“VentureGarden”- Helping People Grow Ideas, since 2014.
The Hellenic Initiative announces that the entrepreneurship program VentureGarden has entered its 5th year. Having already successfully completed 8 cycles, the program is carried out jointly by the Entrepreneurship Hub of ACT in Thessaloniki and ALBA Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece in Athens, with the support of The Hellenic Initiative.
Throughout these years, VentureGarden has significantly contributed to the invigoration of entrepreneurship in Greece. By providing ambitious entrepreneurs with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in order to help them realize their ideas and more importantly to gain an entrepreneurial mindset, VentureGarden has offered tangible results in a sector which is of catalytic importance to Greece.
What is VentureGarden?
VentureGarden is a holistic training program for young entrepreneurs, who seek to develop their skills and gain access to a constantly developing entrepreneurship network. The program is free and it’s addressed to all those who wish to turn their idea into a sustainable business.
The program includes 10 courses and lasts for 12 months. During this period, the participants come into contact with the major issues that determine a successful business start. Moreover, they are supported and mentored according to the individual business objectives of each participant.
Already, 1900 application forms have been submitted in the 8 previous cycles of the program, and 670 applicants were chosen to participate in the program in Athens and Thessaloniki.
During these 8 cycles, 230 professors and mentors delivered a total of 619 hours of lectures, offering guidance and practical support, with the purpose of providing tangible entrepreneurial results to the participants’ business ideas. It is worth noting that, until today, more than 910 hours of mentoring and support have been offered to the participants of VentureGarden.
Michael Printzos, THI Director of Programming, stated: “The commencement of VentureGarden’s 5th year and its highly positive reception by the entrepreneurial community, demonstrate the remarkable support the program has provided to ambitious entrepreneurs. It is especially satisfying for us at The Hellenic Initiative, who were involved in the program from its beginning until today, to see the team of VentureGarden continue its contribution with the same strive and motivation with which they began. The promotion of entrepreneurship constitutes a primary pillar of THI’s action, and is also a very important factor in tackling the crisis. Our goal through this program remains the same, to support dynamic young people with a vision in their efforts to make their business idea a reality”.
Alexis Kosmelis, Director of ALBA Hub for Entrepreneurship and Development, stated: “During the last years, we learned a lot from the entrepreneurs who trusted us in the context of VentureGarden. We learned that you can be successful with not so much and rich in experiences. We are proud that VentureGarden has matured as a program, and it now has its own community of support and inspiration. Entering the program’s 5th year, we invite to VentureGarden all those who want to become members of this dynamically growing community “.
George Kokkas, Director of Entrepreneurship Hub ACT, stated:”VentureGarden provides guidance to people who are young at heart and want to succeed in the business arena. Through its targeted entrepreneurial training, the mentors’ guidance and the supporting initiatives which the program offers, the business ventures developed through VentureGarden have significantly increased chances to succeed. The program’s alumni constitute a close-knit community. Many of our graduates have exceled in entrepreneurship competitions and are selling their products and services worldwide”.
