Evolutions: Meetup & Showcase: Warsztaty
Evolutions: Meetup & Showcase is an event combining the exchange of experience, expert meetings, a competition of startups and energetic networking. It kicked off on Wednesday, 19 June, with a special startup workshop for young entrepreneurs held at the Wrocław headquarters of Coventry University. They were led by experts from various fields, including specialists in social media, communication, finance or market analysis. They shared tips on how to prepare a startup for international success, fundraising and scaling, as well as how to convince an investor for your project. They also talked about how to effectively promote a young company with limited resources and use the potential of social media.
Artificial intelligence not that scary
Marek Malinowski, Innovation and Tooling Manager, EY Technology, delivered a workshop on the use of machine learning in practice – in both professional and private life.
“I hope I have shown that the threshold for entry into artificial intelligence and machine learning is low and that it is not knowledge reserved only for maths or physics graduates. My workshop is the story of me as a father and my 8-year-old daughter creating her Pony Pony recognition model. So if such a young child can do it, so can the attendees of the workshop.”
Marek Malinowski, Strategy, Innovation and Tooling Manager, EYTechnology Poland
Courage and penitence needed
In the other hand, Mateusz Klupczynski, co-founder and CEO of Publink, talked to the participants of the workshops he was carrying out on the idea that it is possible to sell something that, in the opinion of most, is not a product, but if it is solving a problem for someone, it is providing real value. He also talked about the learning curve and the journey of an entrepreneur from his beginnings to the present.
“I hope that the attendees of my classes will learn to get in front of people faster, test their ideas and not be embarrassed by them. I also hope that they will have some courage and a lot of modesty in their activities, because the lack of it is deceiving.”
Mateusz Klupczyński, CEO and Co-founder Publink
Game that teaches you how to manage the finances of your startup
Meanwhile, Slawek Borkowski, investment director of the Fidiasz VC, an independent advisor working with startups, conducted a financial simulation at the workshops he runs, which teaches young entrepreneurs how to handle finances in a startup.
“It was a game, so we had some rivalry and excitement. All the groups made money, which happened to me for the first time. They learned how to use the operational financial model to manage the company. They also learnt about whether it’s worth it to run the company aggressively or cautiously and what the consequences are. They also talked about the relationship between how much money we have in our accounts, what customers we have, what margins we use and how many shares we give away to investors. I think everyone had a lot of fun on the occasion.”
Sławek Borkowski, Investment director at Fidiasz VC
Combination of networking and startup essentials
According to Dr Jacek Lewandowski, director of the Coventry University campus in Wrocław, the workshop organised as part of Evolutions: Meetup & Showcase is a highly enjoyable, educationally relevant event that is a combination of networking and startup driven content.
” This time I was a participant in a workshop with a very interesting simulation game about finances in a startup. It allowed one’s eyes to be opened regarding the strategy to be adopted depending on whether one is betting on a premium or basic customer. It was also possible to learn how to plan business strategies in terms of making the startup sustainable and successful.”
dr Jacek Lewandowski, Coventry University Wrocław
Workshops not just for IT
Magdalena Bielawska, owner of Adsetterka, took part in a workshop on taxes in one-person businesses and in a company.
“Although it was mainly about IT, and I happen to be in the marketing industry, I learned a lot of things that were interesting as far as I’m concerned, such as what the forms of taxation are or what benefits you can give to b2b employees. It was a really insightful workshop that I would recommend to anyone.”
Magdalena Bielawska, CEO Adsetterka
Check out the coverage on the Startup Wroclaw channel!
