Newsletter #1
November 7th, 2024
Hello from the Ecosys4you project team!
We are a project partnership committed to connecting the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Varna (Bulgaria), Slovenia, and the Ruhr (Germany). The ecosystems are represented by RAPIV, the Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Varna, DOBA Business School in Maribor, the Institute for Work and Technology of the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, and the start-up AWARE7, both located in the Ruhr. Our aim is to establish flows of innovation resources between the ecosystems by developing a joint cross-ecosystem education program for young people passionate about entrepreneurship. In our first newsletter, we would like to take the opportunity to introduce our early activities and Varna as one of our three entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Ecosys4you-Kick-off meeting in Gelsenkirchen 13th – 15th of September 2023
Beautiful fall days served as the perfect background for our work-intensive kick-off meeting. In two days, we discussed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOTs) of the three ecosystems and the next steps to roll-out the project. The kick-off meeting was hosted by the Institute for Work and Technology of the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences located in the Science Park Gelsenkirchen. As evident by the picture, we took the time for a small excursion to the “Himmelstreppe” from which we could oversee the entire Ruhr region (the weather was simply too nice to stay inside the entire day).
Varna (Bulgaria) - a vibrant ecosystem at the Black Sea coast
This month we introduce to you the ecosystem of Varna, Bulgaria according to our discussion and first field work. Varna is located on the Bulgarian coast and is the second most innovative place in the country after the capital – Sofia. The city is part of Bulgaria's emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem, initiated in 2013 and fortified by robust digital infrastructure and several key strengths. The country boasts a low cost of living and one of the EU's lowest personal and corporate tax rates. The government actively encourages entrepreneurship through agencies like Invest Sofia and initiatives such as the Startup Visa. A unique company model that allows flexible capital infusion, akin to the US, further stimulates business development. However, being located 440 km east of the capital Varna’s ecosystem faces its own challenges like a heavy reliance on EU funding for training and mentoring, limited financing mechanisms, and the concentration of venture capital and business angels in Sofia.
Nevertheless, Varna hosts six universities, nurturing a growing young population of around 40,000 students. Additionally, the start-up scene is populated by diverse actors as business support organizations like Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovations – Varna (RAPIV), Smart Varna Foundation, Business Agency Association, Beehive, ICT Cluster – Varna and national VC funds like LaunchHub and Eleven Ventures. The city is home to thriving sectors, including fintech, artificial intelligence, healthtech, and logistics around the port, creating jobs and bolstering the economy.
Furthermore, various activities like Startup Weekend Varna, ABLE Weekend Activator, EIT Food Challenge Lab Bulgaria and Innowave Summit, though with limited municipal support, drive startup ventures and innovation. The ecosystem fosters interactions among its actors, offering specialized programs such as Varna Deep Tech Innovation Port, University of Economics Varna Accelerator, Women Entrepreneurship Centre, and D-Care Smart Care Labs. Innowave Summit, taking place this year in November from the 17th to 18th serves as a platform for networking and knowledge exchange worth visiting if you happen to be nearby.
‘Ecosys4you – to be continued‘
Start-up skills biographies
After considering the perspectives of incubators and stakeholders, we are now conducting interviews with start-ups to understand which ecosystem activities have been particularly beneficial for their development and what can be improved. If you know of any start-ups we should interview or if you work in a start-up yourself and would be willing to talk with us, please let us know. We still have a few available slots.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those who have already participated in this endeavour.
Co-Creation Workshops for our activities
You have an idea how to develop or improve activities like Joint Classes, Internships, a mentoring program or co-creation challenges for international students and young entrepreneurs? Then become a part of our Co-creation workshops starting January 2024!
Save the Dates
- 23.01.2024, 10:00-13:00 (CET): Joint Classes “Entrepreneurial Mind in Action”, which will attract the attention of those who want to stand out and learn more about entrepreneurship (organized by DOBA)
- 30.01.2024, 13:00-16:30 (CET): Internships at start-ups in the Ruhr area for students from Varna and vice versa (online; organized by WH GE)
- 13.02.2023, 13:00-16:00 (CET): Mentoring: young entrepreneurs as Mentees get Start-ups from the three ecosystems as mentors (organized by RAPIV)
- 22.02.2024, 10:00-12:00 (CET): Hackathon with co-creation challenges from local start-ups, participation open for everybody (organized by AWARE7)
If you are interested in participating in the Co-Creation Workshops you can register via e-mail.
Are you curious? Join our community!