i-dijaspora / i-platform

What i-dijaspora / i-platform does

i-dijaspora / i-platform is a Swiss non-profit association headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, founded in 2016 to connect the approximately 60,000-strong Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora living in Switzerland with development opportunities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The organization operates as a community-led platform facilitating economic, social, and cultural cooperation across the two countries through networking events, expert group meetings, youth media programs, cultural exchanges, and business forums. It maintains a network of 346 members across individuals, institutions, NGOs, and companies, and partners with multilateral and bilateral institutions including the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNDP, IOM, the Swiss Embassy in BiH, USAID Diaspora Invest, ETH Zurich, and Bern University of Applied Sciences.

The organization's core activities are delivered through several recurring programs: local meetups in six BiH cities (Bijeljina, Kladanj, Zavidovići, Zenica, Živinice, Brčko); expert group sessions in Bern on economic development and culture; sector-specific business forums linking BiH companies with Swiss partners in housing, wood processing, and tourism; the Youth Media Connect program with Naša djeca in Jajce; cultural initiatives including (H)AJMO!, SevdahLab, and concerts with artists such as Damir Imamović; and academic cooperation including the Swiss Balkan Design Bridge summer school and CERN student exchanges. The organization also supports civic participation through diaspora voter information meetings ahead of BiH elections.

i-platform does not sell products or services and has no commercial revenue model. All programs, events, and networking services are provided free of charge, with operations funded through membership, partnerships with development institutions, and donor support. The association is led by President Nenad Stojanović (political scientist and assistant professor at the University of Lucerne) and a steering board that includes Edin Dacić, recognized as "Best Manager of the Decade" in 2017. The organization operates with approximately 5 employees and is not a technology company; it uses standard web and social media platforms (website, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram) for community engagement rather than proprietary technology infrastructure.

Name

i-dijaspora / i-platform

Legal name

i-dijaspora Association

Website

https://i-platform.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

i-dijaspora / i-platform is a Swiss non-profit association founded in 2016 that connects the Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora in Switzerland with development initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina through networking events, business forums, youth media programs, cultural exchanges, and partnerships with multilateral development institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diaspora Engagement Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Adjustment & Integration Services (intercultural programs, community connection) (EDALANAD), International Student Orientation & Transition Programs (EDALANAC)

Keywords

• Diaspora engagement
• Community networking
• Development cooperation
• Cultural exchange
• Business forums

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-commercial organization: i-platform is a non-profit association (i-dijaspora) focused on diaspora engagement and development cooperation between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The organization does not operate a commercial revenue model; it operates through membership, partnerships, and donor support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

i-dijaspora is a Swiss non-profit association that operates the i-platform initiative, a diaspora networking community that connects the approximately 60,000 BiH diaspora members in Switzerland with development opportunities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The organization delivers free programming through local meetups in six BiH cities, expert group meetings in Bern, sector-specific business forums, youth media training, and cultural events such as SevdahLab workshops and the Swiss Balkan Design Bridge summer school.

