The European Week of support for start-ups was created with an aim to connect all the European regions in a common program for start-ups. The format of these events was taken from the Silicon Valley. As Europe is different, it is needed to adapt the format to the European aspects, which are diverse. In the formation of the European start-ups, there play an important role mainly differences between particular regions, an absence of the common market, but also a local political framework. The European regions are the key players, who provide support services for establishing, development and funding of start-ups.
The main organizer and ambassador of this event, which took place in Liberec, was DEX Innovation Centre – private, non-profit, multidisciplinary innovation centre with competencies mainly in following areas: Research and innovation support, E-solutions, Entrepreneurship and business support and innovation infrastructure support.
For attendees of the event, there was prepared very interesting program – in six presentations there were introduced concrete possibilities of support for the start-ups in Liberec region, in the Czech Republic, and also the possibilities of support from the side of the European Union. Ms T. Suchomelová and Ms A. Sliacka presented possibilities of support of start-ups from the side of CzechInvest Agency. Ms I. Ptáčková as a representative of Liberec Region spoke about a possibilities of support from this institution. By Mr J. Demel there was introduced also an activity of the Technical University of Liberec – Student Business Club. Another interesting services, for example, a platform for crowdfunding, matchmaking with investors and instruments of the European Commission were presented by Mr J. Kubalík from DEX Innovation Centre, who was also organizer and ambassador of the whole event. From the perspective of attendees, the most interesting was a presentation of Mr D. Dědek from Jablotron on the topic „My beginnings – my story – my advice“.
The event was attended by appr. 50 people. Among these participants, there were representatives of the public, young people and students, who plan to start their own business, and also people who established their start-ups already. During a panel discussion, there were heard interesting questions aimed to all speakers. The questions concerned mainly the start-up ecosystem in the region, the attendees were interested also in good practices. A motivation of young people to start their own business and necessary changes in educational concept, which educates mainly with the aim to create employees, not the entrepreneurs, was also a discussed theme.
From this well-attended event and from the interest of people who attended we can conclude that the event was interesting for the people and that it is good to organize similar actions for start-ups and that it is good to provide a support to people who are interested in this area, ideally in cooperation with local successful entrepreneurs, who can pass their knowledge and motivate by this the others.
Photos, all presentations from the event, videos and other feedbacks you can find below.
Videos: Startup Europe Week in Liberec 2. 2. 2016, Jan Kubalík – Presentation of Startup Europe Week, D. Dědek – My beginnings – my story – my advice, Tereza Suchomelová, Andrea Sliacka – The possibilities of support of the start-ups in the Czech Republic from the side of CzechInvest Agency, Jaroslav Demel – Student Business Club initiative,Ivana Ptáčková – The possibilities of support of the start-ups from the side of the Liberec region, Questions and Answers – discussion forum between the speakers and the attendees - Startup Europe Week in Liberec 2. 2. 2016, Refreshment – Startup Europe Week in Liberec 2. 2. 2016
