Happy New Year

Ariane Goerke, young German entrepreneur discovering innovative Slovenian tourism

I wish you all a Happy New Year and hope your 2012 will be terrific!!!

Some of my friends have asked me how to start a business, what the requirements are to join the "Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme" and especially how the state can support you with the whole process. I know, many of you never thought about opening their own company because it is risky and you will for sure not earn a lot of money in the first years. It is true - you need to be a little dreamer, have courage, initiative and most of all like what you're doing. Anyway, I would hereby like to encourage you a little - maybe someday in your life, there comes the time when you want to do your own thing instead of working for somebody else and become your own boss :-)! I probably won't start my business right after my time here in Slovenia. I feel I still need more working experience first and I also would like to go to England and Estonia to do more research on tourism. 

The opening of a new company is an asset for everyone: When a start-up succeeds it is not only profitable for the founder itself, but also for the labour market (because new jobs are created) and the state (through taxes). That is why persons starting up a new business are supported in many ways (here I describe the situation in Germany, but there are similar programmes in other European countries, too). You can get a start-up grant from the "Arbeitsagentur" (German employment office) when you are unemployed and want to open you own company. A good business plan and a certified financial plan (by a tax consultant or chamber of commerce) are necessary. The "Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau" (German bank institute) is providing specific loans for start-ups. In addition to that, founders of a new business are entitled to get 90 % refund on start-up coaching by the KfW. There are many start-up initiatives carried out by universites or other institutions such as "Exist" - a programme of the German Ministry of Economics designed for students, graduates and scientists. "Exist" supports in particular technology oriented business ideas and everything based on scientific realizations.

Sometimes you have to change your perspective to find a new solution! Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Programme can help you with that! It is designed for young people who either are in the first 3 years of their own business or want to start-up. Go out and broaden your mind! You will be hosted by an experienced entrepreneur in another European country and can learn from him or even make future business contacts. All you need is a business idea and a business plan. Apply now!

Photo: TV-Interview about my working project in Slovenia for Evropski magazin (European Magazine) RTV 2