The answer to the new needs in the COVID-19 situation was to adapt the services for startups and SMEs to digital and hybrid events, webinars, meetings, training
STP changed the approach in delivering the services to innovative and technological startups and SMEs without stopping them despite the COVID-19- most of the events, training, meetings, became digital and hybrid for the purpose of serving the ecosystem needs. The quick adaptation to the requirements for remote work included ClubHouse which is a part of Groworking Space and is multifunctional for formal and informal meetings, promotion of products; team building. Club House serves the mission to bring together the scientific and entrepreneurial communities to collaborate effectively.
Sofia Tech Park also facilitates and supports various technological Clubs to provide regular meetings. In response to the COVID-19 challenges with the first lockdown, the Club meetings are being held online through video conference platforms. The Club life continued by organizing virtual events: online meetings, training, courses, consultations. Club House as a part of the Business Incubator intended to stimulate and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, ideas, concepts, experience between academics and business in order to develop new projects. Equipped for web streaming Digital Studio meets the needs of information, communication, online events of all stakeholders, companies, startups, and science institutions that are involved in the community. Mobile technical equipment ensured flexibility in arranging event spaces within Club House and out of it depending on needs and participants.

Resources needed

The CLub House is a part of the GROWorking space of the Sofia Tech Park and was its own financing project. The development of both spaces is implemented by the "Business development" department of STP JSC with its own human, financial and technical resources.

Evidence of success

Club House Digital studio has hosted a lot of events for a year:
20 startups have presented their projects to the audience, investors, stakeholders ;
8 broadcasts- conducted entirely in EN;
39 clubs broadcast releases ;
75 000 viewers of the broadcasted events live and of the recorded versions
66 events organized by state organizations, foreign organizations, NGOs, corporate sector, startups;
75 hours content

Difficulties encountered


Organizing distant events- meetings, training, advice for different participants.
Mobilization of digital capability and improve digital skills for using opportunities for remote work.
Planning a model to support the entrepreneurs to be flexible in the COVID-19 situation

Potential for learning or transfer

Club House -The synergy between businesses, industries, public institutions, private organizations in the COVID-19 situation was ensured. Digital events were available in live web streaming and recorded versions.
10 Clubs of interests: support the flow of information; exchange of ideas and solutions: AL Club, Anonymous Innovators Club, Biotechnology and life-science Club, Bulgarian Science Club, Business Club, Drone + Club, Media Bricks Club, Robo Club, Space Club, Sprouted for Life Club.
Digital studio( ClubHouse)-support for companies to organize their digital events.
Hybrid events: solutions for flexible approach and support for SMEs and start-ups to reach their goals in a pandemic situation, to adapt the situation and business climate by focusing on segments; new products; development, business digitalization, changing the sale strategy; marketing; new measures to retain customers and attract new ones.

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Project
Main institution
Sofia Tech Park
Location
Югозападен, Bulgaria (България)
Start Date
February 2020
End Date
Ongoing

Contact

Nesrin Doneva Please login to contact the author.

Good Practices being followed by

Eliana Raytcheva

Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency