If you got a brilliant startup idea, or created a prototype, you may wonder how to develop and grow your business. After all, starting up a business is not a one-man army thing. It takes years of dedication and hard work to create a viable product that would be demanded on the market. South Moravian Innovation Center (JIC) will lend you a helping hand – they “accelerate entrepreneurs and businesses in all stages of development.”
Companies that have passed through JIC programs have created more than 1,400 new jobs in the region. In almost 15 years of its existence, JIC has facilitated almost 360 connections between innovators and companies and more than 100 JIC experts helped to develop more than 230 projects and businesses.
In general, there are two different types of “business help” one might get from innovation centers and incubators. The first type is business incubator. Incubator offers short, intense programs that give a power push to a new product or service. Typically, the incubator would provide the start-up with a place with discounted rent full of necessary equipment, social capital, and guidance in a form of mentoring. Many non-profit organizations act as incubators: public authorities, universities etc. The catch is that it is very hard to win a place in one of such companies. One must show that has a viable project. JIC ENTER offers such kind of business push. For the services of consultants and mentors, educational workshops, space in the co-working area for up to 3 people and other services, your business contributes 1,500 CZK a month. You be a part of JIC ENTER for up to 6 months.
The second type, business accelerator, provides more than just a place to rent and occasional guidance. It involves the whole, complex process of getting an idea from paper into the market. Incubation is a short and intense process, while accelerator is a continuous procedure. Often these companies would take the idea and help to develop it from scratch, sharing resources, infrastructure, connections, and more. Depending on the agreement, however, the start-up may need to share the ownership of the company, technology rights, or a part of its profits. Entering JIC STARTCUBE program gets you all these benefits. You can fine-tune your strategy and gain access to the unique prototyping equipment, contacts and benefits from JIC partners such as Honeywell, Microsoft, or Konica Minolta.
Besides these two programs, JIC supports businesses that want to expand abroad in JIC MASTER program or coaching for owners of established technological companies from the Southern Moravian region within JIC PLATIN platform.
JIC, South Moravian Innovation Centre, is an example of the latter one. It is a local organization that helps to develop business ideas, implementing them into life as well as support existing organizations. JIC was established within the framework of the Regional Innovation Strategy of South Moravia (RIS JMK). It has got extensive connections in European network, an operating research centre, and a venture capitalist subsidiary. The organization can boast with a list of success stories form the local South Moravian companies and events organized for young innovators.
Title picture: Pixabay.com
