What if you could spend several months working alongside an experienced entrepreneur in another country, gain practical business knowledge, expand your international network, and receive financial support to do it?
In this episode of Entrepreneurship Talks, we dive deep into the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme, one of the European Union's most impactful initiatives for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs.Together with representatives of the programme and Entrepreneurship Talks co-founder Theodoros Asteriotis, who shares his personal experience as a participant, we explore how EYE helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality through international collaboration and hands-on learning.
In this episode, we discuss:
• The origins and vision behind Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs
• How the programme strengthens Europe's startup and SME ecosystem
• Who can participate and the eligibility criteria
• The matchmaking process between new and experienced entrepreneurs
• Financial support, duration, and flexibility of exchanges
• Opportunities beyond Europe and international destination countries
• Success stories from participants across the world
• Theodoros Asteriotis' personal journey through the programme
• Practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs considering an exchange
00:00 Intro highlights – What Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs offers
01:09 Welcome & guest introductions
03:03 How the programme started and why it exists
06:28 How it strengthens entrepreneurs and the European ecosystem
10:28 Programme milestones, impact and future direction
14:51 Who can participate and what types of businesses are eligible
18:16 How the matching process works
22:00 Financial support, grants and what they cover
24:00 Duration of exchanges and flexible participation options
29:05 New exchange destinations: Singapore, USA, Canada and UK
33:00 Cost, visa and practical considerations for global exchanges
37:00 Success stories and real examples from participants
40:00 Theodos’ personal experience in Stockholm
43:00 Advice for future applicants and how to get started
45:40 Closing remarks
Whether you're a student, aspiring founder, freelancer, startup enthusiast, or already running your own business, this episode offers valuable insights into one of Europe's most unique entrepreneurship programmes.
Learn more about Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/page.php?cid=20
Apply to the programme: https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/page.php?cid=19
Direct application platform: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-entrepreneurs/
Find your local contact point: https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/page.php?cid=5
Success Stories: https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/page.php?cid=09
Success stories archive/search: https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/stories_archive.php
Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/page.php?pid=019
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Entrepreneurship Talks is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs through podcasts, workshops, educational trips, and innovation-focused events