"I realized that I don't have to have everything perfectly thought out. The important thing is to start talking and collecting feedback."
This realization was something that most teams involved in the program took away from the weekend of January 24-25. Start a business while still in high schoolStudents from 16 high schools from the Czech Republic and Slovakia met in Conference Center in Malenoviceto bring their business ideas closer to reality.
Already during the autumn of 2025, workshops were held directly at schools, led by Jarka Kořena, By Tereza Pinďáková a Eliška Přečková. In one day, they guided the students from finding a problem, through creating an idea, to its presentation. In December, selected teams met at the Ostrava Impact Hub to validate their ideas. And the incubation camp followed up on these workshops.
MVP as a quality start
Only selected teams from the participating schools were present at the incubation camp in January 2026. The teams focused on: what problem does their idea solve, for which target group and what is the first step that makes sense to take now.
The big topic was MVP – minimum functional solution. Students realized that they did not have to build a perfect product, but that it was enough to verify, if their idea helps anyone at allAnd that it makes sense to invest energy where they have strengths.
"I was surprised how much some ideas moved forward just because we started explaining them to others," the feedback said.
Inspired by a real business story
The highlight of the weekend was the evening conversation with a guest Martin Doležal. He shared his entrepreneurial story, which began while he was still in high school. His story had an educational but also inspiring message for students: entrepreneurship is a process, full of decisions, dead ends, and changes in direction. Motivation can fade over time, but it's important to maintain discipline.
"It was nice to hear that even successful entrepreneurs started out uncertainly and that it's normal to make mistakes," was the comment in the weekend's review.
Presentation, collaboration and own role in the team
The practical part of the camp included workshops focused on presentation skills, preparing for a performance at a gala evening, and working with strengths in the team. The students practiced an elevator pitch, named each other's strengths, and learned to distribute roles so that the team could function.
They also played an important role action educatorswho represented high schools and support their students beyond their studies and were at the camp with them.
A weekend that doesn't end with departure
Between the workshops there was space for informal conversations, games and sharing. The relaxed atmosphere, good food and views of the Beskydy Mountains created an environment in which new friendships were formed and the desire to continue. Some students even started to arrange another weekend together, outside the official program.
The incubation camp was the next step in the long-term project "Start a Business in High School!" But it mainly meant one thing for the students: confirmation that their ideas make sense and are worth giving them a chance.
Start a business while still in high school
Project Start a business while still in high school is taking place in cooperation with Society of Community Centers and focuses on the development of competencies, creativity and connection with practice. It is funded by the program Interreg Slovakia – Czech Republic, specifically from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with a contribution of 190 639,096 EUR.
High schools from the Czech Republic and Slovakia participated in the program.
You can find more information about the program at: www.sk-cz.eu
