I've a great idea. I want to make it happen, but how? First you need the will, then the knowledge. You'll find the first help on this page.
The training courses on digital platforms and startup events are the first step to making your dreams come true. Here you'll learn how to test your idea on the market, how to create a prototype, how to scrutinize the competition, how to create a marketing strategy and how to present the idea.
The POPRI DIGITAL video course will take you through all the stages of developing a business model that you can use to apply to EUSAIR POPRI Youth!
The content is provided by Primorski tehnološki park with the support of SPIRIT Slovenia Public Agency and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia.
Teams are crucial in entrepreneurship. A motivated, multidisciplinary team can make almost any idea a success. The reverse is true as well. A team that shows no particular interest in an idea can ruin even the best idea.
In the spirit of the POPRI competition, mentees should assemble the team themselves. In elementary and secondary schools, students are more likely to come together if they get along well. This is generally a good place to start. Students can find team members among their peers who show interest in the problem the team will solve. Teams should not consist of more than five people. In the best case, a leader is appointed in the team to ensure that the work runs smoothly.
Ideally, teams are multidisciplinary. They consist of people who have different characters, different skills. Someone leads better, another follows better, a third has necessary knowledge that the other two do not have. So all three are important members of the team.
When we already have an idea, all members are assigned roles. Who will do what, what are the tasks. This way each team member knows what they are responsible for.
Especially in elementary schools, it often happens that children claim they don't know what idea they could apply for the competition with. "It's all done already", "I never have ideas" and "We'll think about it next time" are the most common excuses in class. In such a case, we need to motivate the students and show them that coming up with an idea is very easy. Below are two ways to get ideas quickly and easily.
The easiest way to get an idea is from a problem we perceive in the world. To motivate mentees, ask them the following questions:
- Where have you noticed problems in the last two weeks?
- What is the most difficult task you are performing?
- If you don't have a problem of your own, do your parents or other family members have a problem?
Motivate mentees to talk to family members and find the problem they want to solve.
Another way is to look at what knowledge the team has and based on that we choose the field of work (for example, if someone on the team plays guitar, we choose the field of music). Once we have selected an area, we can cheque what problems exist in that area (for example, where this person has encountered difficulties in learning). We then cheque what solutions already exist for these problems and see if we can solve certain problems better.
KOBI
About 20% of people have mild to moderate problems with reading and writing, and for half of them the problems are extremely severe. One of the problems is dyslexia, where people have difficulty transposing letters (for example, not distinguishing between B and D) and spelling words. This mainly affects children between the ages of 5 and 9 who are just learning to read. They begin to lag behind their peers in reading, which also leads to difficulties in learning other subjects. This often affects them on a psychological level as well, as these children feel inferior or even less intelligent.
OLLO AUDIO
Amateur and semi-professional musicians don't have the money to book expensive studio classes or set up a home mixing studio, which is necessary for producing quality music. Studio owners, however, miss the mobility of being able to mix their music outside of their studio, such as when they are traveling or when a client wants final touches and they are not near their studio.
ULLA
The ULLA smart device is a product that solves two human problems. People who want to live a healthy life but have found that they are (1) not drinking enough water. They are aware of the problem of not drinking enough water, but (2) they don't remember due to work overload. Thus, ULLA also solves the problems caused by dehydration such as headaches, decreased productivity, lack of energy and fatigue. The product is thus an answer to the bad habit we humans have of often forgetting to drink water.
Kobi
In the case of Kobi, we have two completely different groups of customers. The first is mothers between the ages of 28 and 40 with children between the ages of 5 and 9 who have difficulty reading.
The second group is educators who lead groups in schools with children who have difficulty reading.
Ollo Audio
Buyers of OLLO Audio headphones are semi-professional musicians between the ages of 26 and 40 who are well off but don't have enough money to buy their own mixing studio.
The second group is professional musicians between the ages of 36 and 60 who have their own studio but need additional reference in their work or want mobility that the studio does not allow (working on the road or from home).
ULLA
The product ULLA is especially suitable for people who want to lead a healthy life, have a very stressful job and forget to drink water due to a busy schedule. The lack of drinking water can lead to headaches, fatigue, decreased work energy and lower productivity. They are aware of this problem so they have already bought a water bottle, but the problem still exists. People come from urban centers, have a smartphone, use value-added services and follow the trends of modern technologies. They are most likely paying attention to their physical activity and diet.
The second group could be all those who want to lose excess pounds, but are careful not to drink too little (as drinking water indirectly causes faster weight loss). In addition, these people most likely live in urban centers and use a smartphone (and other modern technologies), participate or at least expressed a desire to participate in joint or individual workouts, and seek information on weight loss through online portals.
Kobi
The Solution is a mobile application for learning to read. It is specially designed for those who find learning to read a headache. It allows users to import any book into the app. The text is then tailored to each individual child, and parents can monitor the child's reading progress over time.
