Business Membership Organisations (BMO-s) under focus again
2019 started for EU-SMEDA project with an activity aimed at strengthening BMO’s (Business membership organisations) capacities. The visiting BMO consultant Karen Konopka met with a dozen of active BMOs for guidance and sharing of her hands-on expertise that aimed to improve their efficiency in performance, in particular in becoming more independent and sustainable as entities.
Ms. Konopka shared her impressions noting that all the BMO-s she had met were rather active with great ideas but at different stages of development. “They are very committed to their purposes and do care for development of the sector they are active in; however, they should start collecting fees for their services in order to become more sustainable and stronger, which will in its turn provide them more opportunities for result-oriented activities’’, she concluded.
The BMOs under focus were: the European Business Association (EBA), Association of Social Enterprises of Armenia (ASEA), Tourism Armenia Association, Engineering Association of Armenia, Union of Incoming Tour Operators of Armenia, Association of Armenian Tour Operators and Tour Agents, Fashion and Design Chamber (FDC) and Independent Filmmakers Club of Armenia (IFCA).
The overall BMO support measure has been undertaken by EU-SMEDA project since early 2018 by formation of a BMO Academy for 13 Armenian BMOs, as a 4-stage capacity building initiative consisting of trainings, on-line coaching, a study tour to European BMOs and business association, and on- the- job training: https://www.smeda.am/en/activities/activity-highlights/91
upcoming events
The second “Innovative ideas for tourism development in Armenia” Hackathon to take place in Vanadzor soon
Based on the success of the first tourism related Hackathon that took place last year, the EU-SMEDA project supports the second “Innovative ideas for tourism development in Armenia” Hackathon to be held on 18-19 May 2019 in Vanadzor, organised by Vanadzor Technology Center (VTC), the Enterprise Incubator Foundation and Lori region’s administration to organise in cooperation with the Tourism Committee of the RA.
Demo Day of Armenia Startup Academy Batch 4
The Demo Day of the Armenia Startup Academy 4th Batch of Graduates will be held on May 28, 2019 at AUA, Manoogian Hall. The Academy is a game-changing entrepreneurship and startup education program, which, by the support of European Union, shapes Armenia’s innovative future.
Startup Boost Weekend, Vol. 5 coming up soon
The EU-SMEDA supported Startup Boost Weekend Vol. 5 is just about to happen. Date: April 26-28, Venue: French University of Armenia. Once again, university students from 7 partner Armenian universities will get together to master the essentials of entrepreneurship during 54-hour sessions on Ideation, Pitching, Lean Canvas building, Hypothesis design by experienced mentors and successful startup owners.