For the second time this year, Alumnice, the alumni association of the University of Nice, organized a conference on entrepreneurship. Aimed at both recent graduates and alumni, it provides advice and helps them benefit from a network of professionals.
Creating a business in 2014 has become an increasingly complicated task, and for a young person just out of school or university, the challenge is even greater.
The statistics prove it: nearly one in two businesses does not survive beyond 3 years if it is not supported, according to an employee of the Nice-Côte d’Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI). Alumnice, the alumni association of the University of Nice, launched entrepreneurship conferences focused on business creation at the beginning of 2014. “These conferences are primarily intended for young graduates who wish to start or take over a business. We try to provide a lot of advice during these two hours,” explains Brice Eichwald, treasurer of Alumnice.
For the second edition after the one in March 2014, Alumnice hosted around twenty people compared to nearly 150 for the first one. The challenging date, early July, was a factor. “We are in the early stages, in the process of building. This is only the second conference, and we will improve over time,” said a member of Alumnice, one of the organizers of these conferences. On the agenda this Tuesday, a presentation from the Business Creation Assistance Office (BACE) of the University of Nice, the Nice-Côte d’Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), and the European Center for Enterprises and Innovation (CEEI).
The professionals present were able to exchange business cards with the young graduates during a speed-dating session to create or enhance their network. A next conference is expected to take place in November to establish three annual meetings.
