Driving media innovation: How the Validation Booster helps creators validate and grow their ideas
The Validation Booster is a six-month acceleration programme designed to help media organisations, initiatives, and individual content creators validate and refine their business ideas. Through funding opportunities, mentorship, peer-to-peer learning, and hands-on training, the programme has built a strong foundation for innovation across the Western Balkans and wider Europe.
The Validation Booster supported 42 innovative initiatives through three projects.
During 2024, 25 ideas were supported as part of the Western Balkans Media for Change project. Among them, Iva Parađanin, founder of the Serbian podcast Tampon Zona, which covers women’s rights and feminism, gained critical insights during market research. Initially skeptical about surveys, she was convinced after receiving 900 responses in two weeks, proving strong audience interest.
“This data not only validated our direction but also provided invaluable feedback for refining our concept,” she noted.
Meanwhile, award-winning journalist Agnesa Qorri launched Youth Voices of Kosovo, an initiative empowering young storytellers to foster inclusivity in the country’s media landscape.
“By supporting initiatives that promote good journalism, audience engagement and representation of marginalised groups, these programmes help create a more equitable and dynamic media environment. For me, participating in this programme was a transformative experience that underscored the power of media in shaping society and the importance of giving a voice to youth”, she reflected.
The VB programme is also implemented under the Media Innovation Europe 2.0 project, supporting media innovators in developing subscription models, crowdfunding campaigns, AI-based tools, and niche platforms. The first cycle gathers nine grantees and runs until April 2025, with a second phase planned for June – November 2025. Romanian journalist and editor Ioana Epure aims to assess whether expats in Greece or potential sponsors would pay for her comprehensive English-language news roundup.
“What I appreciate most about the Validation Booster is its versatility, the insights can be applied far beyond the initial project. Even if the project you applied with isn’t validated, the knowledge gained allows you to pivot or pursue other opportunities with a stronger foundation”, she added.
Additionally, the Deepening Digital: Reinforcing Resilience project enabled eight grantees to test ideas, with another cycle launching in February 2025. One of the grantees, founder of informational platform For The Children of Veliko Tarnovo, Maria Malcheva, emphasised the programme’s impact.
“It provided me with the tools and confidence to better understand my target audience, making it a cornerstone for the future growth of my project,” she concluded.
By the end of the programme, participants emerge with a validated business idea, a strong pitch deck, and the confidence to launch their projects, reinforcing resilience and innovation in the regional media sector.
