Twenty participants from seventeen selected North-West European
start-ups and young SMEs gathered in Yorkshire (UK) from 23-28th July 2017 for the first BioBase4SME Innovation Biocamp. The Innovation Biocamp,
a fully funded intensive, week-long training course aims to provide high-potential
biobased companies with hands-on tools needed to commercialise their biobased
ideas and grow their companies. The Innovation Biocamp, co-financed by Europe’s
Interreg NWE programme, is planning a second edition in 2018.
The Innovation Biocamp included a series of lectures from experts in key
aspects of business growth, such as value propositions, business modelling,
financing growth and risk management. Each lecture was followed by group
exercises mediated by an experienced facilitator. Participants then worked with
mentors to apply this learning to their own company. The training culminated in live
pitches to a panel of specialist investors. Participant also benefited from peer-to-peer
learning and networking with biobased companies across North-West Europe.
A highly engaged and
participative group of delegates worked well together for all the discussions,
exercises and activities and could be divided into 3 categories:
- Founders just starting out (in business < than 1 year)
- Founders of more established companies (in business > than 1 year)
- Employees of start-up companies
The
format of the Innovation Biocamp was integral to its success. The input from
trainers and facilitators, subject matters experts, industry experts and
mentors made for a winning combination. The trainers and facilitators worked
together to troubleshoot issues and the whole team’s responsiveness to feedback
was seen very positively by delegates. The variety of styles of delivery and
range of activities provided all delegates with different opportunities to
learn, share and connect.
François Geeraerts, BioPLA,
Belgium states: “The
BioBase4SME Innovation Biocamp was very intensive with high-level sessions, and
turned out to be extremely useful and instructive. We are now able to further
develop our business in a more structured and deliberate way. Furthermore, many
useful contacts came out of the Biocamp such as a continued personal mentorship
by one of the experts and support from a VC.”
Guillaume Wégria, Fyteko, Belgium testifies: “Very
interesting, motivated and approachable speakers and experts.
Fyteko's main gain were new contacts (potential VC, test centres,
industrial collaboration) and a better helicopter view of the next steps
to take within our business.”
The
Innovation BioCamp 2017 was evaluated as a very positive experience by the
participants. Many of them said it exceeded their expectations and many of them
felt re-invigorated and ready to refocus on their business in a more strategic
way. Importantly everyone felt that they would be able to use what they learned
and every delegate said it was well worth taking time away from day-to-day
business to attend.
In terms
of BioBase4SME hopes and expectations, the vision created by Margaret Smallwood
and the team at Biovale has certainly been achieved. This was a well-received
first BioCamp and an excellent base to reflect on and look at how it can be
made even better for the 2018 edition.
More
testimonials of participants:
“I
anticipate this will be a worthwhile investment which will yield significant
value for the sector in North-West Europe.”
“Brilliant
sharing of knowledge and expertise, lots of problem solving going on between
delegates.”
“There is
so much that I have taken from this course, skills, a time to look at my
business without fire, reflection time, team building, networking and of course
the people. I have enjoyed working with other innovative people learning from
our mentors and hearing experts speak about innovation.”
“I have
previous experience on business bootcamps but this has trumped them.”
“If you want to raise your start-up
and your skills, you must take part in this intensive training.”