Gentrepreneur and Wintercircus: Ghent´s Game-Changers for Student Startups and Entrepreneurs

Introduction:

In this interview, we speak with Jolien, the Head of DO! at Ghent University and the Lead Manager at Gentrepreneur. We discuss Jolien's journey from being a student entrepreneur to leading initiatives that support and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs in Ghent. Jolien shares her experiences and motivations, emphasizing the importance of building confidence and providing resources for student startups. She also discusses the exciting new developments at Winter Circus, a novel space designed to enhance networking and collaboration among startups. This discussion offers a glimpse into the vibrant, supportive, and collaborative environment that Ghent provides for budding entrepreneurs.

Pavlina: "Jolien, tell us a bit about yourself and your motivation to work with student startups?"

Jolien: "Thirteen years ago, I was a student entrepreneur myself, navigating the challenging startup landscape. I made plenty of mistakes along the way, but those experiences have fueled my passion for ensuring today's students don't repeat them. Back then, resources and information on how to launch a startup were scarce. Concepts like the Business Model Canvas were just emerging, and the Lean Startup methodology was virtually unknown.

This drive to support student entrepreneurs led me to my current role. Today, I am the manager at Gentrepreneur, a newly strengthened collaboration within the city dedicated to supporting students from all higher education institutions in their startup journeys. We're still refining our identity, but our mission is clear: to empower and guide the next generation of entrepreneurs. I’m currently also managing DO!, the center for student entrepreneurship at Ghent University, which is soon to be integrated in Gentrepreneur."

Pavlina: "So you had your own startup and for years you worked for UGENT DO! - What challenges do student entrepreneurs face, and how have support programs evolved to address these challenges?" 

Jolien: "When I was a student, there were significant barriers to participating in startup programs, primarily because these programs required full-time commitment, which excluded students. Recognizing this oversight, changes were quickly implemented to open these opportunities to students.

The next crucial step was to build students' confidence and provide them with the necessary support. We needed to convey the message that they could succeed, and we had to connect them with the right resources and mentors. The main difference between student founders and experienced entrepreneurs is often their level of knowledge about how the world works.

Experienced founders bring business experience, an understanding of company dynamics, and often have personal responsibilities like families and mortgages. In contrast, students are much fresher to these realities. They might need to learn the basics, such as how to draft a contract or issue an invoice, things they may never have done before.

However, there’s an advantage to this youthful naivety. Young entrepreneurs don't get bogged down by potential obstacles. Their vision remains clear and unclouded by the difficulties that more experienced individuals might anticipate. This optimism can be a powerful asset. They focus on their goals with a straightforward approach, often not realizing the path might be winding.

One of our notable success stories in Ghent is a student who founded BeerSelect, the city's largest brewery. In a country famous for its beer, this is quite an achievement. He often reflects that if he had known the challenges ahead, he might never have started. Yet, he’s grateful for his initial ignorance, as it allowed him to embark on this successful journey."

Pavlina: "Recently, you have been promoted to a new role working in Gentrepreneur in a novel space Wintercircus. What kind of impact do you expect to have with this new restructuring in the Ghent ecosystem? What excites you the most about the new role and the new amazing facility. What kind of resources and add ons will it bring to the ecosystem?"

Jolien: "Within Gentrepreneur we will have much easier one stop for student entrepreneurs in the city and region. Gentrepreneur will act as a city  endorsed initiative that will support all student founders from whichever university from the city they come from. It will be a much better setting for many different reasons. It will allow us to bring a variety of competencies and support assets from different actors and will be far easier for founders, not being confused with which incubation program to continue. Furthermore, the closest connections are crucial, and I hope that the Wintercircus will facilitate this. Within the tech ecosystem, we already have various programs in place.

The advantage of being in the same space is the ease of interaction. For instance, when meeting in the hallway, it’s much simpler to say, "Hey, I have a startup that might fit one of your programs. Can we discuss it further?" This setup can significantly boost their progress. Moreover, the venture capital network can get to know us better as a source for early talent detection. Beyond what I’ve already mentioned, Wintercircus will offer several resources and add-ons for student startups. The coworking space not only allows students to work together but also to collaborate with startups at various stages of development, fostering a dynamic environment. Wintercircus will also host its own programs, leveraging its international network to attract speakers who wouldn't otherwise be available to us.

For example, we have access to individuals who started their ventures in the US and can bring those business connections here. These resources are typically out of reach for us, so this initiative will have a substantial impact on our startups. Ultimately, Wintercircus and the associated entrepreneurial activities will primarily serve local student startup teams and founders, providing them with a robust support system."

Pavlina: "What can external startups and those across Europe expect from Gentrepreneur and Wintercircus?"

Jolien: "For external startups, including those from other parts of Flanders or other countries, the Wintercircus will serve as a one-stop shop. This means you’ll know exactly where to go for events, networking opportunities, or even to purchase a membership for deeper engagement.

One significant improvement is that many of the networking events and resources in Ghent have traditionally been in Dutch. While most people can communicate in English, the announcements and forms are often in Dutch. Wintercircus aims to change this by adopting an English-first approach, making it a more welcoming environment for international entrepreneurs.

Additionally, for international student startups, we can facilitate introductions to key network contacts and interesting companies, helping you quickly integrate and leverage the local ecosystem."

Pavlina: "And one more thing….if you could describe in one word the Ghent Entrepreneurial Ecosystem - what would it be?"

Jolien: "I would say "welcoming." Our tech ecosystem is incredibly open and supportive, driven by a strong pay-it-forward mentality. Here, we prioritize helping each other over personal gain. When you come to us, you won’t encounter reluctance or secrecy. Instead, you'll find a community eager to support and share knowledge, even with competing startups. We celebrate each other's successes, embodying the welcoming spirit that's so characteristic of our city."

Pavlina: "Thank you very much Jolien for taking the time. Anything else to mention?"

Jolien: "Yes, we are planning a launch of the new Gentrepreneur on the 15.10.2024. You can find all the information on oursocials and we are extremely happy and excited about this - hence we welcome you to share with us this special day for Ghent entrepreneurial ecosystem."

Pavlina: "No convincing needed here. See you there on 15.10 and can´t wait to witness the Gentrepreneurial magic."