USAID withholds aid from Serbian startups

The decision of the US State Department to withhold funds for almost all aid abroad as of January 24 will have serious consequences for the Serbian startup ecosystem.

USAID, which has supported domestic innovation and entrepreneurship for years, will no longer finance programs such as “Srbija inovira” and “Preduzmi ideju”, which were important for the development of technological startups in Serbia. According to data from 2023, USAID invested USD 23 million in the development of Serbian entrepreneurship.

On January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the provision of development aid abroad for 90 days, which includes funds intended for technological and entrepreneurial initiatives in Serbia. According to this decision, all existing programs can only continue with the funds already available, while future funding is suspended until further notice.