On Thursday, April 21, 2022, the closing conference of the “Zaledje podjetnikom” project took place in Stari Maln, Vrhnika. The conference brought together participating mentors, entrepreneurs, and those with business ideas, as well as mayors and project partners, and officially concluded the 8-month project, which ran from last August through the end of April. The guests were also addressed by the mayor of Vrhnika, Mr. Daniel Cukjati, and the president of the Barje and Hinterland Local Action Group (LAS) and mayor of the municipality of Log–Dragomer, Mr. Miran Stanovnik. Both emphasized the importance of such projects for both the local community and the wider region, as it is entrepreneurs who create key added value in the communities where they operate. Ms. Mirjam Suhadolnik from TD Blagajana and Ms. Sanda Jerman from Cene Štupar – CILJ jointly presented the project’s results. The closing conference was made possible by the municipalities of LAS Barje and its surrounding area, and Cene Štupar – CILJ.
A unique program designed to enhance entrepreneurs’ business knowledge was organized by the partners : the Municipality of Vrhnika, TD Blagajana, Margita Vehar s.p., and the lead partner, Cene Štupar – CILJ, as part of operations aimed at achieving the objectives of the “LAS Barje and SurroundingArea” Local Development Strategy. Over 100 entrepreneurs and business idea proponents participated in the project, primarily from the municipalities of Brezovica , Borovnica, Dobrova–Polhov Gradec, Horjul, Log–Dragomer, and Vrhnika. Participation was free of charge for attendees.
To kick things off, from September through November, the project hosted six virtual Entrepreneurial Breakfasts and welcomed over 20 entrepreneurs, mentors, and other experts. They offered insights into marketing, sales, new business models, energy efficiency, the support environment for entrepreneurs, and the latest trends, while sharing their practical experiences. The events were opened with introductory remarks by the mayors of the municipalities in the LAS Barje with Hinterland, who also presented current business incentives in their municipalities.
In December and January, the project then offered the Entrepreneurship Academy, which featured eight in-depth workshops led by renowned entrepreneurial mentors. The workshops, covering topics such as business development, sales, marketing, e-commerce, HR strategy, agile operations, and accessing EU funds, were led by renowned entrepreneurial mentors: Jure Tomc, MBA; Anita Hrast, M.A.; Tamara Valenčič, Jerneja Milost, Črt Podlogar, Sonja Peklenik, M.A., Urška Jež, and Nina Vrabelj.
From February through mid-April, an 8-week ENTREPRENEURIAL INCUBATOR was held for entrepreneurs and individuals with business ideas, where 5 entrepreneurs and 3 individuals with business ideas expanded their knowledge and improved their business operations. Together with the incubator participants, representatives from the companies Fortrade d.o.o., Mikrozelenje Šebenik d.o.o., Eventnika d.o.o., Ana Mavretič s.p., and Marjana Žnidaršič s.p., as well as the creators of the business ideas—Zoran Memon, Tina Peršolja, and Tadeja Vidmar—five outstanding entrepreneurial mentors provided nearly 100 hours of mentoring. The mentors, who diligently guided the entrepreneurs, were Jure Tomc, MBA; Jerneja Milost, M.A.; Črt Podlogar; Sonja Peklenik, M.A.; and Urška Jež.
Learn more about the project at https://www.cene-stupar.si/sl/projekti/zaledje-podjetnikom or at sanda.jerman@cene-stupar.si.
