RAISE News

Calling all Researchers, Entrepreneurs, and Investors! The Region Alliance for Interconnected Startup Ecosystems (RAISE) is thrilled to announce four exclusive sessions that delve into the exciting world of research and startups.

Mark your calendars:

• Nov 3, 2023: “The Researcher’s Impact on Startup Innovation Program”
• Nov 6, 2023: “Building Bridges: Connecting Entrepreneurs and Research Talent”
• Nov 15, 2023: “Market Research and Data-Driven Decisions”
• Nov 16, 2023: “Using Technology and Data for Talent Matching”

✨ Why you should be part of this experience:

• Discover how researchers spark groundbreaking innovation and foster collaborative dynamics with founders.
• Explore the power of networking and partnerships in talent acquisition.
• Dive into the world of data-driven decision-making and market research’s role in shaping strategies.
• Learn how technology and data are revolutionizing talent matching in research-driven startups.

We are looking for passionate researchers who can share their insights, and startups founders and investors to provide their valuable perspectives. Each session spans 2 to 3 hours, ensuring you get in-depth knowledge and ample networking opportunities.

✅ Ready to be part of the transformation? There are two ways to join:

1. Be a participant in the panel session and engage in interactive discussions on each topic.
2. Become a speaker on the topics mentioned above and share your expertise.

Call for Speakers: Share Your Insights with RAISE!

RAISE (Region Alliance for Interconnected Startup Ecosystems) is looking for experts like you to join our upcoming sessions and provide valuable insights!

Researchers

Are you a researcher with a passion for startups, investments, and the dynamic world of entrepreneurship? We invite researchers with a deep understanding of the startup ecosystem to take the stage for a short 15-minute presentation on any of the following topics:

• Research-Powered Innovation: Showcase the incredible innovative potential researchers bring to startups.
• Real-World Impact: Share tangible examples of researchers driving groundbreaking ideas and solutions in startup environments.
• Collaboration Chronicles: Spotlight the symbiotic dynamics between startup founders/investors and researchers.
• Networking Wizardry: Dive into the magic of networking and strategic partnerships in talent acquisition. Partnership Best Practices: Looking for accomplished practitioners who have harnessed their networks to unite startups with the perfect researchers.
• Building Strategic Partnerships: Present the dos and don’ts in forging effective partnerships for talent matching.
• Data-Driven Insights: Uncover how researchers conduct market research, analyze consumer behavior, and provide startups with data-powered guidance.
• Shaping Startup Strategies: Share instances where research-driven market insights have influenced startup strategies for the better. 🚀
• Data-Driven Success: Highlight the pivotal role of data-driven decision-making in achieving startup goals.
• Talent Scouting: Emphasize the significance of recruiting the right talent for research-driven startups. Tech-Driven Talent Acquisition: Discuss the transformative power of technology, including AI, machine learning, and data analytics, in matching skills and fulfilling requirements.

🔍 Ready to enlighten and empower the startup community? Your expertise can be the catalyst for change and innovation in the startup landscape.

Startup Leaders and Investors

Are you a startup founder or investor with a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience? Join us at RAISE (Region Alliance for Interconnected Startup Ecosystems) and inspire the startup community by sharing your invaluable perspectives on these compelling topics:

• Collaborative Dynamics: Explore the synergy between founders and researchers.
• Networking and Partnership Success: Share how you’ve connected startups with the right researchers.
• Strategic Partnerships: Present the dos and don’ts for effective talent matching.
• Market Research Impact: Reveal instances where research-driven insights influenced startup strategies.
• Data-Driven Success: Highlight the role of data-driven decisions in achieving startup goals.
• Finding the Right Talent: Share the importance of recruiting talent for research-driven startups.
• Technology’s Role in Talent Acquisition: Delve into the transformation led by AI, machine learning, and data analytics in matching skills and requirements.

We want to hear from you! Your experiences, stories, and insights can shape the future of startup success.

Contact us via email info@theraise.eu.

Register here until November 2nd, 2023!

About RAISE

The RAISE project is an EU-funded initiative committed to fostering startup growth and scale-up across Europe. We aim to provide a supportive framework that empowers startups aiming to expand their horizons. Our sessions are designed to connect you with the right mentors, trainers, and support you in accessing your target markets.

