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OK!THESS
Published on 30 July 2018
Greece
Kentriki Makedonia
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
It is an ecosystem open to all entrepreneurial and educational institutions of the city and aims to integrate the separate efforts that move in the direction of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.
It also runs a pre-incubator/accelerator which hosts start-ups and Social Cooperative Enterprises for a period typically of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months. The aim is to lead them to investment-ready maturity.
OK!Thess pre-incubator offers the following services:
● A co-working space
● Access to high speed Wi-Fi (100/100Mbps)
● Participation in seminars and lectures related to innovation at the OK!Thess premises
● Regular guidance by a coach specialized on startup related matters
● Mentoring in the same field of economic activity as the startup team
● Space for social interaction with other teams
● International networking
To achieve its goal, OK!THESS: 1) Connects teams with mentors, 2) organizes Specialist Training, 3) addresses the broader ecosystem through Cooperative Technical Events and Supporting Events.
Members of OK!THESS are the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Alexander Innovation Zone, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Macedonia, Alexander Technological Institute of Thessaloniki, International Hellenic University, Greek International Business Association, Federation of Industries of Northern Greece, Centre of Entrepreneurial and Cultural Development, Association of ICT Companies of Northern Greece.
It also runs a pre-incubator/accelerator which hosts start-ups and Social Cooperative Enterprises for a period typically of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months. The aim is to lead them to investment-ready maturity.
OK!Thess pre-incubator offers the following services:
● A co-working space
● Access to high speed Wi-Fi (100/100Mbps)
● Participation in seminars and lectures related to innovation at the OK!Thess premises
● Regular guidance by a coach specialized on startup related matters
● Mentoring in the same field of economic activity as the startup team
● Space for social interaction with other teams
● International networking
To achieve its goal, OK!THESS: 1) Connects teams with mentors, 2) organizes Specialist Training, 3) addresses the broader ecosystem through Cooperative Technical Events and Supporting Events.
Members of OK!THESS are the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Alexander Innovation Zone, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Macedonia, Alexander Technological Institute of Thessaloniki, International Hellenic University, Greek International Business Association, Federation of Industries of Northern Greece, Centre of Entrepreneurial and Cultural Development, Association of ICT Companies of Northern Greece.
Expert opinion
This good practice from Greece fights unemployment through an innovation ecosystem that promotes entrepreneurship and serves as a one-stop-shop hub for new companies. The ecosystem hosts a pre-incubator/accelerator program that offers co-working space, training, coaching, networking etc. opportunities. Besides the business development services, companies benefit from a clustering effect that supports their growth. So far, 4 incubation cycles have been completed with 37 beneficiaries. The idea of developing an innovation hub like that could be – and already is being – replicated and used in other contexts as well. It has to be kept in mind that the initial investments are considerable and one of the success factors is coordination and collaboration between various public and private sector stakeholders.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
The ecosystem runs under a donation of Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
OK!Thess is the result of a memorandum of cooperation between 10 institutions in Thessaloniki but also collaborates with volunteer managers of Greece that support beginners to become entrepreneurs and the National bank of Greece.
OK!Thess is the result of a memorandum of cooperation between 10 institutions in Thessaloniki but also collaborates with volunteer managers of Greece that support beginners to become entrepreneurs and the National bank of Greece.
Evidence of success
4 complete incubation cycles where 37 teams participated & of which 23 are still in the incubator.
20 teams have completed the program.
Successful cases include a team with more than €100k in sales, another one that raised a pre-seed round, and many teams that won entrepreneurial competitions with cash and non-cash prizes. Moreover many of the teams used our network in order to create relations with investors, potential partners and/or find employees for their open vacancies.
20 teams have completed the program.
Successful cases include a team with more than €100k in sales, another one that raised a pre-seed round, and many teams that won entrepreneurial competitions with cash and non-cash prizes. Moreover many of the teams used our network in order to create relations with investors, potential partners and/or find employees for their open vacancies.
Potential for learning or transfer
OK!THESS is a transferable GP. To set up such an initiative, first step is to connect with local players- universities & associations- who would provide with high-skilled people and their established network. Next step is a Μemorandum of Cooperation with all relevant players, being represented ιn a joint Governing Board chaired by a representative, for example the Mayor. An Advisory Board can also be formed by high reputation individuals in fields ranging from risk investment to academia and from startups to consultants.
A first team manned by members of the cooperating institutions and employees of the new structure should work out the “rules of engagement” - the rules under which innovative teams are accepted, are permitted to stay in the incubator, how long, the mentoring program etc. Key element of rules is flexibility, so they can be adapted to circumstances.
OK!Thess has built on these steps and has already achieved extroversy, by initiating cooperation with Bulgaria.
A first team manned by members of the cooperating institutions and employees of the new structure should work out the “rules of engagement” - the rules under which innovative teams are accepted, are permitted to stay in the incubator, how long, the mentoring program etc. Key element of rules is flexibility, so they can be adapted to circumstances.
OK!Thess has built on these steps and has already achieved extroversy, by initiating cooperation with Bulgaria.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
OK!Thess - Οικοσύστημα Καινοτομίας Θεσσαλονίκης
Greece
Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki
Contact
Project Manager-Urban & Regional Planner, MSc