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Boosting Technology-Based Entrepreneurship: Andalucía Open Future (AOF) and Minerva
Published on 12 March 2020
Spain
Andalucía
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About this good practice
Andalucía Open Future and Minerva are 2 public-private collaboration initiatives of Andalucía government and Telefonica (AOF) and Vodafone (Minerva) offering equity-free acceleration programs for tech companies based in:
* Mentorship & support
* Networking
* Market-fit
* Access to customers
These initiatives intend to promote technology-based entrepreneurship in Andalusia region by the means of acceleration programs especially oriented to companies developing technological solutions, mainly small start-ups.
AOF operates through a network of "Spaces of Crowdworking" with 4 centers in Andalusia, aiming to become knowledge & innovation centers where entrepreneurs can find a working environment and an open innovation space, enabling them to efficiently develop and accelerate their technological entrepreneurial projects. AOF program opens 2 calls/year with 20-30 projects selected. This acceleration program lasts between 4-8 months.
Minerva program opens annual calls. In each a maximum of 15 projects are selected among all the applications submitted. Selected participants enter a complete entrepreneurship program with the aim of accelerating the development of their business project. This program lasts 12 months.
Exemples of agri-food companies benefiting from these programs:
c2ce: IA for decision support in farms
Ornavera: A & sensor for monitoring farms
Agroplanning: tractor monitoring
SensaCultivo: sensors to monitor soil
Vestigia: Blockchain for traceability
* Mentorship & support
* Networking
* Market-fit
* Access to customers
These initiatives intend to promote technology-based entrepreneurship in Andalusia region by the means of acceleration programs especially oriented to companies developing technological solutions, mainly small start-ups.
AOF operates through a network of "Spaces of Crowdworking" with 4 centers in Andalusia, aiming to become knowledge & innovation centers where entrepreneurs can find a working environment and an open innovation space, enabling them to efficiently develop and accelerate their technological entrepreneurial projects. AOF program opens 2 calls/year with 20-30 projects selected. This acceleration program lasts between 4-8 months.
Minerva program opens annual calls. In each a maximum of 15 projects are selected among all the applications submitted. Selected participants enter a complete entrepreneurship program with the aim of accelerating the development of their business project. This program lasts 12 months.
Exemples of agri-food companies benefiting from these programs:
c2ce: IA for decision support in farms
Ornavera: A & sensor for monitoring farms
Agroplanning: tractor monitoring
SensaCultivo: sensors to monitor soil
Vestigia: Blockchain for traceability
Expert opinion
The good practice showcases two public-private initiatives promoted by the Andalusia government to support technology-based entrepreneurship: Andalucía Open Future-AOF (developed in collaboration with Telefonica) and Minerva (in collaboration with Vodafone). Both initiatives are structured as acceleration programmes for innovative start-ups and SMEs providing spaces, mentorship, and business services. In particular, the AOF initiative involves a network of 4 different centres (El Cubo de Sevilla, La Farola de Málaga, El Cable de Almería y El Patio de Córdoba) favouring an open innovation environment that facilitates collaboration and knowledge transfer within the region. AI systems for decision support (c2ce), sensor-based technologies for monitoring (Ornavera, Agroplanning, SensaCultivo) and blockchain for traceability (Vestigia) are examples of innovative solutions developed for the agri-food sector through the acceleration programmes. The initiative is contributing to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the agri-food sector in Andalusia.
Insights from the good practice:
-The accelerator initiatives are good examples of public-private collaboration with a high potential for transfer in regions that want to promote the development of innovative start-ups and SMEs in the agri-food sector.
Insights from the good practice:
-The accelerator initiatives are good examples of public-private collaboration with a high potential for transfer in regions that want to promote the development of innovative start-ups and SMEs in the agri-food sector.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
Supported by the Government of Andalusia, with Telefónica & Vodafone
The resources needed each year:
Managing Team :AOF 380K€; MINERVA 223K€
Spaces: AOF 200K€; MINERVA 40K€
Operative costs: AOF 72K€; MINERVA 25K€
Mentorship: AOF 180K€; MINERVA 100K€
PR & Media: AOF 180K€; MINERVA 120K€
The resources needed each year:
Managing Team :AOF 380K€; MINERVA 223K€
Spaces: AOF 200K€; MINERVA 40K€
Operative costs: AOF 72K€; MINERVA 25K€
Mentorship: AOF 180K€; MINERVA 100K€
PR & Media: AOF 180K€; MINERVA 120K€
Evidence of success
These initiatives facilitate the development of projects, technology, products and services of companies and startups, in areas such as agrotechnology, agrifood, etc.
• + than 220 startups accelerated. +80% in business activity
• +80 Mentors specialized in finance, communication and digital marketing, legal aspects, sales, internationalization..
• + than 40 investors back up the initiative
• + than 220 startups accelerated. +80% in business activity
• +80 Mentors specialized in finance, communication and digital marketing, legal aspects, sales, internationalization..
• + than 40 investors back up the initiative
Potential for learning or transfer
These initiatives facilitate the development of projects, technology, products and services of companies and startups, in areas such as agrotechnology, agrifood, etc.
More than 220 startups accelerated. +80% in business activity.
Both AOF and Minerva have marked a turning point in the regional ecosystem. Both covered a gap detected in 2014 that was the absence of accelerators and both have supported the most important startups of the region. Now, Andalusia is a potential startup ecosystem in Spain by the consequence of these programs.
The role of the public sector is the creation a favourable environment for the development of companies. The role of the private sector is the generation of business and the creation of employment. If we join both efforts, we can obtain a powerful lever for new ventures and startups.
In order to have a succeed accelerator program, connections with the ecosystem are key: incubators, investors, corporates.
More than 220 startups accelerated. +80% in business activity.
Both AOF and Minerva have marked a turning point in the regional ecosystem. Both covered a gap detected in 2014 that was the absence of accelerators and both have supported the most important startups of the region. Now, Andalusia is a potential startup ecosystem in Spain by the consequence of these programs.
The role of the public sector is the creation a favourable environment for the development of companies. The role of the private sector is the generation of business and the creation of employment. If we join both efforts, we can obtain a powerful lever for new ventures and startups.
In order to have a succeed accelerator program, connections with the ecosystem are key: incubators, investors, corporates.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Andalusia Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Enterprises and University
Spain
Andalucía
Contact
Technical advisor