SLUSH event organizers share how to maximize the value of startup events
The International Trade Centre hosted the pilot Youth Ecopreneur Awards in 2021, aimed at supporting youth-led companies across three sectors: water, waste, energy. More than 600 young ecopreneurs applied from around the world. The Award winners were identified through a competitive process and pitched their companies before an esteemed Jury to take home a 5000USD prize and much more. The three winners were:
To continue the learnings and keep the network of young ecopreneurs engaged and enhancing their skills, the ITC organized a series of webinars on a variety of topics related to green entrepreneurship, sustainability and business competitiveness.
On the 19 October 2022, the ITC hosted the final webinar in the Youth Ecopreneur Awards E-Learning Series on How to maximize the value of startup events. The webinar was facilitated by ITC partner: Ambitious Africa. As co-organizers of the SLUSH event, the Ambitious Africa team played a critical role in securing one of the key prizes for the winners of the Youth Ecopreneur Awards 2021 – tickets to SLUSH.
To ensure the network of ecopreneurs were prepared and ready for attending startup events to get the most out of them, the Ambitious Africa team, led by Maija Luukka and Ronny Eriksson shared critical insights and important tips on How to maximize the value of attending a start-up event. These include:
- You get as much out of a startup event as you put in
- Getting the most out of a startup event is about preparation
- Keep in mind your goal
- Be open about what you do, be ready to adapt as you go and to improve upon your pitch
- At the event be proactive, listen to others and learn from them
- Schedule immediate follow-ups with people you meet; add new LinkedIn connections
- Share your contact details creating a card with QR code scanning to your information
- Pitching ideas is not about being a savvy person, but about “selling” your inspiration and being confident
Another key takeaway of the session: Even if a startup event is aimed to bring together different stakeholders of the startup ecosystem, anybody can attend and enjoy it!
Thanks to everyone who participated and all the great questions that came through during the session.
P.S. Don’t forget to continue to network, connect and… to have fun! If you aren’t already a member of the ITC’s Ye! Community, join the network here to learn about upcoming webinars, connect with mentors, and get access to a myriad of resources.
For green entrepreneurs, be sure to checkout ITC’s dedicated website for businesses working toward the green transition here.