AHEAD, The Alba Hub for Entrepreneurship and Development, organized an event titled “From Idea to Funding” in Heraklion Crete last week. This event was part of the ongoing celebration for the 10 years of the VentureGarden program and was hosted by Bizrupt at their new welcoming space in the city center. Recognizing the crucial need for new and small businesses to navigate the complex landscape of funding, AHEAD and Bizrupt curated a panel discussion that aimed to help such businesses understand how to attract funding. 

Despite the difficult weather conditions, we welcomed more than 40 people and had the opportunity to showcase the work of VentureGarden Heraklion participants from previous program rounds. Our guest speakers Marisa Antonopoulou, Chief Operations Officer at AFI-Microfinance, Stavros Kaoukakis, Information Technology Consultant at the Innovation Business Observatory of Crete Region, Manos Moschous, Co-Founder & CTO of AbZorba Games, Entrepreneur & Business Angel, and Markos Komondouros, Partner & Founder of Investing for Purpose, emphasized the value of teamwork and networking. They also stretched out that entrepreneurs need to build a comprehensive value proposition that introduce their idea to the market. The audience had the opportunity to engage in a lively discussion and learn more about the crucial elements in the process of accessing capital.

VentureGarden Heraklion, is an entrepreneurial idea accelerator that helps people grow their ideas. In the center point of the program lies the formulation of a sustainable and market-oriented value proposition. The program is currently accepting applications for the 5th Round in Heraklion. It is delivered locally by AHEAD in partnership with the not for profit organization Bizrupt. VentureGarden Heraklion is a celebration of local businesses and the spirit of Heraklion's entrepreneurial community. Join this journey, where specialized training and mentorship will guide you to create and develop your own business. Be part of a thriving alumni community! The program has already supported over 60 participants in Crete and we are looking forward to meeting the participants of the upcoming round. Applications are open until January 21st and can be submitted here.

The program is offered in Greek and participation is free of charge. VentureGarden is supported by its national donor The Hellenic Initiative.