ArmInfo. From June 30 to July 2 an online pitching of business projects of self-employed Syrian Armenians, repatriates - residents of the SPARK program of the IRIS Business Incubator Fund was held.
According to the IRIS press service, the fund was created as part of the "Enhancing the resilience of Syrian Armenians and the host population" project with funding from the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (MADAD Fund), the Austrian Development Cooperation Program and the Austrian Red Cross.
The SPARK program is part of the 3 main business incubator programs (SPARK, BUILD and START) and is intended for self-employed Syrian Armenians, repatriates and local residents who have business ideas and who want to develop their business initiatives.
According to the press service of the Fund, 17 SPARK participants from 70 residents of the IRIS Academy participated in online pitching of business projects, who presented business initiatives in various fields, from agriculture to hospitality and tourism, from textiles to fashion, crafts, art, production, service, cooking, etc.
Based on the overall results of the evaluation of the jury, which included representatives of partner structures, experts and entrepreneurs of the IRIS program, the winning projects will be announced next week and will receive grants and / or technical support in the amount of up to 2.5 million drams. The next online pitches for the BUILD and START programs will be held in July this year. It should be noted that the mission of the IRIS business incubator is to enhance the economic integration of Syrian Armenians and the population of the host country by increasing the competitiveness of the local economy by stimulating innovation and the spirit of entrepreneurship in Armenia. The business incubator provides unique full-cycle support services, including training, supervision, mentoring and access to financing in the form of grants and loans, as well as a co-working area for work in the very center of Yerevan.