Create.
Disrupt.
Repeat!
Here to empower the next-gen of entrepreneurs with practical resources, hands-on mentorship, and access to a international network of experts and leaders.
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What We Do
Friends of Bata is where aspiring change-makers transform their ideas into impactful ventures—backed by practical resources, mentorship, and a global network of like-minded innovators.
About Us
🤝 Partnerships
We partner with global institutions to foster entrepreneurship through strategic collaborations and educational initiatives.
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Latest Events
Our events are designed to equip students with essential entrepreneurial skills through startup competitions, case study discussions with founders, webinars, workshops, and more.
🌍 Young Minds, Bold Ideas Recap!
On March 27th, 40 students pitched creative, sustainability-driven ideas in Rome, from fungi packaging to smart shoes. Entrepreneurship and sustainability united! 🌱🎉
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🚀 JA Czech Student Expo Recap!
40 student startups pitched their ideas in 60 seconds at the JA Czech Student Expo. From smart hydration bottles to eco-friendly dog toys, the next generation of entrepreneurs is here! 🌟
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Bridging Borders, Sparking Innovation! 🌍✨
Students from California Lutheran University joined us in Barcelona for an “experienceship” with FlamAid. Guided by its founder, they brainstormed solutions for real-world challenges.
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Celebrating the Youngpreneurs Finale! 🌟
On March 25th, 50+ students pitched their ideas at the Youngpreneurs grand finale. She Balance won with innovative soccer shoe soles for women.
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From theory to reality: A live Q&A with the founder of FROOTS
From gaining investor trust to understanding the emotions behind financial decisions, the session offered a deep dive into the realities of scaling a fintech startup.
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Bringing Real-World Business Insights to Students 🎓
From embracing failure to understanding customers and acknowledging the role of luck, the session highlighted key lessons that every entrepreneur should consider.
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Young Minds Tackling Real Challenges with MGG! 🚀
We hosted a workshop with 20 young talents at isolutions AG in Bern, tackling real-world challenges for MGG, a sustainable clothing brand, through design thinking and innovative solutions.
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Online Sessions with Repack and Aticco Ventures!
We hosted two online sessions with over 30 students from Tomas Bata University, diving deeper into the challenges faced by the founders when setting up their companies.
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Connecting Education with Business Conference with JA Slovakia
Proud to support our partners with their "Connecting Education with Business" conference in Zvolen.
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Bachelor in Entrepreneurship Welcome Day at H-Farm College
As learning partners, we support students with resources, mentorship, and real-world case studies that reflect today’s business needs.
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Open Bata at Aubonne Tennis Club
Every year we sponsor the BataOpen tournament in Switzerland to foster leadership and healthy competition among the next generation of leaders.
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JA Czech 2024 Expo student fair
The winners will advance to the National Finals with the chance to represent the Czech Republic at the European Finals in Catania, Sicily!
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UTB Online Session with FreshLabels Founder
Online session with the top students from Tomas Bata University in Zlín and the founder of Freshlabels, Jakub Veselsky.
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H-Farm College
We are happy to be Learning Partners of H-Farm college and actively support their Bachelor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
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Lumina Summer School
We hosted students at H-FARM’s scenic campus near Venice for a hands-on learning experience focused on “Managing Business Projects in Fast-Changing Competitive Landscapes.”
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YoungPreneurs Final 2024
Award Nights of the Youngpreneurs.org teams from Bern and Biel. We congratulate the winning teams Osmority, Tyave and Youngjobs!
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Zlínský Barcamp
The event hosted more than 500 participants, moving between free lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and of course... the competition!
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Thomas Bata University
Our Director Thomas Archer Bata welcoming the students on the latest startup competition.
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Case Studies
Discover how our collaborators are transforming industries and driving innovation.
DoughLicious
What happens when a passion for perfection meets a market ripe for innovation? Doughlicious, a UK based brand, has reshaped the cookie dough industry by delivering indulgent, clean-label treats that prioritize both health and sustainability.
Invisible Company
Learn how Invisible Company, a Hong Kong-based sustainable company, is revolutionizing packaging with its innovative, water-soluble, and biodegradable solutions to combat plastic waste.
ForestMatic
Delve into the challenges Forestamic founders faced while trying to develop the first fully transparent platform for corporate CO2 offsetting.
FROOTS
Learn how FROOTS, a Vienna-based WealthTech startup, blends AI and transparency to make investment solutions accessible to a new generation.
Aticco Ventures
Discover how Adrian Escabias navigated the entrepreneurial landscape to create a thriving startup ecosystem, offering key insights on resilience, funding, and community-driven innovation.
Nurturing a Legacy of Entrepreneurship
Friends of Bata carries forward the Bata family’s legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship. Our mission is to foster responsible business growth by supporting projects and entrepreneurs that champion responsible capitalism.
What Drives Us
Innovation
We foster new ideas to drive growth and create sustainable impact.
Entrepreneurship
We inspire and support global startups with the resources needed to succeed.
Collaboration
We encourage partnerships and shared learning across sectors.
Transparency
We champion openness and clear communication.
Curiosity
We instill a passion for learning and creativity in everything we do.
Embark on a successful entrepreneurship journey.
Join us to grow the next generation of entrepreneurs with resources, content, and mentorship, whether you're a student seeking to grow or a mentor ready to guide.
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Leadership & Entrepreneurship Ed-Hub