👉 Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this exciting journey!

During the upcoming period, RAISE, an EU-funded project committed to promoting the growth and scaling of startups across Europe, will be hosting four coaching sessions for startups.

The four coaching sessions (free of charge) aim to provide valuable insights and practical solutions for European start-ups to improve their business models and partnerships. The sessions will offer personalised coaching and interactive learning activities to help participants understand key concepts and develop their skills. The four  Workshops will address the following 4 topics: The Lean Canvas, The Unique Value Propositions Canvas, Approaching risk capital investors, and How to master your pitch.

Event details

The Region Alliance for Interconnected Startup Ecosystems – RAISE – project aims at developing a new and sustainable integrated support framework to foster startup growth and scale-up across Europe. It targets companies that have already achieved first results, possibly supported by regional programmes, and are now aiming to grow. In this framework, the project partners are required to implement several pilot actions, among which there are training, mentoring, and networking sessions that will help startup promoters to get in contact with the appropriate mentors and trainers who can help them gain access to their target markets.

Objective: The coaching session aims to provide valuable insights and practical solutions for start-ups to improve their business models and partnerships. The session will offer personalised coaching and interactive learning activities to help participants understand key concepts and develop their skills.

Target Audience: The coaching session is designed for start-up founders and representatives who are looking to enhance their understanding of business partnership actions.

Approach: The coaching will revolve around a total of 4 online workshops of 90 minutes each. The structure of each workshop will be a sum of a theoretical session and a practical one.

Workshops (free of charge):

• October 18, Workshop 1- The Lean Canvas
  One of the main failures for early-stage startups is that there is no market needs for the products/services they are developing. Thus to avoid falling into this statistic, it is important for early-stage startups to explore the Lean Canvas as a strategic planning tool.
  
• November 6, Workshop 2 – The Unique Value Propositions Canvas
  The first goal in adopting the Lean Canvas is to reach the Problem-solution fit which is basically when a startup is developing a solution for a specific need(s) for the customers. In order to reach this goal, startups need to use the UVP as a strategic tool.
  
• November 21, Workshop 3 – Approaching risk capital investors
  High-growth early-stage startups need money to scale and boost their activities. It is important that the founders understand which are the kind of investors in the market and which is the best way to approach them.
  
• December 5, Workshop 4 – How to master your pitch
  The first approach to investors is the key to increasing the odds of getting the funds. Thus, preparing a great pitch is crucial to achieve this first step.

Coach: Lorenzo Valeriani, Senior project manager and start-ups coach at META Group.

For over 25 years, META Group has driven knowledge from idea to market by coaching researchers, and entrepreneurs, investing in promising opportunities and advising public and private organisations on innovation strategies. They have plenty of experience investing in high-growth companies across Europe, and helping Institutions, governments, regions and cities around the world foster more of them.

Built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, META Group has a unique edge in first-hand all stages of the entrepreneurial life cycle and they have designed and implemented innovation policies at local, national, and international level.

META operates in three areas:

• META Investment: investing in high-growth startups across Europe.
• META Academy: nurturing and guiding young people, entrepreneurs & scientists as they transform ideas into high-growth startups​.
• META Advisory​: policy advice on stimulating innovation and startups to clients as diverse as individual cities and the European Commission.

For more info and registration click here.

Giacomo Frisanco, a representative of the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA), will take the stage at the European Week of Regions and Cities 2023 (EWRC2023 – Brussels, Belgium – October 11, 2023) to shed light on the RAISE project, a pioneering initiative aimed at breaking barriers to cross-border cooperation within the European startup ecosystem.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2023
• Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM CET
• Location: SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre, Room 314-316
• Format: Workshop
• Theme: Breaking barriers to cross-border cooperation

The workshop, scheduled during the EWRC2023, will kick off with a concise introduction to the RAISE Project, followed by a comprehensive presentation by a representative from the European Commission on European Funds. To ensure the effective reception of information, a fun Kahoot game will be organized. The workshop will culminate with two interactive and enlightening activities: “Startup Scaling” Simulation Game and “European Funding Competition.”

Giacomo Frisanco’s presentation at EWRC2023 promises to illuminate the significance of the RAISE project and its transformative impact on the European startup landscape. As barriers to cross-border cooperation crumble, the future of European entrepreneurship looks brighter than ever.

