Smart support for start uppers in Umbria
About this good practice
SmartUp is a project financed by Region Umbria and implemented by Sviluppumbria, aimed at supporting all phases of creating a start-up: identify the idea, test it, research its commercial potential, and implement the business idea.
SmartUp assigns experienced business advisors to accompany the start-up along its journey, helping overcome obstacles, write a business plan, find potential partners, and explore international markets.
In 2021 a call was launched to co-finance the business ideas developed through the SmartUp project. To help applicants fill in the paperwork, 5 mini videos were created and published in SmartUp website. They show how to compile a Lean canvas, a tool to guide the entrepreneur in identifying a dozen different elements needed for her business plan. The Lean canvas is a required element in the grant application, because it demonstrates that the start-up has investigated not only the technological aspect of its idea but also its commercial potential and business strategy.
22 start-ups were co-financed at the end of the first SmartUp project, which also provided a wider range of support over 12 months, with periodic meetings to track progress and accelerate achievable results, the Academy for Innovation, an Investors’ Forum to make “elevator pitches” to potential funders, and the option for start-ups to upload their videos describing the SmartUp experience in the website.
Resources needed
Business support experts and entrepreneur training for the first SmartUp project cost 70,000€. There were additional costs for the technical tools, such as website and videos, whose production cost 1,000€ each. The grants to co-finances the start-ups are not included in this calculation.
Evidence of success
6 startups financed through SmartUp participated to an Academy for Innovation along with 53 other SMEs from Umbria, and were testimonials of the Lean canvas tool, and the accompanying process of support done through videos.
Another indicator of success is that the Region launched a second SmartUp in 2024, to continue to enrich the innovation enterprise community of Umbria. The same tools were used to support potential beneficiaries, including the 5 mini-videos.
Potential for learning or transfer
Linking a program of business support services to grants to co-finance start-ups requires coordinating the activities and efforts of advisors who are already working in the SME support ecosystem. The entity managing grants would need to bring together Enterprise Europe Network partners, regional development agencies, Chambers of Commerce, business incubators and others already working to support entrepreneurs. The different players all have an interest in nurturing start-ups, and the example of SmartUp provides an occasion to coordinate and oversee this ecosystem and amplify the impact on the territory.