As part of the FERFL program to promote social entrepreneurship, the FERFL Social Entrepreneurship Startup Weekend took place from April 15 to 17, concluding on Sunday afternoon when the expert panel evaluated the teams. Three winners were selected and will participate in the School of Entrepreneurship.
Friday, April 15, began with the participants getting to know one another and presenting their ideas, forming teams, and learning about the Lean Entrepreneurship business model; they immediately began developing their ideas based on this model.
Saturday morning began with a workshop led by Živa Lopatič titled “Social Impact Entrepreneurship in Practice” and concluded in the evening with a workshop led by Tomaž Stritar. Throughout the day, the teams were out in the field testing their ideas with potential customers regarding the problem and the solution. Moderator Nataša Rupnik (Zavod Zola) and mentor Marko Koštomaj (Podjetnikov servis) spent the entire weekend with the teams, encouraging, guiding, and advising them. In addition to them, the teams received assistance from Ferfl program ambassadors,
On Sunday, Filip Muki Dobranić provided useful information on how to present a business model effectively during his workshop titled “How to Effectively Present a Business Idea.” Throughout the day, participants prepared their presentations with the help of moderators and mentors. The teams held a dress rehearsal and made final adjustments. After 4:00 p.m., the teams presented their ideas to a 9-member expert panel. The teams participating this weekend were:
- Let There Be Paradise – Let There Be Paradise for Everyone with Social Dances
- Teen Center – Psychotherapy for Teens
- A Social Impact Café – A Café with a Secondhand Shop
- Vitalism – Alternative Medicine for Pets
- The Magic of a Smile – Smile Cards
- Ginkgo – Long-Term Support for Teens in Learning and Study Habits
- The Flying Farmer – Farm Care While on Vacation
The winner of the April 2016 Startup Weekend was the Vitalizem team with their idea for alternative animal care; second place went to the Sedežka-Café team with a secondhand goods marketplace, and third place was claimed by the Leteči kmet team with an idea for farm management while farm members are on vacation.
Here are a few more photos from Startup Weekend:
