4InnoPipe is a joint entrepreneurial program of Reutlingen University (Germany), Zagreb School of Economics and Management (Croatia), Kyiv Academic University (Ukraine), Helsinki University (Finland), ELEKS (Estonia), Luxembourg School of Business (Luxembourg), Kozminski University (Poland) and University of Prishtina (Kosovo). The course aims to help participants acquire the skills to create business solutions with positive societal and environmental impact. It also aims to develop the potential of course participants and to teach them how to apply this potential in whatever they do, as entrepreneurs, active citizens, and employees in the public, private or third sector.

The course consists of the core workshops. In these workshops, participants concentrate on problem framing and problem deep-dive. Through user research, the participants study a social or environmental challenge to identify the source of the problem. Next, they map the customer and user journey and create a data-driven product or service vision. To help participants build a financially sustainable business, they are given an introductory workshop on business modelling. Towards the end of the course, they get a workshop on audience-oriented pitching.

In the scope of the course we are offering the masterclass In Two Minds. The main topic of this full-day masterclass is creativity and overcoming challenges.

The participants can also participate in several coaching sessions on business model creation. In these sessions, the participants will implement and expand the knowledge gained in the first and second block. The coaches focus on five key aspects of the business model: the value proposition; desirability; feasibility; viability; competition.

The course concludes with a pitching event, where participants present their projects and with other teams compete across a range of different categories. This event is the final exam of the course.

This course follows the logic of short work cycles in the sense of double-diamond approach and the scientific method. It is designed as project- and challenge-based learning. The project the participants work on is the venture idea. The participants do not need to have a business idea before entering this course. However, it may help them to progress, if they do already have one. Teaching is based on the principles of competency-based (among others The European Entrepreneurship Competence Framework) and self-directed learning.

The course is open both to beginners and to participants with previous entrepreneurial experience.

If you have any questions, get in touch with us at marija.oblakovic@zsem.hr.