The Value Proposition of the I AM GREEN model has been described as the implementation of an Incubator Academy Model that includes synergies between different actors (start-ups, investors, companies, innovation agencies, research bodies and academia) offering matchmaking services and a point where demand (of technologies, innovative skills, finance) and offer meet. For start-ups mentoring and training services should be implemented in order to accompany them in the growth process and fill their skills gap.
The human capital of the founding team is crucial in the early stages of a company lifecycle and is the main factor on which investors choose to invest in a start-up instead of another.
Empowering start-up teams may be, then, a key element of an incubation or acceleration programme and it is important to understand how to support companies in developing the skills they need to succeed.
To develop the right entrepreneurial mindset, action planning is pivotal. Action planning makes more likely that entrepreneurs who have a goal initiate and start working on it. Self-efficacy (namely the individual’s confidence in her or his capabilities to accomplish tasks) is another point that make success of a start-up more likely. Self-efficacy influences the initial choice of activities, the goal level, the commitment, the effort and the persistence.
We can state that three main groups of skill-set should be developed to be a successful entrepreneur:
1. Entrepreneurship skills, that includes soft and transversal skills such as self-efficacy;
2. Managerial skills, including business and finance;
3. Technical skills.
At the end of the I AM GREEN project, six main recommendations emerged:
1. Strengthening the ecosystem
2. Rationalisation and promotion of various initiatives, through a well-structured value chain supporting the start-up ecosystem, but also by aggregating all information about support measures and policies
3. Incubators are important, but so are accelerators.
4. Customisation of policies, as start-ups have different needs.
5. Entrepreneurial culture must be reinforced.
6. Reinforce internationalisation and focus on digital and green transition
