2023-11-12 07:31:48
L’vegetable alternative to meat that offers ivy generated one turnover of 31.4 million euros in 2022 and is present in more than 18,000 points of sale in 20 countries around the world. But it wasn’t always like that. The company began its journey in 2016. They were two young people, Marc Coloma and Bernat Añaños, who decided to move from social, environmental and animal rights activism to offer their solution with 100% vegetable products. They had a prototype and a truly entrepreneurial spirit, but they needed to reach the end customer and asked for help from Netmentora. Like them, there are many entrepreneurs who have come to this one European network for knowledge exchange and business growth. An organization that offers advice from great entrepreneurs to guide the way for companies that are starting the way.
Now, the non-profit association lands in Girona. In Barcelona, Netmentora established itself in 2012. More than a decade later, its arrival in the Girona regions is motivated by theobjective of “making a country” and “creating jobs”. “We have entrepreneurs from Girona who go to Barcelona to receive support and we think that with the entrepreneurial and productive fabric that exists in Girona it makes no sense for them to move. In addition, we have partners from Barcelona who go to Girona to live and commute”, explains the president of Netmentora Catalunya, Cristian Rovira. In addition, the reason for having landed in Girona is the “good business fabric and the number of ‘start ups’ in the demarcation». In this sense, the president of Netmentora Girona, Narcís Xifra, emphasizes that it is “a great opportunity and a strong recognition” that the association is betting on Girona.
“Many small companies that emerged ended up going to Barcelona and this should help them stay in the territory. We have talent and we need to take advantage of it and root it here”, emphasizes Xifra.
“Many companies that emerged ended up going to Barcelona and this should help them stay in the territory”
The platform gives specialized advice for two years and for free to those people who decide to take a company forward. In addition, they offer access to relevant events and a portfolio of contacts. All together to support the entrepreneur who, at the same time, makes a commitment to help once his company has been consolidated.
A necessary support many times for entrepreneurship, which requires effort, work and assuming large amounts of risk and uncertainty. Not everyone is ready to take the plunge, but those who decide to take the plunge can seek help moving forward. The director of Netmentora in Catalonia, Alejandro Ribó, points out that 73% of the companies that advise through the association remain. The criteria for being able to opt for the association’s services are marked by different aspects. The director explains that it has to do with the product they bring to the market and that it is preferable that they already have a portfolio of clients. They also ask that it generate an impact on the territory and that the entrepreneur takes an “active” role in the company. In addition, it must have financing for 1 year or recurring sales.
All services offered by Netmentora are free, but the person who has received help must commit to doing the same after the two years have passed and become a member. “All the entrepreneurs we help, then have this social commitment to be able to give back everything they have received. This is the spirit of Netmentora”, remarks Ribó.
Netmentora was born in France – where it is fully established – in 1986 but is present in a dozen countries. He did it with industrialist André Mulliez to bet on job creation after the 1983 crisis, which led many companies to make layoffs. Among the countries where it has a presence, there are Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Chile and Tunisia.
#wanted #present #productive #entrepreneurial #fabric #Girona