Startup Weekend Lublin: Poland-Ukraine-Belarus international edition
About this good practice
CHALLENGES tackleld
• meet the supply of talent by region-based universities and local multicultural community
• improve business skills of IT specialists and students based in the city
• boost networking activity among young people with entrepreneurship aspirations
• increasing demand for integration of startup community
PROBLEMS addressed
• untapped potential of talent pool in Lublin City
low awareness among young people about the value IT skills can add to their professional career
• insufficient networking and mentoring opportunities in the city
Startup Weekend Lublin: Poland-Ukraine-Belarus international edition was organised in 2017 as part of global Startup Weekend initiative, which aims to create a dynamic environment for those who have passion for new technologies, willing to meet and create teams to implement their innovative business ideas, work with mentors and create a business prototype.
• 3 days / 54-hours long bootcamp
• 6 international teams were formed (Polish, Ukrainian and Belarussian entrepreneurs), with a mix of skills and backgrounds in IT and other sectors
• Each team works to build startup fundamentals, i.e. a product or service prototype
• Startups are supported by dedicated Polish and foreign mentors and business training
• The bootcamp ends with a Demo Day where business ideas and prototypes are presented in front of the judges
• The whole event ends with an afterparty and networking activities
Resources needed
Financial resources: ca. 4 500 EUR (20 000 PLN)
• Catering
• Travel and accommodation for mentors
• Promotional materials and gifts
• After party
• Staff costs
Human resources:
• 1 project manager
Evidence of success
• 6 international business ideas / teams participated (Poland, Ukraine, Belarus)
• 4 pitch session judges
• 11 mentors with international background
• local society attention attention through media (TV and radio)
• ca. 200 business ideas participating in 3 editions of Startup Weekend Lublin (2015-2017)
Potential for learning or transfer
This good practice is well and easily transferred due to the standardized and simplified Startup Weekend format across global charters. Moreover, there is an opportunity to customize this good practice to specific challenges of local community – society and environmental issues, business needs of SME / corporate world, challenges faced by public authority units responsible for city wellbeing etc.
• one of the key factor of success for international editions is to provide a network of mentors from your own and foreign countries, which is a very strong value proposition for potential participants
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.