Offline events continue to pose a high risk of the potential spread of COVID-19 and any decision to hold an event during this pandemic, no matter how large or small should rely on a risk-based approach. Given the fact that most of the tasks set by the TRIGGER II-Component IV “Startup Promotion” are public events, it was challenging to implement the activities due to today’s realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the whole world, the TRIGGER II-Component IV “Startup Promotion” program also adapted its activities and organized start-up events in the online format. In cooperation with its partners, the program recently conducted six online start-up events covering hundreds of young people and women.
The events were conducted using the ZOOM platform with live broadcasting in the Facebook pages involving mentors and experts who shared basic information on finding startup ideas, beginning implementation, and making them viable. The topics covered during the events included issues like how one can be successful in starting an own business within the current crises, special services for startups suggested via the program online portal, how you can profit by joining the E-Bootcamp and E-Incubation Programme and what kind of support startuppers can get by using program individual coaching services.
The event with the most number of people reached was conducted with the Tajik State University of Law, Business and Politics in Khujand, which covered 110 people via ZOOM, 389 people via Facebook views, and 1166 people viewed the video posted on the social media.
Each event was launched with the welcoming speech of TRIGGER II-Component IV “Startup Promotion” manager, Mr. Wulf Goretzky. The team leader of PEM Consult and Tajik-Startups, Jürgen Burks presented an overview of Tajik-Startup – the startup initiative for Tajikistan. Participants also learned about the following topics offered by Lena Zieschang, CEFE International on behalf of Tajik-Startups:
- E-Bootcamps – Intensive Online Learning for startups;
- E-Incubation – Advanced Online training for startups and SMEs;
- Individual Coaching / Mentoring for company founders.
Siyovush Norov, PEM Consult – Business Development Manager Tajik-Startups, gave the last speech and talked about how to join in E-Bootcamps and E-Incubation Programme via the program Web portal www.tajik-startups.com.
The talks were followed by an active Q&A session, where the attendees asked questions about the Tajik Startups program, other aspects of beginning and implementing a startup, about attracting resources and experts working in different fields.
We can surely state that the Startup events have been concluded successfully, gaining a wide reach and accolades from the participants. The program partners who organized one or another event anticipate that the events will result in a considerable number of startup ideas, which can join the Tajik Startup project.