Developing Business Plans

Anastasia Nikologianni, participant in the Journey 2014, writes about the challenges they face when coming up with a business idea.

For the majority of the participants of ‘The Journey’, the development of a business plan sounds an exciting, interesting and important opportunity. But, what actually happens when you are about to move from ideas to market research and work on the practical and technical aspect of it?

Entrepreneurship itself has always been, and will always be a challenge. If you accept it, it may reward you with a successful business. However, the risks, the problems, the ‘ups and downs’ are always present and the only way to move on is to face them and find the most efficient solution. The process of developing a business idea into a climate related business plan, that has the potential to be a future start up, is both challenging and difficult, but inspiring all at the same time.

The Journey 2014

This summer, nearly 300 students from 40 countries, representing 71 disciplines, take part in Europe’s largest climate change education experience – Climate-KIC summer school The Journey. The five week-long course offers a unique combination of academic study and real-world business experience across Europe, with the aim of creating the climate change leaders of tomorrow.

We are now at the stage where ideas need to become reality. Spending the last few days doing market research on the streets of Berlin, contacting companies, producing questionnaires, and trying to ascertain whether or not our business plan will be a success, made us realise that research, time planning, accuracy and hard work is necessary.