MDIF has taken a minority equity stake in Turnkey, the Serbian digital media, consulting and production company behind Pojačalo, backing its plan to turn the country’s longest-running business podcast into a full commercial media platform.
Founded by Ivan Minić in 2016, Turnkey is a hybrid business spanning strategic communications, creative production and independent media production.
Turnkey’s media arm is Pojačalo, Serbia’s longest-running business podcast, publishing weekly since 2019. It has become the trusted platform for Serbia’s business community, offering long-form, non-polarized conversations focused on practical experience and better decision-making. This is complemented by consulting, production and content services for corporate clients and international organizations.
MDIF’s investment will support Pojačalo’s next stage of growth by expanding production and commercial capacity in ways that strengthen the brand and deepen audience trust. Priorities include building a dedicated sales function, expanding sponsorships, branded content, events and memberships, and developing a digital platform with subscription and e-commerce features.
While podcast-led growth is the primary focus, the investment will also advance Turnkey’s multi-pillar operating model by expanding its commercial and consulting work and scaling proven, higher-margin services.
In the context of continued market volatility in Serbia, the investment also supports greater operational resilience without compromising editorial or operational independence.
“For a long time, Pojačalo was something we kept building simply because we believed it needed to exist, while the rest of the company helped make that possible,” said Ivan Minić, founder of Turnkey. “For the first time, we can now reverse that equation and turn Pojačalo into a serious, self-sustaining media business. It is both a strong validation of everything we have built over the years and an even greater responsibility for what we build next.”
“This investment is about backing consistency that’s rare in this market – a credible, independent voice that’s earned real trust with Serbia’s business community, one episode at a time. Ivan has the discipline, the integrity and the community trust to build something that can truly become lasting media infrastructure for the region,” said Jelena Milošević, MDIF Program Director for Southeast Europe.
Turnkey is the third company financed by the MDIF Western Balkans Fund, which invests across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. MDIF has backed independent media and information companies in Serbia since 1997.
About Turnkey
Turnkey is a Serbia-based digital media, consulting and production company founded by Ivan Minić in 2016. It delivers strategic communications, creative production and content services to corporate clients and international organizations, and operates its own media arm, Pojačalo, Serbia’s longest-running business podcast.
About Media Development Investment Fund
Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) is the only global non-profit impact investment fund financing businesses that keep society informed and democracy alive. Through loans, equity and strategic support, MDIF builds the commercial strength public-interest information companies need to stay independent and better serve the public. It has done this since 1995, in places where access to independent information is under threat.