29.03.2012
1 year of YBR Programme in Novosibirsk
March 29, 2012, a press-conference was held in the press centre of the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, which finalized the first results of Youth Business Russia (YBR) Programme for support and development of youth entrepreneurship in the Novosibirsk Oblast.
The YBR was started in the Novosibirsk Oblast on March 11, 2011, supported by the Government of the Novosibirsk Oblast, Novosibirsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Microfinance Fund of the Novosibirsk Oblast, Credit Suisse EMEA Foundation, international consulting and auditing group KPMG and other stakeholders.
The press-conference was attended by Boris Tkachenko, Head of the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) Branch Office in Russia, Elena Trakhtenberg, YBR COO, representatives of Novosibirsk executive authorities and legislature, business community, YBR participants and mass media.
Over the twelve-month period of the Programme implementation in the region more than 300 young entrepreneurs were advised on the issues of setting up and running business, 74 people (including 26 out of the districts of the Novosibirsk Oblast) were trained to draw up business plans and learned the basics of entrepreneurship; some of them obtained funding from the Microfinance Fund of the Novosibirsk Oblast under the YBR Programme (11 people), some got government support through the employment service and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship of the Novosibirsk Oblast.
The young entrepreneurs participating in the YBR projects shared their experience in creating and running business.
For instance, Yelena Kutsenko, Head of Central Hostel LLC, managed to open her own business, a mini-hotel, creating 3 jobs, thanks to her participation in the YBR Programme. It was difficult at the outset, but she was supported financially and got useful advice from her mentor. Another participant, Pavel Keda, Commercial Director of OOO Ferment-Novosibirsk, expressed his and his colleagues’ gratitude to their mentor for the support in promotion of the innovative biological product (bifido ice-cream) and said how pleased they were with joining the YBR Programme which is open to young people and very important for start-ups.
The Board of Business Mentors was created at the Novosibirsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry; its members provide face-to-face and online consultation.
Head of IBLF Branch Office in Russia Boris Tkachenko and the YBR COO Elena Trakhtenberg had a hard-driving time during their stay in Novosibirsk (March 28-29, 2012).
Together with the YBR Programme Coordinator for Novosibirsk Yelena Pilipenko, they held two workshops on the premises of the Novosibirsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The first workshop involved potential mentors. It was devoted to expounding the goals and objectives of mentorship. Experienced businesspeople explained what they expected from communicating with young entrepreneurs. Acting as the workshop moderator, Boris Tkachenko helped the audience to define the mentorship style and relations framework. The second workshop was intended for the young entrepreneurs whose business plans were to be examined at the meeting of the Selection Panel.
On March 29, 2012 the Selection Panel held its meeting to select the best business plans of young entrepreneurs under the YBR Programme. 17 young people competed for funding and mentors’ consultancy. The Selection Panel approved 8 business projects, including creation of Tvorchesky Hostel, hairdressing salon for pets, metalwork production facility, furniture making facility, biological waste recycling facility, breakfast cooking and delivery firm and others.
