DL Tech Up Acceleration program

DL Tech UP acceleration program has been specially developed to support potential and budding entrepreneurs as well as new small and medium-sized enterprises that wish to present their innovative product in the cross-border region Bulgaria – Greece (Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Haskovo, Kardzhali and Central Macedonia regions),

Participants in the Accelerator Program are the approved applicants from the open call published here.

What is in the core of the Acceleration program?

The methodology of the program includes:

• • Practical training in 12 modules

• • Communication with mentors selected depending on your business idea

• • Participation in 2 webinars/masterclasses that build on and enrich the knowledge from the modules

• • Organized meetings and networking events

The modules are interrelated and buildable to give basic practical knowledge of key business components. They contain lots of advice from successful entrepreneurs, inspiring entrepreneur videos, concrete examples of interesting businesses, practical tools and links to further information. They are intended for independent work at the most convenient time, at the pace that suits participants. To check and consolidate the acquired knowledge in each module there is a task that helps to gradually develop and build on the idea.

To make the program more effective, mentoring is included so that participants can make the most of the experience and expertise of the mentors and speed up the process and develop realistic business plans. Scheduled webinars and networking events will give them the opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs and each other.

The program includes following training modules:

Module 1 – Idea Generation

Module 2, Part 1 – Innovation

Module 2, Part 2 – Circular Economy

Module 3 – Blockchain

Module 4 – Structuring and assessing the viability of a business idea

Module 5 – Business model

Module 6 – Team and Leadership

Module 7 – Digital Marketing

Module 8 – Branding

Module 9 – Financial management and financing tools

Module 10 – Intellectual Property Protection and Legal Aspects

Module 11 – Competition, markets, electronic commerce

Module 12 – Risk Management

The focus of the program are sectors:

• • Agriculture

• • Food production and processing, new technologies and ICT solutions in support of agriculture and food

• • Innovations in the production and promotion of natural products but the program’s methodology could also be applied to other business sectors.

Link for access to the accelerating program for approved applicants