Supporting start-ups with business coaching in Belgium
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Partner University of Applied Sciences HOWEST
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At Howest a 1-on-1 business-coaching opportunities for start-ups in partner regions have been set-up. Offering the opportunity for start-ups to make contact for online coaching regarding their business plans. While also helping young & local entrepreneurs who’re amongst others working on digital technologies.
- At our University College we’re part of a team that coaches start-ups of students. We have around 300 students that work on entrepreneurial projects in different industries. During this coaching trajectory we scout for businesses that fit within the scope of the Cupido project. We inform them of the project and the opportunities and possibilities they have with their project for the development of the region, says Bram.
- We have also set-up a video studio that will be used for the creation of the online support of start-ups. It is also used by start-ups to make promotional material for their business. This is going very well. It is such a success that our University College is expanding this studio so more people can use this service. This in return broadens the local network of the Cupido project.
Howest have also been working with surveys and reports during the CUPIDO project, providing outputs that have been used for inspirational packages in each partner region. Next up in the project for Howest is working with an online course on how to start and run a business. While having already done much of the research needed, making all the practical arrangements for building the course have been harder, due to corona restrictions.
- Corona made work a lot harder, since we’re forced to work from home. It makes the supporting services we otherwise have easy access to less available. A lot of things go slower and get delayed due to Corona and being forced to work from home. On the other hand it forced our organisation to go completely online with courses, meetings, so we learned from this. It gives insight in what are good practices and what not. This can help with building the online courses in the end, says Bram.