SDA Bocconi assists aspiring fashion entrepreneurs
Creativity, hard work and intuition are some key ingredients required to launch a new product or format in the field of fashion and anyone who has a good idea in their head can now add acumen and competence of the sector by participating in the second edition of Business Idea Competition in Fashion: starting up a new company organized by SDA Bocconi school of management. The 15 winners with the most innovative and financially viable ideas will, in fact, earn free participation to a special intensive course at SDA Bocconi's Milan campus with the chance to learn all the secrets of strategy and branding to launch their own venture in the fields of fashion, luxury and design.
The competition closes May 30 and the challenge is open to individuals or teams composed of a maximum three people, from all over the world. To participate it is necessary to present an accurate business plan which must include a detailed description of the idea, of the development of the business plan and plans for financing the project. The proposal, to be presented online, must include the participants' curriculum and can included a short video with the teams' pitch.
"After the positive experience of last year we expect even greater participation this year. The desire for new ideas and innovation continues to be strong in the sector and we expect to be able to give voice and managerial competences to budding entrepreneurs who want to put themselves to the test," explains Elisabetta Marafioti, professor of strategy at SDA Bocconi and coordinator of the initiative. "During the course the winners will then be able to fine tune their ideas through an exchange with SDA Bocconi faculty and thanks to the managerial competences they will acquire they will be able to aspire to render concrete their ideas through professional projects through which to propose their ideas to potential investors."
Winners will be selected by two senior faculty members of SDA Bocconi and a professional from the private equity sector. The 15 winners will enjoy free participation, on July 12 and 13, at an intensive course at SDA Bocconi in Milan. The course will include lessons by faculty of SDA's Master in fashion, experience and design management, discussion of case studies and guest speakers from industry leaders so as to understand the trends and key factors of success in the industry. The objective is to provide all the instruments of branding and business planning necessary to launch a new entrepreneurial venture.
All participants will nonetheless receive feedback on their proposal from the selection committee with useful comments and suggestions to improve on their idea.
For information: https://summerschool.sdabocconi.it/fashion.html
The initiative is part of the Milano Summer School project launched by Milan City Council which involves a group of Milan universities and schools organizing courses for students from around the world for the summer months. As part of the project, SDA Bocconi at the beginning of May will also launch a business game in the field of fine food and beverages with a prize of participation to special intensive course dedicated to that industry.