The Associação Nacional de Jovens Empresários – ANJE (National Association of Young Entrepreneurs) promotes, since 1997, the Academy of Entrepreneurs which main goal is to promote the entrepreneurship spirit at national level essentially by: supporting new entrepreneurs and start-ups at different levels and using different tools and instruments; recognizing successful Portuguese entrepreneurs, which are publically distinguished by the academy. The Academy of Entrepreneurs offers several instruments and tools to promote entrepreneurship and to support entrepreneurs at National level and have 4 main initiatives: Ideas Competition – competition which awards the entrepreneurial creativity and the best business ideas; Road-Show – a program to promote the entrepreneurship among the educational and training schools/centers, which is being implemented at National level; Young Entrepreneur Award – which distinguish, support and promote start-ups and/or business expansion; Entrepreneur’s Fair – to promote networking and business between entrepreneurs and their market. Besides these 4 main initiatives, the Academy provides other instruments and activities focusing on the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture, of the entrepreneurship in companies and social entrepreneurship.
This year, the Academy of Entrepreneurs is celebrating 18 years of existence and to celebrate this huge accomplish, ANJE hold during all June/2015 a set of activities dedicated to the entrepreneurial initiative, including sessions of coaching, pitches and networking, as well as a show of innovative start-ups.
Mentortec had the opportunity to get involved in this celebration, participating in the conferences, workshops and final pitches of new entrepreneurs. Besides the share of knowledge, experiences and contacts, this initiative allowed to introduce the MENTEE project to some of the main stakeholders of entrepreneurship of Portugal and of other countries as well.
Further information about this initiative can be found here: http://maioridade.anje.pt/.
