StartUP Lab: U.S.-Albania Economic Leadership & Innovation Exchange
🏛 U.S. Mission to Albania (DOS-ALB)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 20, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for nonprofit organizations and individuals working on U.S.-Albania economic leadership and entrepreneurship exchange. Eligible applicants include U.S. and Albanian nonprofits, think tanks, civil society organizations, and individuals. For-profit entities cannot apply. Organizations must obtain a UEI and register in SAM.gov; individuals do not need these.
The program supports 12-month entrepreneurship incubator activities, mentorship-driven business development, and startup challenges. It does not fund partisan political activity, direct social services, construction, religious activities, or fundraising.
All projects must focus on transforming American Corners in Albania into startup hubs serving 60-75 Albanian entrepreneurs ages 18-40 with business expertise and commercial networks.
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Program description
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.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (addressing all three objectives)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational capacity and experience documentation
- Letters of commitment from U.S. business mentors and partners
- SAM.gov registration confirmation (for organizations)
Program contact
- 👤 Ilva Cuko Program Assistant
- 📧 tiranapdresources@state.gov
- 📞 00355684036853
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.441 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,360,000
-
$414,331
-
$347,000
-
$288,916
-
$258,620
-
$200,000
-
$199,832
-
$194,970
-
$183,443
-
$168,958
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.441). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $11,879,653 | |
| 2025 | $5,155,325 | |
| 2026 est. | $5,155,325 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
U.S. and Albanian nonprofits, think tanks, civil society organizations, and individuals can apply. For-profit entities cannot apply. Only one nonprofit organization can be the prime recipient.
Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required for this funding opportunity.
What does the program support?
Projects must establish 12-month entrepreneurship incubator programs at American Corners in Albania. Activities include monthly workshops, mentorship from U.S. business leaders, and a startup challenge with seed funding.
How much funding is available?
Award amounts range from $10,000 to $53,400. The total funding pool is $53,400.
What are the key eligibility requirements?
Organizations must have a UEI and be registered in SAM.gov. Projects cannot support partisan politics, direct social services, construction, religious activities, or fundraising.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build your team with both U.S. and Albanian partners. Strong bilateral partnerships strengthen competitiveness.
- Clarify how you will recruit and support 60-75 entrepreneurs over 12 months. Include realistic pipeline strategies.
- Secure commitments from at least 10 U.S. business mentors and leaders before submitting. List them by name and expertise.
- Design measurable outcomes for each objective. Track participant progression, business launches, and seed funding awards.
- Emphasize how your project creates pathways to U.S. market access and technology partnerships for Albanian startups.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to secure written commitments from U.S. business mentors before application submission weakens competitiveness. Underestimating the operational complexity of managing three Corner sites across a 12-month program leads to unrealistic budgets and timelines. Not demonstrating prior experience with youth entrepreneurship or American Corner programming raises red flags for reviewers.
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