xPORT VŠE Business Accelerator open registration for new projects

xPORT VŠE Business Accelerator has just finished its first round of the incubation program which helps student to evolve their ideas into real business. During June and summer holiday, new projects can apply for xPORT. The registration is now open.

The University of Economics, Prague opened xPORT VŠE Business Accelerator in January 2015. One month later, the first projects were selected by the xPORT board. Over the past four months, they have benefitted from free working space, experienced mentors, professional lectures, networking and being part of the entrepreneurship community in Prague. Selected projects were divided into two programs according to their level of progress. There is an incubation program for a business idea in the early stage of realization (iPORT), and there is an acceleration program for ongoing startups willing push their business.

Eleven teams were accepted into the incubation program iPORT. They presented their projects during the Demo Day on 2 June 2015. The team who advanced the most during the four months in xPORT was then selected by a jury; the winner was the Czech-Swiss team with a project called Dozamo. Dozamo is a web configurator to design furniture; everyone can design their own furniture online.

Teams working in the acceleration program aPORT will continue with their projects; at the same time, xPORT is opening both programs to new applicants. New teams can apply from June 2015 via on-line registration. After registration, the team will be invited to preset the project during the „Open House“. The first „Open House“ takes place on 16 of June. Since July 2015, the “Open House” presentations will take place regularly every first Tuesday of the month. Any team can apply for the xPORT programs. There is only one condition – at least one of members has to be a student, alumni or employee of VŠE.

The incubation program iPORT helps teams to push their business idea into a real product or service. When the team is accepted into iPORT, it gets access to regular consultations with professionals experienced from the startup environment, working space in modern facilities, and PR for its project. In the next step, the team will be connected with its own consultant; it will also get the possibility to benefit from an “xPORT wallet”, participation in contests and access to subject advisors specialized in marketing, multimedia, legislation, HR etc.

The acceleration program aPORT is designed for advanced startups which would like to make a step forward. It is for startups that already have products or services as well as clients, but they would like to acquire new market or boost their sales. The most important benefit for startups joining aPORT is that each team gets its own mentor. The mentor is usually a successful businessperson which will work with the team at regular meetings. Teams will also have a chance to present their startup to investors. The most successful teams could visit and work in a partner accelerator in the USA.

For more information, visit the website http://xport.vse.cz/english/ or contact xPORT at xport@vse.cz and arrange an appointment.