After 30 impactful months, the ENTREPRENEDU project is proudly reaching the end of its lifespan. Funded by the European Union, ENTREPRENEDU set out with a clear mission: to enhance entrepreneurial ecosystems for education across Europe. As we conclude our journey, we’re thrilled to share the key results and lasting impact of our work in empowering the next generation of innovators.
1. ENTREPRENEDU HackTheBusiness hackathons
One of ENTREPRENEDU’s foundational achievements is an ideation challenge named HackTheBusiness, organised in Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. The concept was centered on supporting young European entrepreneurs and their visions, helping them build vital business relationships and confidently step onto their entrepreneurial path. Our HackTheBusiness participants gained invaluable networking opportunities, designed to extend far beyond the events themselves. By providing a structured yet creative environment, HackTheBusiness competitions encouraged participants to develop and refine their business concepts on-site, during hacking time with the possibility to ask support from ENTREPRENEDU mentors. This approach allowed wannabe entrepreneurs to experience a fast-pace business environment, expand their knowledge on entrepreneurship and win a spot in the ENTREPRENEDU Mentoring Programme.
2. ENTREPRENEDU Mentoring & Coaching Programme
The entrepreneurial path is often complex, with young founders facing numerous hurdles. ENTREPRENEDU’s Mentoring & Coaching Programme was developed to address this directly. Led by ENTREPRENEDU experts , this programme had a mission to empower young entrepreneurs, who participated in the HackTheBusiness events, to navigate their professional journey and overcome business challenges. Through personalised guidance and expert insights, the programme ensured that newly founders received the crucial support needed to confidently build and scale their ventures, proving to be a vital supportive mechanism for their development. When the Programme has officially ended, we have talked to some of the HackTheBusiness winners to learn from their experience. Here’s what they have said.
3. ENTREPRENEDU Venture Building Programme
Beyond individual support offered to young entrepreneurs via Mentoring & Coaching Programme, ENTREPRENEDU also focused on systemic change with the Venture Building Programme. This programme stands as a key ENTREPRENEDU result, offering a scalable and replicable educational model designed to address regional disparities in entrepreneurial education across Europe. By providing a practical framework for venture creation, ENTREPRENEDU’s Venture Building Programme has contributed to fostering more equitable entrepreneurial growth, ensuring that promising ideas can flourish regardless of their geographical origin within Europe. It represents a significant step towards a more unified European entrepreneurial landscape and completely supports our main goal: closing the innovation and educational gap between different regions of the EU, causing unbalanced business activity and fewer job opportunities in less developed entrepreneurial ecosystems.
The importance of teamwork
ENTREPRENEDU represented a strong network of partners, and our success is a great example of the power of teamwork. This collaborative initiative included leading organisations such as Fraunhofer IPK, EBAN, Cleantech Bulgaria, LUISS University, F6S, University of Thessaly, and Corallia, with Fondazione E. Amaldi serving as the dedicated project coordinator. Our joint activities have spanned multiple countries, including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Germany, Belgium and Ireland, demonstrating how diverse expertise and shared commitment can drive significant European impact.
The end of the ENTREPRENEDU journey
At the end, we can reflect on the lasting impact ENTREPRENEDU created. These three core programmes, along with our extensive network of partners, have significantly contributed to enhancing entrepreneurial ecosystems for education. Above all, we are proud of the young entrepreneurs we’ve supported and the foundations we’ve laid for future growth and innovation across the European continent.
As ENTREPRENEDU concludes its 30-month journey, our curtains might be closed, but our doors (and emails) are still open to you. The knowledge, networks, and models developed through ENTREPRENEDU will continue to serve as valuable resources for the entrepreneurial community.
Thank you for following our journey,
ENTREPRENEDU Team