Summer Entrepreneurship Program (SEP)

Summer Entrepreneurship Program (SEP)

Program Overview:
An intensive five-week experiential entrepreneurship training program designed to equip participants with practical business venture creation skills, mentorship, and networking opportunities with successful entrepreneurs and investors.

Geographic Scope

• Bulgaria (and potentially expandable to other regions)

Program Duration

• 5 weeks intensive training

Key Features

• Experiential Learning: Participants work on their own business ideas throughout the program
• Venture Development: Training covers ideation, market research, competition assessment, feasibility analysis, and sales
• Mentorship & Networking: Access to successful entrepreneurs, angel investors, and venture capitalists
• Minimal Viable Product (MVP): Participants create testable concepts/products and test with real customers
• Emphasis on Learning from Failure: Encourages calculated risk-taking and iterative improvement

Alumni Network

• Association of Bulgarian Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE): Alumni-managed organization providing ongoing support
• Monthly talks and mixers with Bulgarian entrepreneurs
• "Entrepreneur's Library" - first dedicated entrepreneurship library in Bulgaria

Notable Outcomes

• Several alumni have launched successful ventures (e.g., Stigni.bg, Blocsocks, Usefulatnight)

Administrator: Institute of International Education (IIE)