Ollo Audio
OLLO Audio's headphones allow you to mix music at home. This bypasses the problems of semi-professional musicians who don't have their own mixing studio or money to rent it, because with OLLO Audio headphones, all they need is a computer and a console.
ULLA
ULLA is a smart device that can be attached to any water bottle or glass using a silicone strap. The device reminds us that we need to drink water. It has a built-in sensor that detects if there is a person next to the bottle and turns itself on/off. It does not need to be charged as the battery lasts for a very long time and is easy to replace. Follow the optimal interval for drinking water. Instead of an audible, it uses a light signal for warning, making it suitable for workstations in office environments. It is also a design perfect product and can be purchased in 6 different colors.
Kobi
Parents can sleep at night because their children no longer have reading difficulties
Rationale: When a child has a serious problem, parents sense it and get very stressed. In Kobi's case, parents buy the app mainly because they themselves feel their child's anxiety and go through the ordeal with him.
OLLO Audio
OLLO's headphones are as reliable as studio speakers for music playback. Moreover, they are one of the few headphones that a sound engineer can repair himself by buying spare parts from an online store in case of damage. We also strive to offer at least one upgrade to a new model for each phone model.
ULLA
A smart rehydration coach for your busy life. A smart rehydration coach for your busy life. ULLA is a product for people who are aware of the importance of drinking water, they just need someone to remind them. Changing bad habits is also part of the vision of ULLE creators; to become a company that develops and sells products that are easy to use and help change bad habits.
Kobi
Kobi's direct competitors are all mobile apps that solve the problems of dyslexics. For example, Speechify or Reading Eggs.
Indirect competitors to Kobi are all other digital and physical solutions that solve the problems of dyslexics. For example, online platforms that offer online exercises, computer games that help with dyslexia, tutors, physical books for dyslexics, ...
The advantages of Kobi over its competitors are:
It's a digital solution for mobile devices, which means it's always with you. The child can also use it while waiting in line for the dentist.
It's significantly cheaper than tutors and physical books.
Unlike similar mobile apps (Speechify), it fixes the problem, not just circumvents it.
The most elusive advantage is the community Kobi builds through social networks and institutions. Even if a competitor tackles the same product today, it will take a long time to build a community because there are no shortcuts here.
Ollo Audio
The direct competition in this case are all headphones that are designed for professional musicians and have a neutral frequency response. For example Sennheiser or Audio-Technica.
Indirect competition in this case are for example studios that rent their space to semi-professional musicians. So instead of renting headphones, the customer rents a studio for a certain period of time and thus solves his problem.
The advantages over the competition are:
- Higher sound quality at an affordable price
- Made from high quality materials
- Modular design, i.e. each part can be exchanged
- Convenience
- Mobility
Kobi
Kobi's customers are mothers of children between the ages of 28 and 40. Kobi mostly informs these customers about news, updates and promotions through social media (Facebook), email and its own website. In addition, Kobi uses PR marketing because it has a great social impact, which is often of interest to journalists. It also promotes its products through online advertising and extends its brand through dyslexia fairs and similar events.
Kobi distributes its mobile app through online retailers Google (Google Play Store) and Apple (AppStore). Uses a subscription model. Since literacy takes longer, it's easiest for users to create a Koba account to access the app, for which they pay a monthly subscription. For customers who don't like subscriptions, Kobi allows a one-time purchase. It also offers all customers a free 7-day trial of the app, which allows customers to see the quality of the product/service before making a purchase.
Ollo Audio
OLLO Audio clients are semi-professional music engineers who do not have their own space to mix music. OLLO Audio keeps these customers informed of news via social networks (Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram), email, useful video content and its own website.
OLLO Audio also gains many customers through the recommendations of satisfied customers and so-called endorsers. An endorser is a person who receives a product at a lower price in exchange for promotional materials (pictures with headphones, satisfaction statements), which OLLO Audio then uses for online advertising.
They can purchase OLLO Audio through their own website. For the trial, a potential customer can order the headphones for free, test them for a month, and - depending on their satisfaction - return or pay for them. Customers can also buy the headphones in installments, which increases the affordability of the product.
ULLA
The product ULLA has its own store website and is also sold on the online platform Amazon. It is promoted through social networking sites like Facebook and with the help of influential bloggers.
The company that developed ULLO had earlier launched the app DietPoint Healthy Lifestyle. Now the app, which has over 4 million downloads, is serving as an additional channel to promote the device. The product ULLA is also being promoted as a great business gift as many people in the business world have a problem drinking water.
Kobi
Parents can sleep at night because their children no longer have reading difficulties
Rationale: When a child has a serious problem, parents sense it and get very stressed. In Kobi's case, parents buy the app mainly because they themselves feel their child's anxiety and go through the ordeal with him.
OLLO Audio
OLLO's headphones are as reliable as studio speakers for music playback. Moreover, they are one of the few headphones that a sound engineer can repair himself by buying spare parts from an online store in case of damage. We also strive to offer at least one upgrade to a new model for each phone model.