Product overview

i-platform is a diaspora networking organization (not a technology product company) that operates as a platform connecting the BiH diaspora in Switzerland with stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The organization facilitates social, economic, and cultural development initiatives through various programs including the Youth Media Connect media training initiative, cultural event series such as (H)AJMO! (featuring theatre, concerts, and literary evenings), SevdahLab workshops exploring traditional Bosnian music, and the Swiss Balkan Design Bridge summer school program. The platform also organizes networking events for diaspora entrepreneurs and coordinates civic participation initiatives including diaspora voter information meetings. Rather than a software product with distinct modules, i-platform functions as a community-building and project coordination organization that brings together diaspora members, Swiss and BiH institutions, NGOs, and companies through events, forums, and collaborative projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• i-platform Network Membership Free community membership network comprising 178 individuals, 30 institutions, 77 NGOs, and 61 companies across Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina (346 members total as of 2024) that enables participants to connect with the BiH diaspora in Switzerland and access i-platform programs.
• Local Meetups in BiH Cities Community meetup program organized in six BiH cities (Bijeljina, Kladanj, Zavidovići, Zenica, Živinice, and Brčko) that brings diaspora members together with local communities for connection and exchange.
• Expert Group Meetings Regular expert group sessions in Bern on topics including economic development and culture that bring together diaspora professionals for knowledge and skills transfer.
• Business Forums Sector-specific business forums that connect BiH companies with Swiss partners, investors, and diaspora entrepreneurs; the 2017 Housing Sector Business Forum linked 15 BiH companies with 10 Swiss companies including KMU, Möbel Pfister, and Hornbach.
• Youth Media Connect Program Youth media education program run in partnership with Naša djeca (BiH), including the 'Youth Voice: Going Home!' project that brings diaspora youth to participate in media workshops in cities such as Jajce and Zenica.
• Swiss Balkan Design Bridge Summer School Summer school program organized with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo, held in Travnik, BiH.
• SevdahLab Workshops Cultural workshops co-organized with Kultur Shock that explore traditional Bosnian sevdah music as part of the platform's cultural programming in Bern.
• (H)AJMO! Cultural Event Series Cultural event series in Bern featuring theatre, concerts, and literary evenings that promote Bosnian heritage in the Swiss diaspora community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Crossed threshold of 100 network members within two years of launch
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SEE Investment SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2018Swiss investment company supporting i-platform's participation of BiH as guest country at Swiss Travel Day 2018 in Zurich.
• KMU, Möbel Pfister, HornbachminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 November 2017Swiss furniture and construction retail companies that participated in i-platform Business Forum Housing Sector seeking partnership with BiH wood processing companies.
• ETH Zurich, Urban-Think Tank, Baier Bischofberger Architekten, Historical Museum of BiHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2016Partners in Sarajevo Now: People's Museum exhibition representing BiH at 15th La Biennale di Venezia Architecture 2016.
• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment development agency supporting diaspora engagement initiatives and development cooperation programs between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. SDC supports projects through the Diaspora for Development project implemented in partnership with Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH and UNDP.
• Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and HerzegovinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry responsible for diaspora policy and cooperation. Partners with i-platform on diaspora engagement initiatives and policy development, including the implementation of Diaspora Cooperation Policy.
• Swiss Embassy in Bosnia and HerzegovinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents Swiss interests in BiH and facilitates bilateral cooperation. Ambassador Andrea Rauber Saxer actively supports i-platform initiatives including tourism promotion and economic development programs.
• FIPA - Agency for the Advancement of Foreign Investments in Bosnia and HerzegovinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency promoting foreign investment in BiH. Cooperates with i-platform on connecting diaspora investors with investment opportunities.
• United Nations Development Program (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN development agency implementing diaspora and development programs in BiH. Partner in Diaspora for Development project alongside SDC and Ministry of Human Rights.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergovernmental organization supporting migration and development initiatives. Participates in i-platform network for diaspora engagement.
• Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss government program supporting market access for developing countries. Cooperates with i-platform on connecting BiH exporters with Swiss buyers, particularly in wood processing and housing sectors.
• University of TuzlaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cooperates with i-platform on student exchange, CERN summer student programs, and academic cooperation.
• Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss university exploring cooperation with educational institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Centre for lifelong learning SCU in Travnik.
• Restart - Business Embassy for BiH DiasporacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness embassy organization connecting diaspora entrepreneurs with BiH companies. Organizes annual Reconnect events and cooperates with USAID Diaspora Invest project. I-platform participates in and supports Restart networking events.
• Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and HerzegovinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational chamber promoting foreign trade. Cooperates with i-platform on business forums and connecting BiH exporters with diaspora business networks.
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Republic of SrpskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber representing businesses in Republic of Srpska entity. Partners with i-platform on economic development initiatives and business networking.
• Matica BiH ZurichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiaspora organization in Switzerland promoting Bosnian culture and heritage. Cooperates on cultural events and Reactivate Sarajevo urban development project.
• Kultur ShockminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural association in Bern promoting Balkan music and culture for 25 years. Co-organizes cultural events with i-platform including Damir Imamović concerts and SevdahLab workshops.
• ETH Zurich Urban-Think TankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic chair at ETH Zurich focused on architecture and urban design. Partners with i-platform on Reactivate Sarajevo project for urban transformation and development.
• Youth Media Connect Program (Naša djeca)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth media education program in Jajce, BiH. Partners with i-platform on 'Youth Voice: Going Home!' project bringing diaspora youth to participate in media workshops.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Swisscontact: Swiss foundation for development cooperation that supports entrepreneurship and economic inclusion in partner countries including the Western Balkans. Operates in the broader diaspora-adjacent development space and shares the Swiss institutional funder ecosystem.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal development agency that runs diaspora and migration-for-development programs in the Western Balkans and globally. Peer in the institutional diaspora-engagement-for-development space, though operating at much greater scale.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM): Intergovernmental organization supporting migration and development initiatives, including diaspora engagement. Already an i-platform partner; comparable as a broader institutional player in the migration-and-development space.
• UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina: UN development agency implementing diaspora and development programs in BiH, including the Diaspora for Development project alongside SDC. Existing i-platform partner; comparable as a broader institutional operator in the same development corridor.
• USAID Diaspora Invest: USAID-funded initiative supporting diaspora investment and business networking with BiH companies — explicitly cited as an i-platform stakeholder. Comparable in mission (diaspora-driven homeland economic development) though funded by a much larger government sponsor.

Direct peers

• Restart - Business Embassy for BiH Diaspora: Bosnian diaspora business organization that organizes annual Reconnect events connecting diaspora entrepreneurs with BiH companies. Direct peer operating in the same diaspora-to-BiH business matchmaking space and an existing i-platform partner.
• Matica BiH Zurich: Diaspora organization in Switzerland promoting Bosnian culture and heritage; cooperates with i-platform on cultural events and the Reactivate Sarajevo project. Direct peer serving the same BiH diaspora community in Switzerland through cultural programming.

Emerging players

• Croatian Diaspora Network: Comparable diaspora-from-ex-Yugoslavia model connecting Croatian expatriates to homeland development. Regional peer demonstrating the same diaspora-organization playbook i-platform uses, useful as a structural comparator.

Others

• Ethiopian Diaspora Network: Thematically comparable diaspora-development organization connecting the Ethiopian diaspora to homeland investment and engagement opportunities. Useful as a cross-regional structural peer rather than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Kultur Shock: Cultural association in Bern promoting Balkan music and culture for 25 years; co-organizes events with i-platform including Damir Imamović concerts and SevdahLab workshops. Peer in the BiH diaspora cultural-engagement niche in Switzerland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iplatform_ch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPCfuQzIXSmXaEJtsZGTHHA
• Facebookfacebook.com/iplatform.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/i-dijaspora-i-platform
• Instagraminstagram.com/iplatform.ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about i-dijaspora / i-platform