Razlog Municipality organizes a training course based on the “Startup Creation Laboratory” model for young entrepreneurs

Razlog Municipality organized a training course under the “Start-up Creation Lab” model for young entrepreneurs.
Razlog Municipality conducted an information campaign to promote the opportunity for 30 young people aged 18 to 30 to join a specialized training course under the “Start-up Creation Lab” model.
The training will take place in the period October 2026 – March 2027 within the framework of the “Sole MED” project, co-financed under the INTERREG VI-B Euro-Mediterranean Basin (EURO MED) 2021–2027 Programme . Razlog Municipality is a partner in the project.
The program has a total duration of 62 hours and is aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills and creating sustainable business ideas, with a main focus on the bioeconomy.
From idea to real business model. The program is structured in three main phases – theoretical foundations, development of a start-up enterprise and implementation and realization.
Participants will learn the basics of entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as the principles of the circular economy and the bioeconomy. They will then go through practical modules related to building and developing a sustainable business.
Topics include Business Model Canvas, Design Thinking, Lean Startup, market analysis and validation of business ideas, digital marketing, financial planning, financing opportunities, legal framework for businesses in the bioeconomy, Agile project management and sustainable supply chains.
In the final part of the training, participants will work on developing a business plan, acquire practical prototyping skills and be prepared to present their business ideas to investors. Two mentoring sessions are also planned for additional expert support.
The training is based on the bioeconomy, and the topic is integrated into all modules of the program. The opportunities for creating sustainable business models, efficient use of resources, waste reduction and the development of bio-based products and solutions will be considered.
The practical focus of the “Startup Creation Lab” will be supported by experts and mentors. Participants will receive individual and/or group support in developing, testing and refining their business ideas and models.
It is also planned to create opportunities for contacts and partnerships between young people, business representatives, educational institutions, industry experts and other stakeholders.
The training will end with a demonstration day, where participants will present their developed business ideas to mentors, investors and stakeholders.
The initiative aims to support young people in Razlog and the region to develop practical knowledge and skills for entrepreneurship and to create a basis for sustainable business initiatives in the field of bioeconomy. The “Sole MED”
project is co-financed by the European Union Territorial Cooperation Programme INTERREG VI-B Euro-Mediterranean Basin (EURO MED) 2021–2027. The Municipality of Razlog is a partner in the Sole MED project, which has as its main objective the creation of a transnational network of collaborative innovation spaces (Collaborative Spaces Network) within the Euro-Mediterranean region. The initiative is based on the transfer and upgrading of good practices from the regional project “Open Labs” , funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. The project aims to promote open innovation, create new business opportunities and develop modern models for training young entrepreneurs, with a focus on sustainable bioeconomy. The project envisages the creation of a transnational network of “Open Labs” that brings together existing innovation and urban hubs in cities such as Ferrara (Italy), Lleida (Spain), Thessaly (Greece) and Razlog (Bulgaria). Through this cooperation, conditions are created to stimulate the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups.