A huge thanks to the amazing Startup Weekend Belgrade team with Zoja & Marina on point and to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander Foundation for Education and The Royal Council for Entrepreneurship for executing a spectacular weekend!
And thank you for making me feel like a VIP rockstar with my own bodyguard from the Crown Prince’s court, sneaking past every line at the airport – An example more Startup Weekends should follow. ;)
If you can read Serbian, here’s a write-up of the event.
Where the river Sava meets the Danube, that’s where you’ll find Belgrade, Serbia.
![Where the rivers meet](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10276518_10154145849150444_1112471407_n.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
Where the rivers meet
![The jaw-dropping location for SW Belgrade: The White Castle](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10346714_10154134492210444_370287384_n.jpg?resize=696%2C522&ssl=1)
The jaw-dropping location for SW Belgrade: The White Castle
![The Crown Prince opening Startup Weekend Belgrade](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10337747_657099314338797_5508472768958955990_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
The Crown Prince opening Startup Weekend Belgrade
![Then this guy started to heat things up](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1609920_657099391005456_4260377959392565175_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Then this guy started to heat things up
![...and made them play "Half -Baked" to break the ice. (Which works every time, every where)](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/1010705_657099451005450_3935124738171927384_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
…and made them play “Half -Baked” to break the ice. (Which works every time, every where)
![Then we pitched for realz](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10262137_657100414338687_4660508217180962351_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Then we pitched for realz
![We voted for who would get to form teams](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10312621_657099541005441_732649147609992850_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
We voted for who would get to form teams
![Then those who got voted had to build a team](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10330306_657100511005344_2917381009970948589_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Then those who got voted had to build a team
![And then it was off to work!](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10325166_657542074294521_5648128702701263286_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
And then it was off to work!
![Day 2 of 3 saw the coaches come in and help out](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10274207_657542134294515_8653869123223303810_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Day 2 of 3 saw the coaches come in and help out
![Coaching session in the palace gardens](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10342942_657130961002299_2069302835805015011_n.jpg?resize=696%2C466&ssl=1)
Coaching session in the palace gardens
![All meals and drinks as fancy as befitting the royal grounds](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10340358_10154136543245444_1005577328_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
All meals and drinks as fancy as befitting the royal grounds
![And did I mention the venue was awesome already? The White Castle](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10322446_10154132281185444_7771187499613796777_n.jpg?resize=696%2C522&ssl=1)
And did I mention the venue was awesome already? The White Palace.
![More coaching outside](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10325218_10154133662235444_4261085550478896787_n.jpg?resize=696%2C522&ssl=1)
More coaching outside
![And this was the room in The White Castle that was used by the Serbian government to plan and represent during the recent war on Balkan - I was so happy we could put it to better use this weekend](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/923237_10154129218355444_2916955890502841851_n.jpg?resize=696%2C522&ssl=1)
And this was the room in The White Castle that was used by the Serbian government to plan and represent during the recent war on Balkan – I was very happy we could put it to better use this weekend. I could feel the gravity of it.
![A Royal Startup Weekend it was](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10264291_10154129222075444_6459989300930892223_n.jpg?resize=540%2C720&ssl=1)
A Royal Startup Weekend it was
And the Crown Prince himself gave me a guided tour of his palace – the other palace on the grounds. TWO PALACES for Startup Weekend Belgrade – Beat that.
![Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia leading the way in to his humble abode - The Palace](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10342285_10154138726620444_18651644_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia leading the way in to his humble abode – The Royal Palace. Good thing he has the keys to it.
![703060_10154138708365444_409908544_o](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/703060_10154138708365444_409908544_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
One of the first cinemas in Serbia – In the basement of the royal palace. Funny anecdote; Tito and Slobo both used this to watch their favorite movies – American cowboy movies.
![10270699_10154136606430444_6762521308627960330_n](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10270699_10154136606430444_6762521308627960330_n.jpg?resize=640%2C640&ssl=1)
The view of the front garden
![10330761_10154137377550444_1401783756_o](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10330761_10154137377550444_1401783756_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
The amazing basement where all the interesting parties and gatherings were thrown, where gossip was shared, where deals were being struck.
![10333022_10154136558665444_2034201729_o](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10333022_10154136558665444_2034201729_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
Reminds me of Stanford
![10337316_10154138726335444_1219388114_o](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10337316_10154138726335444_1219388114_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
Palace with a view – The view from the hill on which it is situated
![10337391_10154136558510444_198193411_o](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10337391_10154136558510444_198193411_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
Stanford?
![10343958_10154138726165444_1517284231_o](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10343958_10154138726165444_1517284231_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
Of course you have the crest woven into the carpet in a royal palace
![The famous whispering fountain, designed to drown out all conversation had in this basement room so it couldn't be eavesdropped](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10368709_10154138725255444_1344547867_o.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
The famous whispering fountain, designed to drown out all conversation had in this basement room so it couldn’t be eavesdropped
![Coaches still doing their thing](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10366307_657542067627855_7025598293100242982_n.jpg?resize=696%2C466&ssl=1)
Coaches still doing their thing
![The Crown Prince being hands-on all weekend!](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10346655_657131964335532_5376906291917595248_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
The Crown Prince being hands-on all weekend!
![And teams working working WORKING](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10369595_657131701002225_759526791734410454_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
And teams working working WORKING
![Day 3/3 it was time for the final presentations in front of a full white castle](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10348208_657099301005465_2039898708571360065_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Day 3/3 it was time for the final presentations in front of a full white castle
![Look, grandma! I'm hanging with Royalty now. :)](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10365890_657100571005338_8526637611012866760_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Look, grandma! I’m hanging with Royalty now. :)
![And it was time to present the results to the jury](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10363545_657542834294445_2555705341452746215_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
And it was time to present the results to the jury
![And the jury deliberated](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10372321_657542934294435_9031851637439128634_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
And the jury deliberated
![Lots of great and entertaining presentations for the audience](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10371437_657099901005405_8067589528684768453_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
Lots of great and entertaining presentations for the audience
![And the winner was...](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10366248_657542324294496_4265439328811625648_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
And the winner was…
![10268514_657543027627759_650758156538170991_n](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10268514_657543027627759_650758156538170991_n.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1)
EVERYBODY who made it through the whole weekend! :)
I also had some extra days in Belgrade to coach local startups at a local incubator and coworking space.
![10361138_10154142343545444_1678294286_n](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10361138_10154142343545444_1678294286_n.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
Coaching local startups
And being interviewed on Serbian TV.
I also had the opportunity to wander the beautiful city of Belgrade, that still have scars from the Balkan wars like this – The downtown police station bombed by NATO planes.
![Belgrade still torn between preserving as a monument and restoring it.](https://i0.wp.com/blog.vidarandersen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/10331800_10154142342835444_911006643_n.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1)
Belgrade still torn between preserving as a monument and restoring it.