About the RAISE Project: The RAISE project stands as a flagship initiative in the realm of European Union-funded projects. It is executed by a consortium comprising five esteemed organizations, led by the Startup Europe Regions Network (SERN). The consortium also includes The European Business Angels Network (EBAN), the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA), the Foundation FUNDECYT Scientific and Technological Park of Extremadura (FUNDECYT-PCTEX), and the International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA).

The fundamental objective of the RAISE project is to forge a new and sustainable integrated support framework that fosters the growth and scaling-up of startups across Europe. This framework encompasses a wide spectrum of dimensions, spanning from initial funding and research support to public incentives and internationalisation. RAISE seeks to promote competitive business models, encourage unconventional collaborations, and stimulate innovative solutions from across Europe.

Most notably, the RAISE project is pivotal in the establishment of a genuine EU startup ecosystem. This ecosystem is not tethered to a single city or region but transcends geographical boundaries, linking all European startups together in a cohesive network.

In the forthcoming month of October, we are honoured to host the Startup Coaching Session: Business Model Actions by SERN. This event is a vital component of the EU-funded project RAISE – a platform championing competitive business models, unconventional partnerships, and comprehensive solutions throughout Europe. RAISE aspires to weave a cohesive fabric of an EU-wide startup ecosystem.

Scheduled for the 3rd of October, the Startup Coaching Session: Business Model Actions will assemble selected startup founders and distinguished representatives in an engaging and collaborative atmosphere. This session aims to furnish invaluable insights and pragmatic solutions tailored to amplify startups’ business models. It is equally relevant for individuals seeking to fortify their comprehension of both business model actions and strategic partnership manoeuvres.

The Startup Coaching Session: Business Model Actions is projected to yield profound discussions and foster an exchange of best practices among esteemed invitees. It would be a privilege to extend an invitation for your esteemed presence to grace this event and share your profound insights during the session.

Key Event Details: 

• Date: 3rd of October
• Time: 9:45 to 13:00 CET
• Venue: Online
• Price: Free

The coaching session has limited participation, which will be decided further regarding the quality of the answers provided by the company’s representatives. 

Please register here!

Further questions should be requested from the following contacts: giorgio.alessandro@startupregions.eu & mariana.andre@startupregions.eu

An event organized by Fundecyt-PCTEX, as a part of the EU-funded RAISE project which aims to support startups and foster innovation, “Coaching Sessions on Technological Female Entrepreneurship in Rural Environments” took place on Friday, June 30th, 2023, at the Events Hall of the Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Extremadura.

The coaching sessions were designed for women-led startups in rural environments, individuals interested in rural and female entrepreneurship, and those curious about EU projects and innovation support services.

The event provided valuable insights into the world of women’s technological startups, enhancing their business models and offering a closer look at rural entrepreneurship. The coaching sessions aimed to:

• Share life experiences of female startup founders.
• Illuminate the significance of solid business plans for success in rural entrepreneurship.
• Encourage networking and collaboration among female entrepreneurs in rural areas.

The Programme

The coaching session comprised two parts: introductory talks and presentations, followed by matchmaking sessions with startups, with a breakfast break in between.

Theory and Lessons: In the morning session, representatives from the RAISE project led discussions, offering a comprehensive overview of business partnership actions and addressing challenges faced by participants.

Coaching Sessions: Participants had the opportunity to connect with other startup representatives and experts in a relaxed setting.

Key Takeaways

Participants left the coaching session with:

• A deeper understanding of rural business model actions and business partnership actions.
• Practical skills to enhance their startup’s success in rural areas.
• Insights from peers and interactive networking opportunities.

Meet the Coaches

The event was co-organised with the Association Women Space Extremadura, a non-profit association bringing together women researchers and professionals from various fields. Two notable coaches were:

Ana Galán: Co-founder of The Geco Company and Vice-president of Women Space Extremadura, Ana Galán has over 15 years of experience in digital communications, helping numerous businesses navigate the digital landscape.

Cristina Rivera: Co-founder of Alzabrand and founding partner of Women Space Extremadura, Cristina Rivera specializes in design methodologies, foreign trade, and digital marketing. She has a wealth of experience in enhancing the visibility of products and services.