Venture Academy

The Venture Academy is offered by Europe Unlimited with aims to help SMEs that have been selected to present at the Cleantech Venture Forum. Experienced coaches from the relevant industry areas will work very pragmatically with the presenters to prepare them for their participation on the next day at the Forum.

** The Venture Academy is highly encouraged for entrepreneurs looking to access international markets as they will be provided with concrete information, tools and resources in order to successfully partner and grow their business. 

The Training is part of EurOffice Services, a PRO INNO Europe action.

Focus will be on how to meet strategic partners and potential investors’ expectations. Participants will receive guidance on how their presentations and propositions compare with those of other participants, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses which need to be addressed and improved.

Our access to early stage finance trainings help entrepreneurs to access early-stage funding through Investor-Readiness Workshops and supportive tools. We prepare participants also for business presentations at international investment conferences and investment network platforms.

We offer:

• Direct feedback on strategic strengths & weaknesses & objectives of their business plans/prospects.
• Techniques on how to approach investors, how to improve the business’ investment strategy
• Insight into how venture capitalists and other (international) investors might perceive their business, and an awareness of the necessity of seeking finance from many different sources.
• Knowledge on financing strategy for their company.
• A way to facilitate introductions to investors and for relationship building with other top entrepreneurs and advisors.
• Test market entry strategies / investment plans.

Who will participate in the Venture Academy?

• Selected innovative growth companies with one or maximum two senior management representatives
• External coaches with relevant expertise and experience, who will review the companies from a shareholder perspective
• Facilitated by 2 to 3 moderators

Who are the coaches?

• Independent Coaches: consultants able to personally provide advisory services
  
  
  • Ex venture capital managers
  • Ex entrepreneurs
  • Ex advisors
    
    
• Advisory Coaches from established advisory practices
  
  
  • Consultants from larger or specialised consulting/ accounting firms
  • Head-hunters or interim managers
  • M&A advisors or investment bankers

What does it cost?
Participation for all actors involved in the Venture Academy is free of cost. Nevertheless, it is exclusively for the selected companies.  The organisers’ selection committee will select companies based on the information provided by the companies themselves. Spaces are limited so we suggest presenting companies RSVP as soon as confirmation of selection is received.

The Venture Academy will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, 28 September 2008 at:

ARCOTEL Nike
Untere Donaulände 9
4020 Linz - Austria
Phone: +43 (0) 732 7626-0
Fax: +43 (0) 732 7626-2
E-mail: nike@arcotel.at
Web: