Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy Powered by Viva.com

The mission of “The Pierce Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy Powered by Viva.com” is to promote the entrepreneurial spirit and business culture among the students of Pierce – The American College of Greece. The Club provides for the establishment and operation of a student virtual business, according to the operating model of a corporation. In the Club, students prepare and submit their own business plan aimed at implementing all levels of operation of a modern business (product design, production, promotion, sales).

Students’ active participation in a virtual business contributes to the development of important social, administrative, entrepreneurial, organizational, communication and interpersonal skills. This participation is a basic element in every student’s CV and a valuable influence on their further academic and professional pursuits. Students have the opportunity to develop and cultivate their interests and talents, to relate theory to practice, to deal with the actual functions and problems of a modern business.

Lyceum students have the opportunity to participate in Greek, European and Global Entrepreneurship Competitions. More specifically:

Junior Achievement (C Gymnasium): Students acquire basic knowledge in entrepreneurship (marketing, management, leadership, human resources management, etc.). They create and operate a student virtual business, following the model of operation of a Limited Company. In the context of the Group, students prepare and submit their own business plan, in order to implement all levels of operation of a modern business (product design, production, promotion, sale). This is how they prepare for an effective participation in Greek and international competitions in the next academic year (A’ Lyceum).

The active and active participation in the virtual business contributes to the development of important social, administrative, business, organizational, communication and interpersonal skills. This participation is a valuable resource for students’ further academic and professional pursuits.

Junior Achievement (Lyceum, IB): This is an entrepreneurship competition for students, under the auspices of Junior Achievement Greece – Youth Entrepreneurship Association (SEN), with the approval of the Ministry of Education. The Academy envisages the establishment and operation of a student virtual business, according to the model of operation of a Limited Company. In the context of the Academy, students prepare and submit their own business plan in order to implement all levels of operation of a modern business (product design, production, promotion, sale). They promote the product by making promo videos, participate together with dozens of other student virtual businesses both in trade fairs and in Greek and pan-European finals.

Diamond Challenge (Lyceum, IB): This is an entrepreneurship competition for high school students from all over the world that is implemented under the auspices of the University of Delaware / Horn Entrepreneurship and provides a unique opportunity for students to delve into the entrepreneurial culture, putting their ideas into practice. Our school will host the Final of the Greek competition (Diamond Challenge Pitch Event) for public and private schools from all over the country. Students will form teams of 2-4 people and present their ideas in the field of Social Innovation. The qualifying teams from each country will take part in the Final (Diamond Challenge Summit), at the University of Delaware.

Junior Squeezy (Lyceum & IB): Junior Squeezy Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation program of Orange Grove and the Dutch Embassy, in collaboration with the Vasilis & Elizas Goulandris Foundation, aims to attract students who will formulate an innovative business idea and are interested in start-up entrepreneurship.

As part of the program, participants will have the opportunity to learn about and become familiar with innovative entrepreneurship, the creation of startups and the design of businesses with a positive impact on the economy, society and the environment (impact-driven entrepreneurship). At the same time, they will receive guidance from members of Orange Grove and the Dutch Embassy’s network of trainers and mentors, which includes successful entrepreneurs and senior business executives.

X-Culture Academy (Lyceum & IB): International competition X-Culture Academy (https://x-culture.org/academy/) is coordinated by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and aims to help participants develop the skills needed to succeed professionally in an internationalized and multicultural business environment.

Participants work in teams with school students from different countries on business problems of real companies. The solutions proposed by the students are presented (as a report) to the respective companies and judged by them.

The limit of Academy members for this year is 35 students. Should this be exceeded in enrollment, there will be academic criteria for selecting members.

Club Advisors: I. Minas, P. Sfyris, M. Theodosopoulos, Dr. A. Klidas
Day and Time: Wednesday 15:30-17:00