August 17, 2010 at 17:54GrowthUP. We started
We launched the incubator . We invested in it two years of experience working with entrepreneurs who have no experience, the experience of our partners abroad, the experience of the Kiev community, which has been gathering for a year and a half around the Startup Crash Test .
How do we differ from traditional incubators and what have we taken from the best world experience? Looking for a couple of years at the activities of our partners ( SeedCamp , Founders Institute , SVB Accelerator , PlugAndPlay) and came to the conclusion that Ukrainian (and Russian) startups do not need a room. This problem is solved by the search for inexpensive premises (a small office or apartment), or even work from home in the early stages. Most often, startups need help in building a company, preparing documents, entering the market. Actually, we created a set of seminars and coaching sessions , provided access to experts and created an effective system of communication with them.
The second problem is that our startups cannot pay for the services of such an incubator; they do not have the opportunity to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month for educational programs. We solved this problem in two ways: we persuaded partners and sponsors to finance the costs of the first two stages of the incubator session, and this is free for entrepreneurs, the third part of the session costs a startup in 5% of the authorized capital. Thus, we want as many entrepreneurs as possible (with more or less adequate projects) to go through the basic training program for free, for those who do not yet have a project or the project is recognized as weak so far, we will take a small fee.
Now we are recruiting entrepreneurs for the first autumn session, at which we will work out all the incubator mechanisms, after that since 2011 we plan to do 4 three-month sessions a year. For now, inconsistencies and glitches are possible, with which we will fight as far as possible.
During this session, we will dramatically increase the number of experts , accredited investors , and service providers . And I think that in 2011 we will let several hundred entrepreneurs through the incubator, which will bring new knowledge and experience to the Ukrainian, and possibly Russian, Internet community.
UPD : both legal and accounting assistance is planned.
How do we differ from traditional incubators and what have we taken from the best world experience? Looking for a couple of years at the activities of our partners ( SeedCamp , Founders Institute , SVB Accelerator , PlugAndPlay) and came to the conclusion that Ukrainian (and Russian) startups do not need a room. This problem is solved by the search for inexpensive premises (a small office or apartment), or even work from home in the early stages. Most often, startups need help in building a company, preparing documents, entering the market. Actually, we created a set of seminars and coaching sessions , provided access to experts and created an effective system of communication with them.
The second problem is that our startups cannot pay for the services of such an incubator; they do not have the opportunity to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month for educational programs. We solved this problem in two ways: we persuaded partners and sponsors to finance the costs of the first two stages of the incubator session, and this is free for entrepreneurs, the third part of the session costs a startup in 5% of the authorized capital. Thus, we want as many entrepreneurs as possible (with more or less adequate projects) to go through the basic training program for free, for those who do not yet have a project or the project is recognized as weak so far, we will take a small fee.
Now we are recruiting entrepreneurs for the first autumn session, at which we will work out all the incubator mechanisms, after that since 2011 we plan to do 4 three-month sessions a year. For now, inconsistencies and glitches are possible, with which we will fight as far as possible.
During this session, we will dramatically increase the number of experts , accredited investors , and service providers . And I think that in 2011 we will let several hundred entrepreneurs through the incubator, which will bring new knowledge and experience to the Ukrainian, and possibly Russian, Internet community.
UPD : both legal and accounting assistance is planned.