DeepStart is a multi-stage capacity building and incubation program aiming at enabling novice techno-entrepreneurs/startup teams to start building international new venture from the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. The DeepStart program is comprised of three main stages: MindSet (M&M), Master Skills (M-SKILLS, and Hands on Experience (HEX). DeepStart includes motivational and inspiring workshops, success/failure cases review sessions, interactive skill building workshops, and a special international incubator program for gaining hands-on-experience. HEX (hands on experience) is a key part of the program that provides real experience of entrepreneurial activity in a multi-cultural and multi-national setting in which participants have the chance to build international teams, and collaborate work with their international teammates. DeepStart, as an innovative one-of-a-kind program for enthusiastic startups and novice entrepreneurs, particularly focuses in economies with small size innovation markets and/or limited local resources for innovation. A key outcome of the DeepStart program is increasing the chance of birth of born global firms in such areas.
Small size of some markets for innovative products and technologies and limited access to required resources in restricted business and economic environments often prevent young capable techno-entrepreneurs from achieving their full potential if they limit themselves to local businesses. In addition, local businesses often face embeddedness and imprinting which can prevent flourishment of innovative ideas. An important way to overcome these challenges is to try to widen the activities of startups towards international markets from the beginning. International entrepreneurship activities provides access to resources, ideas, opportunities and resources which often are not available in local/national markets. On the other hand, most start up teams lack the knowledge, skills, resources and networks required to implement their ideas at an international level. Besides acquiring the required knowledge and skills, and even before that, it is important that entrepreneurs build enough motivation and get into the right mindset to be able to overcome challenges of starting an international new venture.
Focus. DeepStart focuses on the internationalization stage in general business development process. It assumes the basic knowledge and skills for establishment of a new business had already been acquired by participants. This focused approach towards internationalization stage and the related knowledge and skills, distinguishes DeepStart from most similar programs.
Hands on experience. DeepStart is the path to a real start! A real start to establishing an international startup, therefore, Hands on Experience is the most important stage of DeepStart and the key feature of it.Network. DeepStart benefit from an international network of experienced mentors and experts which can guide participants through their international entrepreneurial journey.Innovativeness. DeepStart is an innovative initiative with several innovative approaches in training and mentorship, as well as network development and hands on experience.Team. DeepStart is designed, implemented and operated by a group of enthusiastic experts with many years of hands on experience, both in real international business development, and helping novice entrepreneurs in their journey. Working in multicultural environments in different countries particularly in emerging economies has helped the DeepStart team to gain a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of novice entrepreneurs in establishing international startups- Increase the level of motivation and skills in novice techno-entrepreneurs in order to go international
- Help enthusiastic experts in developing regions and small size markets to establish hi-tech innovative businesses with international operation
- Help in formation of multicultural and multinational entrepreneurial teams and establishment of international joint ventures in target countries