IBP – helps companies in digital business field to internationalize

International Business Program’s goal is to operate as an active coach to the digital contents and services providing growth-willing companies’ internationalization. Know-how and suitable contacts are offered to support rapid internationalization of the growing companies. The aim is to help Finnish start-ups to make it to the wider global markets. The target-group of the project is digital business companies which are proved to be growth-willing and estimated to have potential global competitiveness.
 

Part One: IBP Internationalization Clinics
The first part is the Internationalization Clinics, which goal is to estimate global competitiveness and market potential of the companies, give suggestions and feedback in the questions related to internationalizations and lead potential companies to Internationalization Camps. Regional functions are organized in Helsinki, Tampere, Hämeenlinna, Kouvola and Vaasa.

The Vaasa Internationalization Clinic is arranged by MediaCity and will be held 16th February 2010. The clinic is especially targeted to companies in the field of audio visual production for Content 360 digital platforms. Ten companies can participate at the clinic, which is free of charge.

Part Two: IBP Internationalization Camps
The second part of the project is to organize Internalization Camps, which are open to all companies operating in the field. Bottlenecks in internationalization of the start-up companies are identified and know-how is developed in these divisions. Coaching themes could be for instance marketing, choosing sales-partners, culture differences in the target area, design of the exporting marketing materials, incorporeal rights, exporting financial management and accounting standards or growth funding. 

Camps will be arranged in Helsinki, Tampere, Hämeenlinna and Kouvola. Participants will be charged a small fee.
 

Part Three: IBP GoToMarket Package
The third part is to arrange practical internationalization concepts to the companies which already have a product / service in the markets and most of the funding. Specialized consults are harnessed to support and prepare these companies in the funding and partner-finding negotiations in the global markets. This stage is executed by an entrepreneur and a coach working one week in the target-country.

The IBP GoToMarket packages are mainly aimed for companies expanding in Europe. By the end of 2010 nine more companies will be selected to recieve the package. The package is targeted to companies who already have a product or service in the market and the most of the funding. The package itself is both valuable and beneficial, but also requires the company's own input regarding the expenses involved.

Funding and execution
This project is funded by The European Social Fund (ESF). Project started 17.8.2009 and will last until 31.12.2010. Culminatum Innovation Oy Ltd’s administered Digibusiness Center of Expertise is responsible of execution of this project and it will be realized in the keen cooperation with Growth Coaching and all regions in Digibusiness Cluster Programme.

Contacts
Courses and Events Manager at MediaCity 
Hasse Eriksson, hasse.eriksson(at)abo.fi ph +358 50 3630 419

Project Manager in charge at Culminatum
Raija Velez, raija.velez(at)culminatum.fi