ENTRYWAY – ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITHOUT BORDERS , GREECE

The EntryWay programme was open to all immigrants and refugees, with a focus on youth and women. Candidates were asked to submit an application including a brief description of their business idea and relevant background information. Selection criteria included a strong motivation, having a business idea (which could be at a very early stage), having relevant (formal or informal) education or professional experience, and having at least an elementary knowledge of English or Greek. Previous entrepreneurial or professional experience in the country of origin was considered an asset. The EntryWay project carried out outreach activities (through national and local authorities, NGOs, national organisations, the press, migrant forums, etc.) to identify, select and orient potential candidates.

Successful candidates received support in two phases. During the first phase of the programme, participants attended entrepreneurship training. The training modules aimed to help participants gain a better understanding of entrepreneurship, and equip them with methods to get started through lectures and practical exercises on various topics (e.g. creating a business plan, assessing market potential, creating a marketing strategy, developing a financial plan).

In a second phase, participants received personalised support from experienced entrepreneurs, business counsellors and mentors to develop their business idea into a business plan and start their activity. Participants received two months of mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs. The programme monitored entrepreneurs as they developed their projects and offered ad-hoc support and advice on key issues (e.g. administrative procedures, creating a business plan, finance management, and funding methods).