The EIC Community Programme is a vital initiative created to fulfill the networking, experience-sharing, and professional development needs of the EIC awardees. Through upskilling initiatives, peer-learning workshops, and customised training activities, the programme empowers participants to enhance their skills and leverage their work effectively. As we wrap up this week dedicated to the EIC Community Programme, today we focus on the experts who shared their extensive experience on numerous occasions in these EIC initiatives.
Throughout the entire programme, EIC Community beneficiaries have the chance to get in contact with diverse like-minded innovators and business stakeholders. These opportunities arise during initiatives such as the EIC Winter and Summer Schools, EIC Innovation Talks, EIC Coordinators Days, and EIC Community Trainings.
Empowering Innovators: Insights from Expert Speakers and Engaged Trainees
The EIC Trainings provides innovators, researchers and startups with the essential tools and knowledge to advance their entrepreneurial journey. Onsite ones are particularly valuable as they enable attendees to network and exchange ideas in an effective way. The goal is fostering attendees to perform at their best and drive their projects and innovations forward successfully. One such was the physical workshop held on 20 March 2024 that had as its primary objective to help beneficiaries to:
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Gain expertise in valuation by learning how to accurately estimate and effectively convey the value of their project or innovation.
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Understand the financial modelling requirements, tools and strategies which are essential for both early-stage and growth-stage startups.
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Engage in peer-to-peer networking and collaborative learning within the EIC Community.
José A. Martinez, a speaker at one of the EIC community workshops and an EIC Business Innovation Coach and Innovation Expert, highlighted the positive aspects of the workshops, as follows:
Returning to on-premise training brings extra attention to both the debates and the networking of the attendees. As a trainer, it is something I missed, and it allows me to customize the conversations even more and read the non-verbal language when challenging questions appear.
Daniel Michel, Growth Services Manager and Head of Access to Finance at EIT Digital, and Ben McClure, Venture Capital Fundraising Specialist at EIT Digital) stated:
We are delighted to have helped CEOs and CFOs gain a deeper understanding of how to prepare their financial models for venture capital investors. During the event, they were engaged and enthusiastic. When I spoke to the founders after the event, their response to the EIC Community Training session was overwhelmingly positive. They appreciated our comprehensive coverage and our practical insights and tips gained from our knowledge and experience supporting European technology ventures with their capital-raising. They are better equipped to embark on fundraising campaigns.
Guiding innovation: expert trainers lead EIC Summer School trainees in venture capital fundraising
Looking ahead, trainers like Jari Mieskonen (Northern Europe Venture Capital Fundraising Specialist, EIT Digital) and Ben McClure will be pivotal in the upcoming EIC Summer School. These seasoned experts will share their extensive experience on building pitch decks and investments to EIC beneficiaries participating in the training.
Jari Mieskonen brings over two decades of expertise in venture capital and corporate finance within the Northern European tech sector. With his extensive experience and global perspective, Jari continues to be a respected leader in the field. Together with Ben McClure, they stated:
Drawing on our decades of capital-raising experience, we'll be sharing insights about venture capital investors, how they assess deep tech opportunities, and the best ways for deep tech entrepreneurs to get ready for investment and communicate with professional investors. The aim of our EIC Summer School training sessions is to give you tools and knowledge to boost your dialogue with investors and make fundraising for your world-beating deep tech business a success.
EIC is dedicated to elevating the growth potential of startups and researchers, ensuring they are well-equipped and scalable in their markets. A cornerstone of the EIC Community Programme is its commitment to not only expanding beneficiary networks but also integrating these connections with comprehensive upskilling initiatives. This approach ensures that each participant is both connected to essential business partners and continuously advancing in their professional capabilities.
About the EIC Community Programme
The EIC Community Programme supports EIC-backed companies, startups and researchers and includes the EIC Community Platform, the virtual meeting place where EIC awardees can connect, share their experiences, leverage potential business partnerships and participate in interactive trainings and workshops.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.