About Us

INNVEST brings together leading entrepreneurs, investors, prime investors, policy makers and merges a vast pool of ideas from across the innovative spectrum to address national and regional economic challenges.

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Our mission

The Innovation Investment Fund has within its mission to create concrete impact on the economies of the Western Balkans by providing opportunities for growth, supporting and encouraging young entrepreneurs while decreasing the gap between new business ideas and investment opportunities. The scope of INNVEST is to foster innovation across sectors as an important drive for positive change.

INNVEST brings together leading entrepreneurs, investors, prime investors, policy makers and merges a vast pool of ideas from across the innovative spectrum to address national and regional economic challenges.

How do we function

INNVEST has three main pillars of success:

  • 1. Fostering Entrepreneurship; We help the businesses and corporations that become part of our network to innovate from within through dedicated programs, incubators and accelerators.
  • 2. Start-up promotion; We identify, mentor and integrate within our network new and innovative business ideas at different levels of their development.
  • 3. Find investment opportunities: The third pillar of success is cross cutting and helps to integrate our major goals by bridging the gap of investment opportunities and start-ups. Through different forms, programs and activities we enable matchmaking opportunities, within and outside of our network, for new business ideas to meet with angel investors.

Innvest Team

Fabiola Duro, Innvestfund, Innovation Investment Fund

Fabiola Duro
Founder & CEO


Fabiola is the Founder and CEO of INNVEST. She has more than 15 years of professional experience in working with angel investors, entrepreneurs, start-ups, incubators and government stakeholders through capacity building and advisory support. Her professional achievements include more than 10 years experience in strategy in business development, coordination and guiding of multi-stakeholder processes and international multilateral economic projects and investments cooperation, business negotiations in Albania and the Balkan region.

Lorena Gjana, Innvestfund, Innovation Investment Fund

Lorena Gjana
Chief Operating Officer


Experienced communications expert with a demonstrated history of working in project development and coordination. Skilled in Negotiation, Analytical Skills, International Relations, and Tourism Development. Strong media and communication professional with a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) focused in Development Economics and International Development from Tsinghua University.

Alda Lale, Innvestfund, Innovation Investment Fund

Alda Lale
Chief Financial Officer


Alda is a Financial Manager and Account Director with vast experience in project development and implementation across different sectors. With more than 10 years’ experience as a marketing manager, account director, event planner and media production executive. Skilled in budgeting, management, financial reporting, organizational and operational expertise. She holds a Master in Public Relations and a Bachelor in Political Science from Tirana University but has a long record of training in Finance and Accounting.


Fabiola is the Founder and CEO of INNVEST. She has more than 15 years of professional experience in working with angel investors, entrepreneurs, start-ups, incubators and government stakeholders through capacity building and advisory support. Her professional achievements include more than 10 years experience in strategy in business development, coordination and guiding of multi-stakeholder processes and international multilateral economic projects and investments cooperation, business negotiations in Albania and the Balkan region.


Experienced communications expert with a demonstrated history of working in project development and coordination. Skilled in Negotiation, Analytical Skills, International Relations, and Tourism Development. Strong media and communication professional with a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) focused in Development Economics and International Development from Tsinghua University.


Alda is a Financial Manager and Account Director with vast experience in project development and implementation across different sectors. With more than 10 years’ experience as a marketing manager, account director, event planner and media production executive. Skilled in budgeting, management, financial reporting, organizational and operational expertise. She holds a Master in Public Relations and a Bachelor in Political Science from Tirana University but has a long record of training in Finance and Accounting.

Board Members

Board Members are a group of highly experienced professionals, recognized leaders across many areas of expertise, who hold senior positions or board members. The Board’s role is to advise and oversee INNVEST’s strategy and objectives, and ensure we are operating effectively and delivering our mission.
Adrian-Civici, Innvestfund

Adrian Civici
Economic Expert


Adrian Civici holds a PhD in Economics from ENSA, Montpellier (France, 2002) and a PhD in Agrarian Economics awarded by the Agricultural University of Tirana (Tirana, 1993). In 1995 he received the title "Associate Professor" and since 2011, he holds the title "Professor" in Economics. During his professional career he has worked in important positions as Head of the Department of Economy and Agrarian Policy (1992-1996), Dean of the Faculty of Agrarian Economics at the Agricultural University of Tirana (1996-2001); Executive Director of the Center for Rural Studies and Sustainable Development (1998-2005); Adviser to the Minister of Finance (2001-2002); Director of the Directorate of the National Strategy for Economic and Social Development of Albania (2002-2006); Adviser for the Kosovo Development Plan at the Government of Kosovo (2006-2007); Professor and Rector of the European University of Tirana (2007-2010). Deputy Director for Scientific Research and Director of the Doctoral School at the European University of Tirana (2010-2011). He is currently President of the European University of Tirana and Director of the Doctoral School.

Diana-Leka, Innvestfund

Diana Leka
Head of Albania Investment Council Secretariat


Dr. Diana Leka (Angoni) has more than 20 years consecutive management and expert working expertise in Albania with government, including central and local level, international organizations such as EU, IFC/WB, UNDP, GIZ, or business in areas covering competitiveness, trade and foreign direct investment. She directly led or supported the strategic direction, guidance and management of programs that included several important initiatives with the Albanian government such as attraction of FDIs and its targeting strategy, advocacy on business competitiveness, direct support to SMEs and exports, monitoring of public policies and establishment of Government economic management(MIS) functions, including first national ICT strategy and roadmap for Albania, etc. As an independent consultant, she delivered consultancy services in setting up a quality management system (ISO, HACCP) to several private companies or state institutions. She is a licensed auditor from Moody International (2005) and a licensed European Manager of QMS from the German Institute of Quality.

Besnik-Leskaj, Innvestfund

Besnik Leskaj
Board Member at Abkons


Mr. Besnik Leskaj is one of the Founding Partners of Abkons, which has been recognized as one of the most successful multi-disciplinary consultancies in Albania. Given his broad experience in leadership, consultancy and project execution, Mr. Besnik Leskaj will offer guidance and support in areas such as strategic planning, market assessment, public finance management, project management, institutional assessment and capacity building.


Adrian Civici holds a PhD in Economics from ENSA, Montpellier (France, 2002) and a PhD in Agrarian Economics awarded by the Agricultural University of Tirana (Tirana, 1993). In 1995 he received the title "Associate Professor" and since 2011, he holds the title "Professor" in Economics. During his professional career he has worked in important positions as Head of the Department of Economy and Agrarian Policy (1992-1996), Dean of the Faculty of Agrarian Economics at the Agricultural University of Tirana (1996-2001); Executive Director of the Center for Rural Studies and Sustainable Development (1998-2005); Adviser to the Minister of Finance (2001-2002); Director of the Directorate of the National Strategy for Economic and Social Development of Albania (2002-2006); Adviser for the Kosovo Development Plan at the Government of Kosovo (2006-2007); Professor and Rector of the European University of Tirana (2007-2010). Deputy Director for Scientific Research and Director of the Doctoral School at the European University of Tirana (2010-2011). He is currently President of the European University of Tirana and Director of the Doctoral School.


Dr. Diana Leka (Angoni) has more than 20 years consecutive management and expert working expertise in Albania with government, including central and local level, international organizations such as EU, IFC/WB, UNDP, GIZ, or business in areas covering competitiveness, trade and foreign direct investment. She directly led or supported the strategic direction, guidance and management of programs that included several important initiatives with the Albanian government such as attraction of FDIs and its targeting strategy, advocacy on business competitiveness, direct support to SMEs and exports, monitoring of public policies and establishment of Government economic management(MIS) functions, including first national ICT strategy and roadmap for Albania, etc. As an independent consultant, she delivered consultancy services in setting up a quality management system (ISO, HACCP) to several private companies or state institutions. She is a licensed auditor from Moody International (2005) and a licensed European Manager of QMS from the German Institute of Quality.


Mr. Besnik Leskaj is one of the Founding Partners of Abkons, which has been recognized as one of the most successful multi-disciplinary consultancies in Albania. Given his broad experience in leadership, consultancy and project execution, Mr. Besnik Leskaj will offer guidance and support in areas such as strategic planning, market assessment, public finance management, project management, institutional assessment and capacity building.

Supporters

Dovydas Varkulevicius, Innvestfund, Innovation Investment Fund, Supporters

Dovydas
Varkulevicius


INNVEST has an incredible added value by the support and mentoring from professionals such as Dovydas Varkulevicius - Chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. Dovydas has 13 years of experience in different business industries: furniture, telecommunications, logistics, real estate development, financial services and consulting industries, serving from Sales Executive to Sales and Marketing Director for Baltics. INNVEST is very proud to have him as part of our Network!

Jules Banning, Innvestfund, Innovation Investment Fund, Supporters

Jules
Banning


INNVEST has an incredible added value by the support and mentoring from professionals such as Dovydas Varkulevicius - Chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. Dovydas has 13 years of experience in different business industries: furniture, telecommunications, logistics, real estate development, financial services and consulting industries, serving from Sales Executive to Sales and Marketing Director for Baltics. INNVEST is very proud to have him as part of our Network!

Laura Calmore, Innvestfund, Innovation Investment Fund, Supporters

Laura
Calmore


INNVEST has an incredible added value by the support and mentoring from professionals such as Dovydas Varkulevicius - Chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. Dovydas has 13 years of experience in different business industries: furniture, telecommunications, logistics, real estate development, financial services and consulting industries, serving from Sales Executive to Sales and Marketing Director for Baltics. INNVEST is very proud to have him as part of our Network!


INNVEST has an incredible added value by the support and mentoring from professionals such as Dovydas Varkulevicius - Chairman of the Board of the Lithuanian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. Dovydas has 13 years of experience in different business industries: furniture, telecommunications, logistics, real estate development, financial services and consulting industries, serving from Sales Executive to Sales and Marketing Director for Baltics. INNVEST is very proud to have him as part of our Network!


Mrs. Jules is an exceptionally added value to our INNVEST Network. Her positive energy and encouragement really helped inspire and reinforce our ambition to fulfil our goals and position ‘INNVEST’ as a backbone of support for companies and Start-ups. On one hand as a project manager and on the other hand as a startup coach, Jules has provided for INNVEST valuable insights and advices on how to grow and succeed further more.


We are happy to have in our INNVEST Network, energetic and inspiring people like Laura. Laura currently leads the Digital Women's Day and the European and African Business Women's Network. She has established her rome in gathering, showcasing and connecting women and men, who are working to revolutionize the world through digital, since 2013. As a leading Ambassador of the programe DigitaliseSMEs, INNVEST is proud of her support!