Cleantech Camp continues to move forward, and the startups following this year’s program have already completed their second training week. These were very fruitful days for their projects, which were opened with a session by Ivan Rodríguez Ramonet, business advisor for the Barcelona Activa entrepreneurship line. During the session, our local partner explained Barcelona’s commitment as a friendly city for startups, a position that is internationally recognized, and that is supported by the holding of events such as the Mobile World Congress or by the presence in the city of some of the most recognized business schools. Rodríguez-Ramonet underlined the role of Barcelona Activa in the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and detailed the aid provided by the entity that represents entrepreneurs, through its incubation programs, advice, or facilitating the contact of startups with business angels, funds venture capital, or promoting access to public and bank financing. Finally, Barcelona Activa invited Stefano Melchior, an entrepreneur who participated in the previous edition of Cleantech Camp, who presented his personal experience during the past year. Melchior pointed out that the program was very useful for him to learn how to present his project and highlighted the great networking opportunities it generates for the participants.
The entrepreneurs also attended, during the week, sessions focused on preparing presentations, led by Pedro Olivares, on the design of strategies for startups or the key aspects of a marketing plan, in this case, tutored by Nacho Gallardo. In addition, the training also addressed aspects related to the financing of the projects, in a session by Stewart Noakes, or the most appropriate formulas to establish effective contact networks, training given by Artur Massana.
Nacho Gallardo, one of the trainers of the week, highlights from the entrepreneurs who follow the program “their high level of participation and involvement”, a clear example, according to the speaker, of their high level of self-demand. Gallardo considers that “it is important that they understand that the product and technology are only part of the project and that aspects such as strategy, the ability to sell, the team, tenacity, and perseverance, are equally fundamental for the growth of a company”. The expert recommends that people who follow the program take advantage of their workmates, share, open up and learn. “Cleantech Camp offers the opportunity to do an intensive master’s degree in a short time that will change the way they grow the company,” says Gallardo. Another piece of advice that the speaker offers to entrepreneurs is that they “quickly get in touch with potential clients, and do not wait to have the finished product, since the most relevant aspects are in the initial phase of the project.” It is essential to access the market to listen and modify and reiterate the characteristics of the product, the business model, the prices, the strategies, or your priorities. It also encourages them to surround themselves with consistent professionals, “many of them are alone and, in order to evolve, they will need to form solid and balanced teams in the short term,” concludes Nacho Gallardo.