From May 15–17, 2026, 116 YTILI Alumni from 41 countries across Europe gathered in Belgrade, Serbia to reconnect, exchange ideas, create new partnerships, and reflect on the incredible impact this program has had on our professional and personal journeys over the past decade.
Belgrade was carefully selected as the location for this important anniversary Summit not only because of Serbia’s growing role as a regional innovation and entrepreneurship hub, but also because of the existence of the American Resource Center (ARC) in Lozionica — an outstanding and inspiring venue that perfectly reflected the spirit of creativity, collaboration, and community that defines YTILI.
I was impressed by the facilities the ARC space had, several rooms, a big conference room that were suitable for our event and created a more engaging environment for our community, an inside Coffee Place, I noticed also the exhibition and the ambient music, all of which contributed to an engaging and energized space, especially considering how full the agenda was for our participants.
Throughout the three-day Summit, participants explored emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, venture capital, gaming, creative industries, and entrepreneurship while strengthening a network that continues to grow stronger with every YTILI generation.
The unique atmosphere of Lozionica and ARC created space not only for meaningful discussions and professional exchange, but also for genuine human connection, creativity, and reflection.
The Summit opened with welcoming remarks from Alexander Titolo, Charge d’affaires, U.S. Embassy, Belgrade and Mihailo Jovanović, PhD, Director of the Office for IT and eGovernment, Belgrade, highlighting the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and transatlantic cooperation in today’s rapidly changing world and on the eve of EXPO 2027 in Serbia.
Several Summit activities took place directly in the ARC space, including two highly engaging workshops that reflected the practical and peer-driven nature of the YTILI community. On Saturday, May 16, ARC hosted workshop on EdTech + AI, moderated by Dora Palfi Osika, Co-founder and CEO of Imagi and YTILI 2019 Alumna. This session explored the future of education technologies and the rapidly growing role of artificial intelligence in learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship. On Sunday, May 17, participants joined the workshop “The Scaling Struggles / Scale-up Masterclass” moderated by Isabel Bustos Pacheco, Co-founder and CEO of Atlas Marketing Studio and YTILI 2021 Alumna. The session created an open environment for entrepreneurs to discuss the realities of scaling businesses, exchange experiences, share challenges, and receive practical advice from peers who have successfully grown their companies.
Beyond business and innovation, the Summit also emphasized wellbeing, resilience, and mental health — values that are becoming increasingly important within entrepreneurial communities. A yoga session and a mental health discussion took place among the paintings and artistic installations dedicated to the “Freedom 250” concept, creating a unique atmosphere that connected creativity, reflection, and personal wellbeing with the broader themes of freedom, innovation, and community.
As President of the YTILI Alumni Board, I would like to express sincere gratitude to American Councils for International Education, the U.S. Department of State, the American Councils Serbia team, the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, all speakers and moderators, and especially every YTILI Alum who contributed their energy, expertise, and passion to making this Summit such a meaningful and inspiring experience.
The YTILI community continues to prove that entrepreneurship is not only about business — it is about leadership, resilience, collaboration, innovation, and the power of people-to-people connections across borders.
The spirit of YTILI is stronger than ever, and Belgrade reminded us that together we are building not only successful businesses, but also a stronger transatlantic community for the future.
Elena Cobianu,
President of YTILI Alumni Board,
Founder & Business Development Manager Ele-vate.eu, Romania
