Saying “yes!” to budding businesses

PlateStar makes CD covers from car number plates swissinfo.ch

Aspiring Swiss entrepreneurs will get a chance to show their business acumen at a competition in the resort of Interlaken this weekend.

Twenty-three micro businesses set up by secondary school pupils in German-speaking Switzerland will be battling for the title of Best Swiss Enterprise.

The competition is organised by Young Enterprise Switzerland (YES!), a donor-funded association, which offers young people aged 16-20 assistance with formally founding mini businesses as part of their economics courses.

During the one-year project period, participants have to come up with a suitable product, and then find ways of producing it and identifying markets.

The companies are allowed to sell shares totalling SFr3,000 ($2,400) to cover their production and marketing costs.

Inventive

The shelves in the YES! office in Thalwil near Zurich overflow with examples of students’ past efforts.

There are pencil cases made from beer cans, LED lamps and designer dustbins.

On the wall hangs a clock crafted from a football, signed by the country’s soccer stars.

There’s even soft cheese in the shape of the Swiss cross.

All of these have been produced in the students’ spare time, and are either sold in shops or online.

“It’s hard work running a business while trying to prepare for your final school exams,” Hans Möhr, chairman and CEO of YES!, told swissinfo.

“The participants have to learn to be very organised, and to make sacrifices.”

The big test

During the project period, YES!-led companies have to take part in the country’s leading trade fair, Muba, and the national Young Enterprise Switzerland competition.

Ahead of the contest, enterprises are required to submit their company reports, detailing results and activities, as well as the educational benefits reaped from running a business.

At the competition, the candidates are interviewed by a panel of judges, and are expected to introduce their product in a short stage presentation.

Prizes are awarded for the most innovative product, the best presentation, the finest logo and the strongest team spirit.

The winner goes on to take part in a competition for young entrepreneurs from 24 different European countries, held in July.

This year, the Junior Achievement Young Enterprise Europe contest is being held in Oslo, Norway.

Role models

The competitors will be looking to repeat the successes of other YES!-supported companies, such as Sky High from Zuoz, which won the European competition in 2003 with its handy ski-carrying device.

Belts made from newspaper headlines stole the show for Primecut from Wohlen last year.

Young Swiss firms have also done well at the International Inventors’ Fair in Geneva. Dontwalk from Davos won the bronze medal in 2001, with its winter kickboard.

It’s an impressive track record for a country with little experience of founding small businesses. But Hans Möhr insists that winning competitions is not the main aim.

“Not only do participants find out how businesses actually operate, which can be quite different to the theory; the experience also helps with their personal development.”

“I feel we are training an elite,” he added.

Primecut’s production manager, Reto Marending, agrees that running a company is a great learning experience.

“It forces you to become more confident as you have to make presentations in front of large audiences.”

Hopeful

One of the most promising companies entering the national competition this weekend is PlateStar, set up by students at the cantonal school in Wohlen.

The team of seven makes agendas and CD holders out of colourful number plates imported from the United States.

Andreas Kunz, the Vice CEO and Webmaster, says they are grateful for the support they have received from YES: “Without it we wouldn’t have had the chance to gain this knowledge and have fun with business.”

At the moment, the only schools participating in the enterprise scheme are in the German-speaking regions, and the funding comes mainly from sponsors.

There is just one government-backed project at the High School for Applied Sciences in Chur.

Hans Möhr is fighting for YES! to be accepted as part of a government programme for all schools, colleges and universities, throughout the country.

swissinfo, Julie Hunt in Thalwil

Key facts

YES! was founded in 1999.
Since then, 1,100 pupils from 25 schools have set up 160 businesses.
YES! leads the project for one year only.
Between ten and 12 per cent of the companies continue beyond the project period.