BeGenkers 2.0

‘De Begenkers’ is the ecosystem of enterpreneurial youngsters in the region of Genk – a project led by 3 partners (the city of Genk, Hogeschool UC Limburg and LUCA School of Arts) and is financed by EFRO.

Main goal of the project is to inspire, coach and connect young people from age 16 to 25; each youngster and/or student with a business idea or with enterpreneurial ambitions will be stimulated and guided to give maximum support to young enterpreneurship in the region. Led by a team of experts and experienced enterpreneurs a ‘BeGenker’ develops an idea into a concept. We offer a program of workshops, coaching, referrals and events with which enterpreneurial youngsters collect knowledge and inspiration ánd build their own, valuable network. De BeGenkers work closely toegether with UCLL StartMinds on organising events, coaching and linking to the enterpreneurial network.

We inspire by organising e.g. inspirational talks, hackatons, workshops, network events/company visits, … We focus on accessibility and on the local character; all events are open for all youngsters (students HEI as well as high school students, school dropouts as well as job seekers). Also teachers and other partners of the enterpreneurial network are free to participate in all the events. The HEI’s LUCA School of Arts en UC Limburg take initiatives to include into their curricula initiatives and tools which stimulate the enterpreneurial mindset and competences.

The focus is on one-on-one coaching and accessibility of the coaching via e.g. our ‘hubs’ – small offices within the city of Genk, Hogeschool UC Limburg and LUCA School of Arts – where youngsters and students can turn to for first-line advice.

BeGenkers operates as a liaison for early enterpreneurship in & around the environment of the HEI’s. The ecosystem as a connector maps the existing enterpreneurial initiatives and facilitates the guidance of youngsters and students to these initiatives in the region. We enlarge the impact of our ecosystem by involving local influencers in the program and we make maximum use of the facilities of the campuses of the HEI’s, of the secondary schools, the incubators, civil society organisations and youth services.