NEWS

Ilia State University with partner organizations: Cleveland State University (USA), the Regional Development Agency, the Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency, and the US Embassy launched the National University startup competition.

The aim of the competition was to support the improvement and development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Georgia, the establishment of practical entrepreneurial education and start-up thinking for Georgian students.

According to the decision of the competition jury, the winning team became "PHARAO", whose members went on a one-week study visit to Cleveland State University, where they had the opportunity to get to know the foreign startup ecosystem, participate in trainings and meet investors.

More details:

Startup team had the opportunity to explore Cleveland State University and meet the ecosystem. They have presented their idea in front of university members such as Charlie McElroy, Professor Information Systems. During each meeting, the startup had the opportunity to get new information and also to share its own experience.

They have also visited Weston Ideation Lab, which is a dedicated, physical place where your ideas are tested, validated and transformed into reality. Designed as a collaborative, interdisciplinary learning laboratory, the Lab fosters creative thinking, the exploration of entrepreneurship. At the lab they have met Shannon Lyons, Entrepreneur, Startup Mentor and Angel Investor where team have shared information about their startup

During one week stay in Cleveland the team met really interesting contacts and shared their ideas with professors, venture capitalists. For example, they have met Bob Sopko, Director LaunchNET at CASE; Michael Goldberg, Director Veal Institute, Professor Innovation at CASE and Venture Capitalist

This visit gave the startup opportunity to enrich their horizons and grow their contacts, which will help them in their future work.

The visit to Cleveland turned out to be a very good experience for the startup, because along with the acquisition of new contacts, they received a lot of feedback about their activities, set new plans and goals that will further help and promote the growth of the startup.

2022