Varna
In the period 25.06 – 28.06.2024, the first edition of the new project of APACCCEEC – Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture was held at the University of Economics – Varna. The Academy is a successor of the Accelerator program for start-up enterprises in the field of agriculture between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which was successfully held in 2023, and aims to develop the entrepreneurial climate in major Bulgarian cities outside the capital Sofia.
13 young people from all over the country took part in the Varna edition of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture. The participants prepared and presented innovative project concepts in the field of agriculture.
The Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture was opened by Dr. Momchil Stanishev, Director of APACCCEEC and Prof. Dr. Evgeni Stanimirov, Rector of the University of Economics – Varna. They stressed the importance of such initiatives for the promotion of youth entrepreneurship.
During the Academy week, the participants had the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills with the help of an intensive training program. Lecturers in the program included:
– lecturers from the Department of Agricultural Economics of the University of Economics – Varna – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Stanimirova and Chief Assistant Dr. Damyan Kirechev, who explained to the participants the characteristics of agricultural policies and the sustainable development of agricultural markets; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tanya Georgieva, specialist in modern agriculture and innovations; Chief Assistant Dr. Pavlina Ivanova and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gergana Slavova, who introduced the young entrepreneurs to the essential topic “Leadership and Team Management”;
– Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kostadin Kolarov, Director of the UNWE Institute of Entrepreneurship, who answered the question “Quo vadis, entrepreneurship” and gave the young entrepreneurs valuable advice for successful business planning and modeling, explaining in detail the characteristics of the popular business model Canvas;
– Stanislav Atanasov from Digital Innovation Hub Trakia introduced the participants to two relevant topics of importance beyond the boundaries of entrepreneurship and business – cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). Mr. Atanasov gave tips on how to protect yourself against cybercrime and demonstrated AI-based programs and platforms;
– Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valentina Makni from the Department of International Economic Relations of the University of Economics – Varna and Nikolay Petkanov, business consultant, explained why most of the startups fail, but also encouraged the participants that with the right qualities and approach everyone has the chance to develop their idea and change the world.
– Chief Asst. Dr. Emilia Duneva, lecturer at the UNWE, presented another essential topic, which is part of both our professional and personal lives – social media and marketing strategies. Dr. Duneva noted that a business project will hardly reach its target groups without the help of social media and other communication channels. The UNWE lecturer gave examples of successful marketing strategies of some of the largest agricultural companies in the world.
APACCCEEC also provided two Mentor’s time panels in the program of the Academy, during which the young entrepreneurs discussed their project concepts with the mentors and received valuable guidance for improving the proposals.
During the final day of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture on June 28, the participants had the opportunity to develop their project concepts and present them within 10 minutes to a three-member jury, which, after a secret vote, made a decision and declared Dzhansu Ferhan Mehmedamin as the winner. Her project concept for the construction of a prune production enterprise in the region of Shumen received the highest number of votes.
Dzhansu Mehmedamin was rewarded with a financial prize of 5000 BGN. She will use the award to implement her project.
APACCCEEC team expresses its gratitude to the University of Economics – Varna for the active cooperation in organizing and conducting the edition of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture in Varna.
We congratulate Dzhansu Mehmedamin for winning the award and all the participants for their efforts! We wish them all the best for their current and future endeavours and may the Academy be just one step in their development.
