Drivhuset helps students become entrepreneurs
Drivhuset is a non-profit organizationwith the aim to spread entrepreneurship among young people in, among other places, Uppsala. Drivhuset offices are located in thirteen locations in Sweden, one in Finland and one in Norway – all with close links to universities and colleges.
SLU Holding is one of the main financiers of Drivhuset Uppsala, together with Uppsala University, Region Uppsala and Tillväxtverket.
Philip Gratell is managing director at Drivhuset in Uppsala.
– At Drivhuset, coach students in Uppsala to develop their businesses ideas, and to increase creativity and innovation in the county. Drivhuset´s mission is to increase interest in entrepreneurship as a possible career path and through our work we contribute to more companies starting and growing in the city. Every year, around 100 new companies are started at Drivhuset in Uppsala, almost half of which are started by women.
Great interest in entrepreneurship among students
A few years ago, Drivhuset carried out a nationwide study at universities and colleges to investigate students’ attitudes towards entrepreneurship. It revealed that approximately seven out of ten students had a business idea. However, knowledge about how to start a business and where to go for help differs greatly between students.
– We notice a great interest in entrepreneurship among the students we meet on campus, says Philip. We know that it is relatively rare to include training in entrepreneurship in students’ regular courses, therefore the Drivhuset is open to students from all fields of study, from both SLU and Uppsala University. Each year we support approximately 200 business ideas and there is a fantastic variety among both ideas and students’ backgrounds
Drivhuset mainly offers three types of services: guidance, training and business development. Guidance, which is free and confidential, takes place in individual meetings where students meet with a business developer to find the next step with their idea. Everyone is welcome for guidance, regardless of the type of questions surrounding the idea or the company.
Business development based on your needs
– We guide you to further develop your idea, and we can provide you contacts with other actors within the innovation system who we believe can help you further, says Philip. We have a large network, where we collaborate with established entrepreneurs and companies.
Drivhuset provide lectures and workshops in entrepreneurship, innovation and starting-your-own company. Their business development follows a methodology developed together with researchers in entrepreneurship, and can be adapted to entrepreneurs in all phases.
– Our way of teaching is based on providing tools that you can use at different stages of your process, depending on where you are in your entrepreneurship, says Philip. In this way, we can adapt the business development to the individual’s needs and help with, for example, packaging the service or product in the right way, positioning it on the market, and developing a good pitch for your particular business idea.
Welcome to Drivhuset
Drivhuset has its office in Arena Magasin X, a co-working space in central Uppsala. Entrepreneurs and students from different fields of study and industries who are all in different phases of their business gather there.
Contact Drivhuset:
www.drivhuset.se/uppsala
uppsala@drivhuset.se
www.facebook.com/drivhusetuppsala
www.instagram.com/drivhusetupsala
