Celebrating 10 Years of Growth & Connection: BHFF’s 200th Networking Meetup in New York City
In the afternoon of November 22. we witnessed something special. We gathered for the largest BHFF meetup to date, a testament to 10 years of growth, connection, and an increasingly vibrant global network.
Three years ago, our very first Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation (BHFF) meetup in New York City brought together a small circle of friends, supporters, and two BHFF scholars visiting from BiH who generously shared their journeys and the impact the foundation had on them. Fast-forward to today: over 100 people gathered in NYC, some traveling from Washington, DC, Georgia, Seattle, and even Sarajevo to celebrate a milestone in BHFF’s story.
Not only was this our second-ever NYC meetup, but it was also twice the size of the first event, proof that our community is thriving, engaged, and more connected than ever.
This gathering marked BHFF’s 200th networking meetup since our founding a decade ago. And while we might be biased, we can’t imagine a better place to celebrate this moment than right here in New York City.
We kicked off the afternoon with opening remarks, followed by BHFF founder Eddie Čustović, whose words lit up the room with reminders of the Foundation’s mission and its impact including many years of volunteering invested by our global community.
The energy in the room was buzzing as we welcomed five incredible speakers, each of whom brought expertise, inspiration, and cross-discipline perspectives:
Saša Tomić – A pioneer in the digital water industry and creator of the world’s first water digital twin platform. Saša’s resilience and optimism were as impactful as his technical innovation, leaving the audience energized.
Jasmin Tahirović – Director in Capital Markets at BNP Paribas, who shared sharp insights into AI’s growing role in infrastructure and sustainable finance, and the major investment shaping this transformation.
Edin Rudić – Executive Creative Director at MKDA, who took us on a vibrant, visual journey through his career, his inspirations, and how he designs spaces that are both beautiful and deeply functional.
Prof. Vedad Delić – A molecular biology expert researching neuroprotection and Parkinson’s disease. He shared what exercise can teach us about next-generation therapies and introduced his lab’s work on exosomes as potential neuroprotective treatments.
Filip Šašić – Founder & CEO of Entrepreneurs for Global Change, who unpacked the opportunities and challenges within BiH’s startup ecosystem, shaped through EGC’s work with over 100 first-time founders—and how each of us can support the next generation of innovators.
Before diving into open networking, we were pleased to hear from Amir Husak, Professor of Media Studies at The New School and Artistic Director of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival. He reminded us of the importance of arts and culture.
A special thank you goes to HTEC, our generous event sponsor. Dino and Dušan shared thoughtful remarks, and their support provided us with the beautiful venue that made this meetup possible.
And of course, no Bosnian gathering is complete without food made with love! A warm thank you to Djerdan for donating delicious burek that made the afternoon feel even more like home.
Thank you to everyone who traveled, spoke, helped, volunteered, or simply came with the desire to be part of this story. We also want to extend special gratitude to Merisa Nisic, PhD, our ambassador in New York, who has been with us for five years. During this period, she has organized two large meetups, served as a mentor, donor, and member of selection committees, and has done so much more that has strengthened our community and supported young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her dedication, energy, and selfless contribution represent the very best of what our foundation and our diaspora have to offer.
Here’s to the next chapter, together.