The Microsoft Innovation Center Brussels Boostcamp offers a structured series of workshops and trainings that takes first-time entrepreneurs through all the key aspects of creating and launching a successful business.
Any technology startup in the Brussels region (or intending to establish a business in the Brussels region) can qualify.
Ideally, you know very well what you’d like to do – or already have a working prototype. Even if you’re not quite there yet we can still help you.
We can also help the companies that have already been launched – launching’s the easy part, it’s making the business work that’s the hard part – and that’s what we focus on during the workshops and Expert Days.
By the way, “IT” can also be “ET” – “enabling technology”. So, if you’re launching a web shop – you could still qualify.
For example, in the first edition of MIC Brussels Boostcamp, 14 projects ranging from an IT startup in healthcare to a fashion designer took part in it. See video of the Final by Télé Bruxelles here.
This second edition brings a new program and new experience designed around the feedback of participants of the first edition.
- Free two-day introductory Business Model workshop during kick-off
- 10 additional Workshops on how to pitch, to sell, to build a good marketing & financial plan, and to fine-tune business model
- 3 Experts Days during which participant gets 12 meetings with outstanding Experts from a variety of industries and professional backgrounds
- Incredibly low fee – only € 500 for the 10 workshops and 3 Expert days
Dates for some of the workshops still need to be confirmed – this post will be updated as soon as the new dates are available.
Kick-off (full day): May 24 and 25
Content: program introduction, Business Models workshop, Short Pitch exercise with Ben Piquard, Bruno Wattenbergh and Leo Exter
June
Workshop 1 (half-day, afternoon): June 4
Content: choosing your market – research techniques and information sources with Leo Exter
Workshop 2 (half-day, morning – optional): June 11
Content: cloud, Windows AZURE, general technology Q&A with David Hernie.
Workshop 3(half-day, afternoon): June 11
Content: bootstrapping and lean thinking with Leo Exter
Workshop 4 (full day): June 15
Content: marketing fundamentals for startups, product development from startup perspective with Leo Exter
Workshop 5 (half-day, afternoon– optional): June 19
Content: Presentation of Office 365 collaboration tool product & Hands-on session, by Jacques Denies.
Workshop 6 (full day): June 28
Content: building financial model of your business
Expert Day 1 (full day): June 25
Content: each participant/team has 4 in-depth meetings with Experts – experienced entrepreneurs, business practitioners and investors
September
Workshop 7 (full day): September 5
Content: Sales – constructing your pitch, best practices for novices
Workshop 8 (full day): September 6
Content: Managing Sales – Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools, key performance indicators, compensation and other management tools
Workshop 9 (full day): September 11
Content: Business Model Generation workshop 2. Come and discuss your project with experts, and have your business model challlenged thanks to the Business Model Generation Canvas.
Workshop 10 (full day): September 14
Content: driving traffic to your website, increasing conversion, social media, email marketing and other digital marketing tools with Jean Derely
Expert Day 2 (full day): September 24
Content: each participant/team has 4 in-depth meetings with Experts – experienced entrepreneurs, business practitioners and investors
October
Workshop 11 (full day): October 1
Content: Finance – feedback on your business from an investor’s perspective, increasing value of your business before securing investment, etc.
Expert Day 3 (full day): October 4
Content: each participant/team has 4 in-depth meetings with Experts – experienced entrepreneurs, business practitioners and investors
Workshop 12 (full day): October 8
Content: Business Model Generation workshop 3. Come and discuss your project with experts, and have your business model challlenged thanks to the Business Model Generation Canvas.
Workshop 13 (full day): October 10
Content: Pitching – creating your story and delivering it in person (fundamentals of speaking in public) with Pierre De Greef
Workshop 14 (full day): October 11
Content: Pitching: constructing a competent 5-minute pitch presentation and practicing it with Leo Exter
Final & Closing ceremony (half day): October 25
Content: presentations to the audience of journalists, investors and entrepreneurs, award ceremony
All workshops and expert days will take place at the Microsoft Innovation Center in Brussels.
Address: Avenue des Nerviens 85, 1040 Etterbeek.
Timing: Full-day workshops will start with a welcome coffee at 9:00 and last until 17:30.
Half-day workshops will start at 13:00 with a welcome coffee and last until 17:30.
Language: all workshops are carried out in English.
To take part in Boostcamp, you first have to join us for the free 2-day Kick-off on May 24 and 25. As a number of spaces in the Boostcamp program is strictly limited, only some of the Kick-off participants will be invited to join Boostcamp.
To register for the Kick-off, send an email to [email protected] with the following information:
- Contact details (First name, Last name, Mobile phone nr., Email address, postal address)
- Short description of your project (1 or 2 lines)
Boostcamp organizers Penelope Roux or Leo Exter will be in touch to ask additional questions if necessary and to confirm your participation in the Kick-off.
Kick-off on May 24-25: free.
Main part of the Boostcamp: € 500 for 10 workshops, 3 Expert Days and Final ceremony.
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