As part of the project Promotion entrepreneurship by supporting promising innovative ideas through pre-incubating mechanisms, with the acronym Co-Working, of the programme Interreg V-A Cooperation Programme "Greece - Bulgaria 2014-2020", which is co-funded by the European Union and the national resources of the participating countries, the Alexandria Innovation Zone, as lead partner, is going to implement a startup acceleration program.

Where does this Co-Working Accelerator programme aim?

The acceleration program is addressed to those who would like to develop or already have a business idea, which is at an early stage of investigation or development. It is a program to support innovative business groups, which helps participants to mature their idea in a short period of time and discover a sustainable business model that will allow them to grow, as start-ups, in large markets internationally. The acceleration program includes:

• theoretical approach to entrepreneurship issues
• Business discovery labs
• Consulting and mentoring participants to support their business ideas

The acceleration program in the framework of the Co-Working project will concern the organization of a Bootcamp which will be structured in the following 5 thematic units:

1. Development of Lean Startup Methodology
2. Business Model Canvas Methodology Development
3. Development of Assumption Validation Methodology
4. Pitching Techniques and Approaches
5. Internal Evaluation Methodology

In the above context, 3 similar training cycles of 20 participants will be implemented for each thematic unit, each of which will include theoretical training and practical training of the methodology. For the successful completion of the acceleration program, comprehensive participation in each thematic unit is required. The acceleration program will be carried out with the physical presence of the participants in the area of the Alexandria Innovation Zone, while where appropriate, to ensure the protection of the beneficiaries, the ability to participate using digital media. From all interested parties who will apply to participate a total of 60 participants will be selected based on predetermined criteria. Then, to those selected, an invitation and the detailed program will be sent. The required number of participants to implement the first acceleration cycle has been reached.