The aim of the project was to strengthen knowledge and skills in financing schemes for VET students, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and the education sector. It focused on bridging the language gap between entrepreneurs and investors, empowering the former to attract investments from business angels. It enhanced linguistic and professional skills in start-ups, strengthening key transversal competencies in VET. Educational materials were developed to be integrated into VET curricula, preparing students and institutions to operate at the European/international level in fundraising. The BAKE training facilitated equitable and successful communication between entrepreneurs and investors through training tools and guides that provided entrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge for effective communication. The project combined specific knowledge, skills, and competencies from a diverse consortium of partners, companies dedicated to the BA investment sector, and providers of formal and non-formal VET, to develop an online training course and a curriculum tailored to the needs of users.
The need to enhance entrepreneurial and innovative capabilities in the EU was highlighted in initiatives such as "Innovation Union," "Youth on the Move," and "A New Skills Agenda for Europe." Europe aims to establish an efficient venture capital market to facilitate direct access to funding for businesses, including private sector funds. During the relationships between Business Angels and entrepreneurs, conflicts arise due to different perceptions of the business, expectations, and contractual agreements. This leads to tensions, misunderstandings, and an imbalanced control and power between the entrepreneurs and the BAs, which affect business performance, business innovation, and trust in cooperation between partners. To mitigate this, a toolkit (PR1) was developed for both profiles with fair and balanced guidelines, training materials, vocabulary usage, and practical cases. BAKE developed an innovative training program (PR2) for entrepreneurs and SMEs in start-up or growth phases, reducing economic and skills gaps. Similarly, an online platform was developed with the materials and content created (PR3).