Interview with Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Support Office (answers provided by
Gryte Kuliesiute)
During my journey in the master’s programme, I’ve discovered that entrepreneurs stand out for their ability to identify and seize opportunities early, coupled with the courage to embrace the risks involved. However, thriving in a complex business environment demands much more than risk-taking—it requires a unique blend of practical wisdom, resilience, and deep self-motivation that drives your internal confidence to apply all your knowledge and skills to achieve the desired goal.
Developing this entrepreneurial wisdom takes hands-on experience, and the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme, funded by the European Union, offers a great starting point to potentialise it. This initiative connects aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced business owners, creating invaluable learning experiences in both personal and professional domains. The experience from the aspiring entrepreneurs perspective looks like this:
- It begins after submitting the application (with the business plan included) and being accepted in the programme.
- Once accepted, the next crucial step is matching of New Entrepreneur with an experienced business owner – Host Entrepreneur – from the EYE database. The focus is on finding someone who shares the values and objectives that align closely with the entrepreneur’s vision for their venture.
- After having a successful match with the experienced business owner, both parties settle a working agreement for the future for a time frame between 1 (minimum duration) and 6 (maximum duration) months.
- It is important to note that the aspiring entrepreneur can apply to work with any participating business owner within the programme (or the other way around!), if both entrepreneurs’ objectives align. Alternatively, if the aspiring entrepreneur identifies an external business owner not yet involved, that business owner may apply to join the programme, provided they meet the selection criteria.
- During the time of collaboration, the entrepreneur and the experienced business owner set working objectives for the aspiring entrepreneur to learn, work and contribute to the enterprise and for the business owner to help develop the entrepreneurial project, with hands-on experience.
- After the exchange is over, the next steps depend on the willingness of both sides to make decisions depending on the extent of their commitment and on the outcomes of their collaboration.
During this experience, the EYE programme seeks that the participants get all the resources and insights needed to launch impactful ventures, especially in Europe. To explore this further, I interviewed Gryte Kuliesiute, Project Officer at the Support Office of EYE programme, to uncover key insights and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs.
1. How does EYE encourage participation from individuals of diverse citizenships, especially international students who decided to stay in Europe and start their business?
The EYE programme currently covers 43 countries, 27 EU member states and third countries as Türkiye, Ukraine, Western Balkan countries, etc. and four overseas regions – Canada, UK, USA and Singapore. The programme accepts the residents of these 43 countries, regardless of their nationality. However, the four overseas regions are a bit exceptional – they are available only as destinations, meaning they can only host New Entrepreneurs but do not send them.
All the programme participants must be residents in one of the programme countries for a minimum of 6 months with a strong willingness to start a business in a Single Market Programme (SMP) countries (so all the participating countries, except the four overseas countries). So, if you have studied and currently are residing in any of the SMP programme participating countries, you can participate.
Multiculturality is a strong aspect of the EYE programme, because it brings diverse perspectives, innovative ideas, and unique approaches to problem-solving, all of which are invaluable in today’s interconnected business environment. For example, 60% Host Entrepreneurs have said that their exchange led to creative solutions and new business strategies with 53% developing new products or services. More than 65% have declared that they have expanded their operations to foreign markets, which shows a very strong impact of collaboration with New Entrepreneurs from different cultural and professional backgrounds.
2. What specific support mechanisms or adjustments are in place for international participants who may face unique challenges, such as language barriers?
The application to the programme can be in any EU language but English highly prevails. Having an application in English will facilitate its quick approval and matching with a Host Entrepreneur. There are numerous cases when people carry out their exchange in languages other than English. What is important is that the two collaborating entrepreneurs understand each other.
The programme values the diversity and unique opportunities that come with international exchanges, including the chance to overcome language and cultural differences. While participants are encouraged to embrace these challenges as learning experiences, local Intermediary Organisations can provide individual support and guidance, ensuring effective communication and collaboration between all the parties.
3. Could you share any stories of international participants (outside of the EU) who have successfully leveraged the programme to develop their ventures?
We are very proud of the entrepreneurs who have benefitted from the programme to further move their business ventures, and we have a number of great success stories. For example, a Ukrainian entrepreneur Mariia Alipatova has successfully launched her start-up Solar Optic, focusing on sustainable lighting solutions for storage buildings. As she mentions in her testimony, she was able to gain very useful know-how and build a “priceless network” to launch her project after participating in the EYE. She did her exchange in a Swedish company called Absolicon where she was exposed to the central business processes and negotiations. Throughout six months, she was able to shape her understanding of the industry, and this allowed her to build the foundations for her own startup. To add up to the experience, she was strongly supported by the Host Entrepreneur, which is proven to be a crucial factor for the success of any entrepreneur.
Moreover, being part of the EYE programme not only helped her to gain better insights into the market but also helped her find funding and expand her network in solar energy and solutions field. Many more inspiring success stories can be found on the EYE website.
4. What are the key benefits of this programme for international students compared to other entrepreneurial or job opportunities in Europe?
EYE programme is tailored to help people to get acquainted better with the business world they are aiming to immerse themselves in. This provides not only an opportunity to further develop their business, but also get to know the market, the competitors, and understand the overall business mentality. It offers a firsthand opportunity to learn directly from someone who is well established on the European market and is willing to share their business knowledge and insights. The benefits are mutual – the New Entrepreneur, who joins the Host Entrepreneur, shares their fresh ideas and innovative skills, as well as inside knowledge about other markets. This dynamic in the business world, known as reverse mentoring, is highly recommended for boosting creativity and increasing productivity.
5. Are there any efforts or plans to expand the collaboration with the international alumni networks of European universities, given their interest in entrepreneurship and global collaboration?
EYE programme benefits from a vast network of local contact points (Intermediary Organizations) currently present in 31 programme countries. The organizations are typically educational institutions, chambers of commerce and other entities that support businesses and entrepreneurs. These organizations promote the programme locally and always look for new collaborations. The list of organizations we work with is available on our website.
6. What should a “New Entrepreneur” do when preparing to apply to the programme?
To apply for the programme, it’s essential to take a few preparatory steps to ensure a strong application. The three main steps are:
1. Check your eligibility: Verify that you meet the programme’s requirements, such as residence in a participating country and entrepreneurial aspirations.
2. Clearly outline your motivation: Explain why you want to join the programme, what you hope to achieve, and how the experience will benefit your business journey.
3. Prepare a compelling business plan: A well-thought-out and clear plan (it does not have to be long!) will showcase your vision and help match you with the right Host Entrepreneur.
Following these steps will set you up for successful application and a rewarding exchange experience.
The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme is a great opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to gain hands-on experience, build networks, and refine their skills in a multicultural environment. Through the shared experiences of both experienced business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, participants can develop their ventures while contributing to the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. Hence, this is a natural next step for impact entrepreneurs willing to take an entrepreneurial opportunity to the next step.The insights shared by the Support Office emphasise the programme’s unique ability to bridge cultural gaps, provide tailored support, and inspire innovation through collaboration. Success stories, such as Mariia’s with Solar Optic, showcase the programme’s life-changing potential -not only for personal and professional growth but also for fostering innovative business ideas that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For international students and aspiring entrepreneurs, EYE offers a clear pathway to prepare for the European market, learn from established mentors, and contribute fresh perspectives to the business world. By taking advantage of programmes like EYE, you can turn your entrepreneurial vision into reality while making meaningful connections across borders.
For more information explore the webpage: https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/
And follow EYE social media:
Facebook: Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs
Linkedin: Erasmus for Young Enterpreneurs
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Written by: Carla Dávila Barrón
