From idea to success: PONI Koroška connects entrepreneurial ideas and local communities in the region

An event entitled "From Idea to Success" was held at the Bukovje Manor in Dravograd today, Friday, August 30, 2024, bringing together participants of the PONI Koroška entrepreneurship program, some successful entrepreneurs who have graduated from this program, and representatives of local communities and supporting entrepreneurial institutions.

The event, organized by RRA Koroška, Regional Development Agency for Koroška, doo, was intended to present the results of the PONI project and to network between entrepreneurs and support organizations. Director of RRA Koroška Uroš Rozman emphasized that RRA Koroška implements broad entrepreneurial support in the region through various projects. Events like today's are an excellent opportunity for networking and exchanging opinions and experiences.

As a reminder: PONI Koroška, funded by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund, is a project that has been supporting the development of entrepreneurship in Koroška for many years. The program offers participants a four-month entrepreneurial training course, in which they develop their business ideas and prepare to establish their own companies.

Project manager Boris Skudnik presented the project to the wider public today, emphasizing that PONI is much more than just an entrepreneurial training program. He added: “It is a great opportunity for entrepreneurial individuals to overcome their fears and, with the help of the program and mentors, develop their business ideas into successful entrepreneurial stories.”

This was followed by a round table, to which former participant of this program, and today successful entrepreneur Katja Lenart, invited three former participants of the project, Martina Marolt, Petra Šteharnik and Katja Hamler, each of whom successfully market the entrepreneurial idea with which they entered the PONI Koroška program in their own field through their own company. One of the interlocutors at the round table was Nejc Gilčvert, a participant of the 2nd group.

The roundtable discussed entrepreneurial support in the region and the challenges facing young entrepreneurs. They also talked about their experiences with the PONI project, what inspired them,

what the project gave them and what they would like to see more of. All of them highlighted the value and opportunity that the PONI Koroška project offers to potential entrepreneurs. They were particularly impressed by the constant mentoring support, the acquired knowledge and additional experience, the work in an environment of like-minded people according to the Coworking principle, and the overcome fear of entrepreneurial challenges and dilemmas.

Statement by the Director of the RRA Koroška, Uroš Rozman: "The entrepreneurial development of the region faces challenges, but at the same time offers numerous opportunities for innovation and growth. RRA Koroška implements broad entrepreneurial support in the region through various projects, thereby helping the region towards a diverse and sustainable economic future. We are proud that we can support individuals at the point when they are just deciding to enter independent entrepreneurship, all the way to the point when they establish a company and join a business incubator, where they obtain appropriate premises and development support for entrepreneurial growth. We believe that this is a model that would help young people to create and live in Koroška to the greatest extent possible."

The event concluded with the awarding of diplomas for the successful completion of the training of the 2nd group of PONI Koroška participants, which was also an opportunity for networking, socializing and exchanging good practices. They were presented by Uroš Rozman, Director of the RRA Koroška, and Anton Preksavec, Mayor of the Municipality of Dravograd.

Motivated and full of entrepreneurial drive, we look forward and hope for even more high-profile and innovative entrepreneurial stories of the potential of our region in the future.

The project is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund.