Fifteen participants from all over the Czech Republic have been participating in the pilot run of the OVACE programme. It is designed for start-up entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries and the concept was brought to the Czech Republic by the INION Innovation Centre from Karlovy Vary. We are participating in this new program under the auspices of our startup expert Jan Wedlich, one of the mentors of the program.
Participants learn basic business concepts during twelve online meetings, then work together on motivation, financing and their business plan in a group mentoring session. “We brought the programme to the Czech Republic from Norway, where hundreds of budding entrepreneurs have already successfully passed through it. Since INION is intensively dedicated to supporting the cultural and creative industries, we decided to dedicate it to creatives. This makes it ideal for art students, photographers, designers and graphic artists, for example. Participants are people who want to start their own business, build a new service or product or perhaps start a new cultural project,” says Radka Murasová from the INION Innovation Centre in Karlovy Vary.
“We are delighted to partner with this innovative programme. Working with creatives is very important to us and we are glad that our mentor Honza Wedlich will deepen his experience in working with this specifically focused group in this pilot run,” says Lucie Podrápská, who is dedicated to cultural and creative industries at the Innovation Centre of the Usti Region.
The program is unique, both in its focus on creatives and its intensity. In addition to individual group sessions, participants also have the opportunity for individual mentoring. To work on the business plan, participants have a digital tool called EMS (Entrepreneurship Management System) that guides them step by step through its preparation. Thanks to the support from the Norway Grants and EEA, participation is free of charge.
The Development Programme for Cultural and Creative Industries (OVACE Programme) is organised by theINION Innovation Centrewith its Norwegian partnerEntreprenerdy. This project is funded by a grant from the EEA and Norway Grants, Culture Programme.
