2. Entrepreneurs from the EU outermost regions and the Oversears Countries and Territories (OCTs) are also eligible to participate.

3. Eligible entrepreneurs are those in the early stages of their business start-up (new entrepreneurs) and experienced owners or managers of a micro or small enterprise (host entrepreneurs).

4. New entrepreneurs, firmly planning to set up their own business or have already started one within the last three year5. Experienced entrepreneurs who own or manage a Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise in one of the Participating Countries

BENEFITS

Potential benefits for new entrepreneurs include the opportunity to:

• Stay up to six months with a successful and experienced entrepreneur in another European country to gain relevant business start-up knowledge in a wide range of areas such as marketing, financial accounting, customer relations, business finance;
• Improve the entrepreneurial experience and chances of success during the business start-up phase;
• Refine business ideas/plan;
• Become members of an international European business network of successful entrepreneurs;
• Gain knowledge about foreign markets and understand the regulatory framework in another European Union country;
• Collaborate and develop cross-border business co-operation;
• Gain insights into different cultural and organisational settings and understand how companies function in the European Union;
• Improve language skills;
• Find out about European commercial law and the single European market,  European standardisatio and European support for SMEs;
• Receive practical and financial assistance such as induction courses before the exchange, logistical and local support during the stay, and a grant covering the travel and subsistence costs during the stay abroad.