economic advancement programming, from English language courses designed to build employability, to coding and tech skills bootcamps, to structured entrepreneurship incubators - each iteration reaching more participants year after year, expanding through all three Corners, and generating measurable results, including participants who have gone on to launch their own registered businesses. Most recently, American Corner Tirana hosted the launch of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania Young Entrepreneurship and Innovation Committee, furthering the Corner’s role as a hub for U.S.-Albania business engagement. Taken together, this programming has demonstrated that structured, mentorship-driven engagement at American Corners works and is undoubtably well received by audiences. It has also revealed a clear gap: participants need longer-term engagement, direct connections to U.S. business networks, and concrete pathways to launch, not just develop, their ideas.

StartUP Lab aims to be a direct response to that gap. Building on years of proven programming, it deepens the model with a full 12-month curriculum, direct mentorship from U.S. companies and experts, and a National StartUP Challenge that rewards the most promising ideas with seed funding, creating a commercial network that favors American partnerships, opens Albanian markets to U.S. goods and services, and reinforces the credibility of the United States as a reliable partner whose leadership delivers tangible results.

Project Audience: Each American Corner serves as a city-based incubator hub for 20-25 entrepreneurs ages 18-40 (60-75 total participants) who have concrete startup ideas ready for development.

Project Goal: Strengthen U.S.-Albania economic ties by transforming American Corners in Albania into entrepreneurship hubs that equip Albanian entrepreneurs with American business expertise, standards, and commercial networks, opening Albanian markets to U.S. goods, services, and partnerships.

Project Objectives: Proposals should present clear and measurable approaches to transforming American Corners in Albania into startup incubators that serve as launchpads for U.S. commercial excellence. At a minimum, projects must address the following objectives:

· Objective 1, Position American Corners as hubs for U.S. innovation and entrepreneurship by delivering one in-person workshop per month per Corner and one hybrid cross-Corner session per month to reinforce workshop learning, with at least 60 entrepreneurs completing the full 12-month incubator program.

· Objective 2, Strengthen U.S.-Albania economic ties and market access by connecting participants with at least 10 U.S. business leaders, experts, and exchange alumni through structured mentorship and hybrid cross-Corner sessions, throughout the program duration.

· Objective 3, Launch at least six market-ready National StartUP Challenge finalists, with at least three receiving seed funding to launch businesses that prioritize U.S. technology and partnerships within one year of program completion.

Topic areas: Social Innovation and Community Development, Education and Training, Workforce Development, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Funding amount

This cooperative agreement provides $10K-$53K in funding, up to $53K per award.

Deadline

Applications are due Aug 20, 2026. Confirm the exact closing time on the official program page before applying.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Other
• Individuals
• NGOs

Eligibility

1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations are eligible to apply: • Not-for-profit U.S. and Albanian organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations • U.S. and Albanian Individuals For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal. For more information on the difference between sub-contract and sub-recipient, please refer to 2 CFR 200.331. 1. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required for this funding opportunity. 2. Other Eligibility Requirements All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section E.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. This opportunity will not support: • Projects relating to partisan political activity; • Charitable or development activities; including direct social services such as medical, psychological, and/or humanitarian support • Construction projects; • Projects that support specific religious activities; • Fund-raising campaigns; • Lobbying for specific legislation or programs • Scientific research or surveys; • Commercial projects; • Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; • Projects that duplicate existing projects; or • Illegal activities

Agency

StartUP Lab: U.S.-Albania Economic Leadership & Innovation Exchange is administered by U.S. Mission to Albania (ALB), listed via Grants.gov.