The ideas are there, but how do they become reality? Davide Bicego and Stefano Polese from Italy are currently asking themselves this question. The two are studying at the University of Padua and got to know each other during their studies. They quickly realised that working together in university courses was not enough! Davide Bicego and Stefano Polese have so many new ideas and motivation that sooner or later they want to turn it into a start-up. The big question that arises: How do we go about it? And this is exactly where the young Italians are now getting help: within the framework of Arqus, in the centre of the university campus in Graz.
The Arqus initiative ISLYE (International Soft Landing for Young Entrepreneurs) provides the basis for this opportunity. As part of ISLYE, students and researchers can travel to other Arqus locations to spend a week gaining knowledge about business start-ups and management.
How does a start-up work?
Stefano Polese explains: "If we are really founding a start-up, then of course we want to do it properly. That's why we're now in the phase where we're collecting a lot of data." For example, the two want to discuss whether their ideas are feasible. Or how they can best be made feasible. But that's not all they want to find out, explains Davide Bicego: "There's more to a start-up than just good ideas. We also want to know how to do business properly and how best to run a company."
The expertise on these and other issues can be found in Graz. More precisely, at the Unicorn Start-up and Innovation Hub. Under the management of Bernhard Weber, young creatives are given a helping hand and a place is created to develop ideas and network clever minds.
Arqus brings bright minds together
Thanks to the Arqus Alliance, this opportunity is open to all bright minds from the partner universities. They not only receive a large portion of knowledge and plenty of contacts, but also financial support for their journey. The two say: "We are very pleased that we decided to come to Graz. Bernhard Weber has put together a great programme for us. And we can meet lots of interesting people. Graz is also simply a very interesting research centre."
Bernhard Weber is also very pleased about this initiative: "We are not only helping young entrepreneurs, but also benefiting from it ourselves. After all, important international contacts are linked in this way. It's a great experience for both sides."
More information
If you would like to find out more about ISLYE and the opportunities it offers, you can find all the important information under this link.