Entrepreneurship Marathon

This Erasmus+ youth project strengthens entrepreneurial skills and motivation among young people by addressing barriers to entrepreneurship through mentoring, experiential learning, and international cooperation. It empowers participants to transform ideas into innovative, sustainable solutions and engage actively in the European entrepreneurship ecosystem.

This Erasmus+ Youth Project was supported by Jugend Für Europe and the European Union.

Overview

This project was implemented in response to the decline of entrepreneurial motivation among today’s youth. It focused on identifying the barriers that prevent young people from pursuing entrepreneurship and equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to overcome these challenges. Through interactive learning, mentoring, and international cooperation, the project supported young participants in transforming ideas into action and rediscovering their creative and entrepreneurial potential.

General Aim

To strengthen the entrepreneurial competences of young people and foster a generation capable of producing innovative, sustainable, and smart solutions to social and economic challenges.

Specific Objectives

To help young people understand the core mentality of entrepreneurship.
To teach the fundamentals of establishing a business and engaging in transnational trade.
To develop young people’s ability to mentor peers in generating innovative ideas.
To create a professional mentor–mentee ecosystem that promotes experiential learning.
To build young people’s leadership, decision-making, empathy, and teamwork skills.
To familiarize participants with the entrepreneurship ecosystem and encourage active participation.

Rationale

Youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges in Europe and globally. According to Statista (2024), the average youth unemployment rate in Europe has reached 20.4%. Entrepreneurship represents one of the most effective responses, acting as a driver of economic growth, social inclusion, innovation, and personal empowerment.

Despite this potential, many young people lack guidance, confidence, and access to resources. Barriers such as limited capital, fear of failure, lack of experience, and insufficient mentorship often prevent ideas from becoming viable ventures. As noted by Michael Fritsch (2017), supporting entrepreneurship generates not only economic value but also strengthens social integration and civic participation.

Although entrepreneurship education exists within European universities, it has not been sufficient on its own. Findings from the Amway Europe Entrepreneurship Survey show that fear of failure and rigid knowledge structures continue to limit entrepreneurial spirit. Compared to the United States, Europe still demonstrates lower entrepreneurial dynamism, underlining the need for practice-oriented, experiential approaches that allow young people to engage with entrepreneurship directly.

Impact

Through non-formal education activities, workshops, and mentoring sessions, the project:

Enhanced participants’ understanding of entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
Fostered cross-border cooperation and networking among aspiring young entrepreneurs.
Created a safe environment to test, develop, and refine innovative business ideas.
Increased self-confidence, leadership, and communication skills among participants.
Contributed to a more entrepreneurial and proactive youth culture in Europe.

Outputs and Dissemination

A digital entrepreneurship toolkit summarizing methodologies and success stories developed during the project.
Workshops and mentoring programs implemented at local and international levels.
Interactive simulation games and team challenges designed to teach business fundamentals.
A final dissemination event sharing project results, good practices, and success stories with stakeholders and local communities.