Create a Stimulating Environment for Self-Employment by Realizing Your Own Business Ideas

The City of Rijeka has announced a public call for the entry of the sixth generation into the “Startup Incubator,” which will be open from April 13 to May 8, and the new generation will start working in mid-May, representatives of the Rijeka City Administration and the “Startup Incubator” announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

The “Startup Incubator” is intended for students, young people, and teams up to 29 years old to create a stimulating environment for self-employment among youth by realizing their own business ideas, increasing work competencies for employability, and influencing the development of entrepreneurial culture among young people. A novelty of this year’s “Startup Incubator” is assistance to teams in building prototypes in collaboration with the Rijeka Development Agency “Porin.”

As stated, teams have so far developed ideas in the fields of computer applications, industrial and fashion design, technical and technological areas, educational business models, production and sale of parts for the automotive industry, biotechnology, sports, culture, and the entertainment industry.

Since 2013, when the “Startup” program began, five generations have been in the incubator, 78 teams have developed ideas with 216 users, and with the help of about 30 mentors. After the incubator, ten companies are now operating in the market, three projects have received investments for development, and several have won awards and recognitions.

Young people in the “Startup” are provided with free mentoring and advisory assistance. During six months, they receive support for designing and establishing business models that offer innovative ways to solve problems, better or more favorable than the competition. Participants are helped to assess the sustainability elements of their ideas and acquire knowledge that would minimize the risks of their business ventures.