By joining Spiečius, your success in business will be ensured not only by a team of competent specialists, business consultants, but also by a team of mentors who willingly share their experience and help you achieve your goals. By joining the "Spiečius" cooperation center of the Innovation Agency, you will receive a free package of services, which includes: business training programs: business acceleration, mentoring, e. commercial workshops, events, training, consulting, networking opportunities, a workplace, a warm and supportive community and even financial subsidies for business digitization and optimization.
– Iveta, tell me how the circumstances came about that you started working as a project manager in Alytus "Spiečiuje"?
– Almost three years ago, I saw an advertisement on the Internet that a project manager was wanted in this collaboration center. In fact, I didn't know what "Spiečius" was then, but after reading the job advertisement, I realized that this position was just for me. And after visiting the co-working center during the job interview and feeling the entrepreneurial, ambitious and positive atmosphere here, the feeling that I am where I should be, strengthened even more. And three years later, I can safely say that I was not wrong!
– I know that mentors are assigned to start-up entrepreneurs in your organizations to guide them. How do you find mentors and what are your criteria?
– I am looking for business mentors who would share good experience with budding entrepreneurs, accompany them on their business journey and be there when they need not only business advice, but also sincere support here in Alytus. Mentors from big cities – Vilnius, Kaunas – also willingly get involved. I am very happy that this year most of the mentors are our "Spiečius" alumni. This means that they have already grown up, gained enough experience and can share it with other, less experienced people. Our network of mentors consists of experts in various fields, who help young entrepreneurs to provide complex support. One of the main values of entrepreneurs working with a mentor is that the mentor often sees the wider picture, possible risks, opportunities that you usually don't see yourself, and helps the young entrepreneur to empower the potential to achieve the goals set. My expectation for mentors is not only experience in creating a business, managing it or in a specific area of expertise, but also a willingness to share.
– Share in what ways you try to create a sense of community in the organization?
– Our community in Alytus consists of over 20 members. They are all active, enterprising, open, communal. Each of them contributes to the creation and nurturing of the community. In "Spiečius" you meet people who come here driven by a strong desire to improve and develop their businesses. We all know the saying, "If you want to go fast, go alone." If you want to go far – go with others", the members of our organization understand the benefits of the community very well – not only business connections and partnerships are forged here, but also friendships are born.
Of course, we also like informal activities that strengthen fellowship: we always celebrate the major holidays of the year together, and in the summer we spend time in nature, have picnics in the City Garden, go to lunch together, and often even in the center of cooperation, a simple coffee turns into a workshop for developing business ideas.
– In your opinion, what benefits does a mentor receive by mentoring enthusiastic members of "Spiečius"?
– The main benefits that our mentors receive are: increasing expertise, improving personal image, leadership development, opportunity for publicity, establishing connections and contacts not only with mentoring participants, but also with other mentors throughout Lithuania, of whom we have as many as 150 in our mentor network. By sharing their experience free of charge, mentors have the opportunity to look at their business from a different perspective. The most encouraging indicator is that the majority of mentors cite self-realization through a culture of sharing as a key benefit – a sign of our growth as a society.
– What do you think organizations like yours contribute to regional business development?
– The services provided by our organization in Alytus successfully contribute to the establishment and development of business in a constantly changing and competitive market. This is also shown by the numbers. During 2022, the income growth of our members was 60 percent. This is two percent higher than the market growth. The survival rate of businesses reaches 96 percent. This means that within 3 years of the provision of "Spiečiaus" services, only a very small number of businesses cease operations. During the year 2023, the members of Alytus "Spiečius" (currently there are 15) generated over 800,000 sales income. Well, we can be happy that even 99 percent our customers would recommend Spiečių to others. This probably shows that we are needed by regional entrepreneurs and that we are working in the right direction.
– Tell us about the most interesting/successful projects implemented by "Spiečius" in Alytus.
– During the two and a half years that I have been working here, I have seen various stories when strangers who came to our organization get to know each other and start new successful projects, when they are faced with very large business growth and then they are already looking for help to manage it. They go to new export markets, every victory, no matter how small, is very important to them, so together in the community we share not only challenges and problems, but also rejoice in victories. I am very "sick" for each of our members, I support, help and believe in their success. It's an amazing feeling to be around and see their continuous improvement and growth. Our business community is diverse – 70 percent. Alytus members include e. commerce (e-commerce, marketing, programming) businesses, 20 percent. provides consulting services for other businesses (B2B), and the rest – tourism, entertainment organization and other activities. Therefore, there is never a feeling of competition in the community, but on the contrary, a desire to help and encourage each other.
– Do you feel a great interest in the organization and the help it offers?
– There is interest, about 12 new businesses join the ranks of our members every year, but I have noticed that regional businesses usually lack the courage to come, use the tools offered, and make contacts. Those who dare win, so I would like to wish that to everyone.
– Iveta, you coordinate the cooperation center in Alytus, in your opinion, why is it important for people starting their own business to join Spiečius?
– Because here, starting entrepreneurs find all the necessary help, which is very necessary to ensure establishment in the market and the survival of the business in the first years of its existence. "Spiečiaus" service package includes such services as business training programs: business acceleration, mentoring, e. commercial workshops, events, training, consulting, networking opportunities, a workplace, a warm and supportive community and even financial subsidies for business digitization and optimization! And most importantly, all these services are provided free of charge.
– How does it feel when you let the members of "Spiečiaus" who have grown up and established a successful business continue to develop projects independently? Isn't it hard to let them go?
– I have never had to say goodbye – they always remain, only the status changes. A member of "Spiečiaus" often becomes an alumnus (former member) after the contract expires. The alumnus continues to use the services of not only the organization, but also the Innovation Agency. I represent the Innovation Agency, which has a wide range of services – it strengthens export opportunities in foreign markets, promotes the introduction of innovations in business, helps in the search for EU funding and provides many other services for business. Here in Alytus, we have wide opportunities and can be useful to businesses at various stages of maturity. I am always happy when alumni visit me and share their experiences, challenges, and achievements after providing our services, because in most cases, they start to write sweet fruits after completing their membership in the organization. We all know that there are no quick results, consistent work and persistence are very important in business.
"Spiečius" is currently recruiting new members!
Do you want to become a member of Alytus "Spiečius"?
Contact project manager Iveta Dimšiene.
tel. no. +370 658 75610 or e-mail [email protected]
Or fill out the membership form: https://spiecius.inovaciuagentura.lt/narystes-anketa/
More information: https://spiecius.inovaciuagentura.lt/
Collaboration centers "Spiečius" are active business spaces created by the Innovation Agency, adapted for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, which provide free services in order to grow and expand their businesses, strengthen entrepreneurial competences, cooperate with each other and thus find new business partners.