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RSS feedsYoung entrepreneurs can tap into Web 2.0 social networking and mentoring with a free trial membership to Ecademy.
The three month membership allows students and young entrepreneurs to find advice, support and mentoring from Ecademy’s global network of business people and entrepreneurs. They will also be able to market, promote and sell their services and products and find suppliers and investment through the site.
Tom Williamson joined Ecademy as a 19 year-old student studying human resources at Coventry University . He had just started his web hosting company. He says, “My primary reason for joining Ecademy was directly after visiting a BRE (business referrals exchange) meeting. I very quickly realised that in order to grow and develop my business I would need as much advice as possible, I would also need to build a network of contacts that trust me and would talk about me to their friends. As a student it is not practical to attend weekly meetings, both for financial and logistical reasons.”
Williamson believed he needed information supported by advice: “It was very clear to me that I would need to surround myself with people who can offer me some advice, tips or feedback. Much of this came in a very informal and unstructured format of replies to blogs and private messages.”
Currently basic membership is free to everyone but anyone who wants to create a club on the site or have access to personal business introductions and private meetings can pay up to £300 a month.
Students and young entrepreneurs (18-25) can join Ecademy using a Power Networker Pass that is available at www.ecademy.com/students. Additionally, they can gain extra free months by inviting 10 members a month.
