STARTup - trainings, consulting, promotion

The "STARTup your life! : stimulating of entrepreneurial attitudes in science in Wielkopolska" project took place from October 2008 until February 2010 under the Human Capital Operational Programme, Measure 8.2.1: Support to cooperation of scientific environment and enterprises.
 
The goal of this project was a permanent change in the approach of the academic environment to the business world, which would cause an increase of knowledge transfer and strengthening of the relationship between R & D and companies, which in turn would serve well for the economic development of Wielkopolska.
 
The project was directed to the young, creative academic environment: university teachers and lecturers, students, postgraduates and graduates (within 12 months from the date of graduation) of public and private universities from Wielkopolska.
 
STARTup your life is:
 

1. A social campaign incorporating the following initiatives:

• Large-scale informational and promotional actions, conducted using the Internet, citylights and billboards. The first of actions took place in April 2009 and the next one in October 2009. In total, 46 billboards and 24 citylights were posted across Wielkopolska.
• Round Tables, being 6 quarterly meetings of the representatives of science, business and local as well as regional authorities, the goal of which is to look for common solutions, pning the means of support, exchange of experience.
• Academic Entrepreneurship Fair - everything about one’s own company in one day! During the meeting, attended by 149 Final Beneficiaries, one could:
    - Learn about the possibilities of support - 10 institutions providing assistance to people who wish to start their own business took part in the fair.
    - Take part in a meeting with special guests, which means experienced entrepreneurs – so called "business sharks".
    - Find out ''How to earn the first million''
    - Take part in a competition for the best business idea, where one could win PLN 6,000

2. A series of 14 courses in widely understood enterprise, as well as specialist knowledge related to the commercialisation of research and research results. 256 people took part in these courses – that is more than had been expected! The Final Beneficiaries learned during these meetings how to prepare a business plan, how to acquire financing for one’s idea, or which legal form of the new venture to choose.
 
3. Counseling, or individual, two-hour consultation with experts in the field of law, taxation, marketing and sales. Altogether 96 hours of consultation were carried out, and 192 people participated in them.

More information can be found on the project website at www.startup.poznan.pl