ULLA
A smart rehydration coach for your busy life. A smart rehydration coach for your busy life. ULLA is a product for people who are aware of the importance of drinking water, they just need someone to remind them. Changing bad habits is also part of the vision of ULLE creators; to become a company that develops and sells products that are easy to use and help change bad habits.
Kobi
Kobi's direct competitors are all mobile apps that solve the problems of dyslexics. For example, Speechify or Reading Eggs.
Indirect competitors to Kobi are all other digital and physical solutions that solve the problems of dyslexics. For example, online platforms that offer online exercises, computer games that help with dyslexia, tutors, physical books for dyslexics, ...
The advantages of Kobi over its competitors are:
It's a digital solution for mobile devices, which means it's always with you. The child can also use it while waiting in line for the dentist.
It's significantly cheaper than tutors and physical books.
Unlike similar mobile apps (Speechify), it fixes the problem, not just circumvents it.
The most elusive advantage is the community Kobi builds through social networks and institutions. Even if a competitor tackles the same product today, it will take a long time to build a community because there are no shortcuts here.
Ollo Audio
The direct competition in this case are all headphones that are designed for professional musicians and have a neutral frequency response. For example Sennheiser or Audio-Technica.
Indirect competition in this case are for example studios that rent their space to semi-professional musicians. So instead of renting headphones, the customer rents a studio for a certain period of time and thus solves his problem.
The advantages over the competition are:
- Higher sound quality at an affordable price
- Made from high quality materials
- Modular design, i.e. each part can be exchanged
- Convenience- Mobility
Kobi
The biggest expense for a company is the cost of employees. Employees take care of product development, for which they need salaries. Other costs are paid by partners (Google and Apple) who deduct their share from sales since sales are through their channels (Google Play Store and Apple AppStore). Other costs include office rent, paying for accounting services, marketing, ...
Ollo Audio
The biggest costs of a business are advertising, employee costs, and creating a sufficient inventory. Other costs include handling payments (bank fees, transaction costs), paying for postage, renting an office, paying for accounting services.
Kobi
All the Kobi team needed for an efficient SME was a pencil and paper. Namely, the mobile app helps dyslexics by coloring certain letters in the text, making the text readable for children with problems. But developing a mobile app is time-consuming. So the team tested the concept by coloring the letters of the text on a sheet of paper and putting the text in front of 120 children. It then compared the results with children reading a plain, uncolored text, and 94% of the children confirmed that the colored text was easier to read. The data showed that reading speed and accuracy is extremely increased in this way, as well as motivation. So the team behind the Kobi project knew they had an idea that worked, and the customers that the solution helped extremely.
Ollo Audio
OLLO Audio used 3D printing technology to create their first prototypes of headphones, which allowed them to quickly iterate the product and find ideal solutions. Each of the prototypes was tried out by potential buyers who came back with useful information. This resulted in an improved product that was made to the customers' specifications. OLLO improved the prototypes until they had a headphone that was suitable for sale.
Kobi
The most important metric in the Kobi project is the number of subscriptions. This information tells how much money will flow to the company in the next month, and is therefore crucial for planning marketing and other activities.
Secondary metrics are the number of sessions lasting longer than 3 minutes and the number of words read in the app. These two metrics measure user activity in the app. The more active users are, the more likely they are to renew their subscription in the next month, so they provide a good basis for predicting the future of the business.
Ollo Audio
The most important metric is the amount of items sold. This metric tells how successful the company has been in sales recently. When the amount of items sold changes, the company looks for reasons for the change. Based on the reason, it can then correct activities and improve the business.
Secondary metrics are the number of website visits, the number of warranty claims, the number of newly registered endorsers, and the number of products in stock.
ULLA:
Attraction: online store visits. (How many website visitors also visit the online store?).
Activation: product orders. (How many orders are placed based on website visits?).
Retention: regular use of the product. (Can we measure this?)
Sales: purchase of a product.
Referrals: Sharing on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).
Podjetniški eksperiment je interesna dejavnost, ki omogoča razvoj veščine podjetnosti in se izvaja v osnovnih šolah. Zanimiv je zaradi svoje drugačnosti in prav zato so ga učenci dobro sprejeli. Na delavnicah spodbujamo kreativnost, inovativnost in podjetnost.
Startup izziv je praktična, tri dnevna intenzivna delavnica za razvoj inovativne ideje v poslovni model, ki dijake, študente in mlade nauči metodologije vitkega podjetništva, s pomočjo katerih se izognejo izdelavi produkta, ki ga nihče ne želi ali ne potrebuje, svojo inovativno idejo pa spremenijo v delujoč načrt. Ob tem jih motivirajo, jim pomagajo in svetujejo različni mentorji, sestavljeni iz lokalnih podjetnikov in posameznikov iz podjetniškega sveta.
