SETsquared Exeter hosted the first of 2022’s Entrepreneurs’ Programmes last month on 24-27 January over the course of three mornings. The free to attend programme is part-funded by the ERDF for the University of Exeter Enterprise Zone Project (UEEZ) which is equipped to enable innovative Devon-based startups and SMEs to achieve accelerated high-growth.

The Entrepreneurs’ Programme is based on the Strategyzer Model to support early-stage startups through a deep-dive into proposed business models, evaluating strengths and weaknesses and working towards a robust development plan.

January’s edition saw eleven startups from a range of sectors and experience participate in the fast-paced interactive sessions which culminated in a final pitch from each of the businesses involved to a panel of experts. This was followed by a speed mentoring session, providing additional feedback on the businesses.

Speaking of her experience, Cristina Mosconi, founder of CreatioXR, providing VR/AR/MR experiences for heritage sites explained:  'Being part of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme has been an incredible opportunity for us. We are a tech start-up moving our first steps into the business world and we were struggling with developing a clear and solid plan to grow our venture. After these three days, we feel more confident about how to achieve it. A big thanks to our mentors, they have been simply amazing!”

Kate Deacon, Founder of Mix Clean Green sustainable cleaning products said: “What an extraordinary week! I can only hope that SETsquared Exeter know what a profound impact their course makes on entrepreneurs (and their business owners!). An utterly amazing learning opportunity and experience! Thanks so very much Team SETsquared Exeter!”

Dr Armen Papazian, CEO of ValueXD, a cutting-edge data analytics platform revealed: “The programme had a catalytic effect on my thinking and allowed me to re-evaluate key assumptions. The support offered was to the point and real. I enjoyed the interactions with fellow founders as well. All in all, a valuable and interesting experience.”

SETsquared Exeter run the Entrepreneurs’ Programmes on a quarterly basis. They are best suited to businesses with a science and technology focus or the desire to incorporate these into their business model. Visit the UEEZ webpage or follow the dedicated Eventbrite page for further details.