‣ R@ - Computer mice (Estonia)In Estonia, in 2003/2004 <strong>the</strong> student company R@ was organised in an upper secondary school <strong>of</strong> asmall village in Estonia. The student company worked as an extra-curricular activity.The product <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> student company was a computer mouse covered with fabric and having <strong>the</strong>appearance <strong>of</strong> a toy. As a result <strong>of</strong> a good selling strategy <strong>the</strong> student company’s product became quitewell-known and popular in Estonia and <strong>the</strong>re were articles about <strong>the</strong> company in newspapers.By now some members have graduated from secondary school and <strong>the</strong>y are all studying in highereducation institutions. They plan to create <strong>the</strong>ir own company.This case is extremely important in Estonia, as in small villages in sou<strong>the</strong>rn Estonia <strong>the</strong> unemploymentrate is high and entrepreneurial spirit is not widespread. It is hard to find even local businessconsultants for <strong>the</strong>se students. Everyone from this group claims that <strong>the</strong>y have achieved a newthinking pattern – <strong>the</strong>y see entrepreneurship as an important option in <strong>the</strong>ir lives. They are also willingto promote student companies as an important learning tool. After <strong>the</strong>ir success and its reflection inmedia, student companies have become quite popular among students and also among parents.‣ “School Days” – School yearbook (Ireland)In Ireland, “School Days” is an example <strong>of</strong> a real mini-company set up by 16 students at an all-girlssecondary school in Dublin as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Transition Year “Get up and Go” Mini- CompanyProgramme”.Recently, <strong>the</strong> final year students at <strong>the</strong> school had requested a yearbook for <strong>the</strong>ir final year. Theyasked <strong>the</strong> Transition Year students to produce one for <strong>the</strong>m as part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mini-Company Programme.After a few meetings and a lot <strong>of</strong> market research, it was decided that this was a good idea and wasfeasible. The objectives <strong>of</strong> this Mini-Company were to produce a snapshot <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> academic year2003/2004 in <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> a 32-page, A4 size, full colour glossy yearbook.Through advertising, sponsorship and sales <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> product <strong>the</strong> students made a pr<strong>of</strong>it <strong>of</strong> €3,600.Students had an opportunity to gain first-hand experience <strong>of</strong> planning, setting up and running abusiness enterprise. Idea Generation and Business Planning were key components in <strong>the</strong> processenabling students to identify possible first steps needed in initiating and developing ideas forenterprise start-ups‣ Presnatch - ”Preventor” hooks (Sweden)In Sweden, <strong>the</strong> business mission <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mini-company “Presnatch” is based on <strong>of</strong>fering a solution to<strong>the</strong> problem <strong>of</strong> guests being robbed <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir bags/handbags in public places, such as cafés, restaurantsand hotels, thus creating safety and convenience for <strong>the</strong> guests. "Presnatch" produced an innovativehook that prevents handbag <strong>the</strong>ft in restaurants and bars. The company cooperated closely withSweden’s National Police Force. The company develops, designs, markets and sells <strong>the</strong> ”Preventor”.The product is placed under <strong>the</strong> table by each chair in a café, restaurant and/or hotel. The guests can<strong>the</strong>n hang <strong>the</strong>ir bags on <strong>the</strong> hook. Presnatch’s product means that <strong>the</strong> visiting guests do not have tokeep <strong>the</strong>ir bags on <strong>the</strong>ir laps, which increases comfort and convenience.To secure <strong>the</strong> ownership <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> product design, students applied for exclusive rights for <strong>the</strong>“Preventor” at <strong>the</strong> Swedish Patent and Registration Office.Presnatch operates on a constantly growing market. The company’s product is unique at this momentin Sweden. Subsequently, <strong>the</strong> company’s goal is to grow rapidly before competitors enter. As futurepotential on <strong>the</strong> market was very high, students decided to continue <strong>the</strong>ir business activity during <strong>the</strong>iruniversity studies.41
‣ Dogbag - Environmentally friendly dog bags (Norway)Five girls in upper secondary school formed a company called Dogbag whose aim was to create anenvironmentally friendly dog bag. Traditional dog bags have <strong>the</strong> drawback that <strong>the</strong>y enclose anorganic material, but <strong>the</strong> bag itself does not decompose, thus creating an environmental pollutant.They investigated and found a plastic material which is environmentally friendly in that it decomposesafter about four days.After securing a loan for <strong>the</strong> initial investment, a local industry was contacted and <strong>the</strong>y produced 1000rolls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se bags. The bags were <strong>of</strong>fered for sale at one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> big supermarket stores within <strong>the</strong>district. The grocery chain thought <strong>the</strong> idea so interesting that <strong>the</strong>y signed a contract with <strong>the</strong> pupilcompany allowing <strong>the</strong> supermarket chain to be <strong>the</strong> sole distributor. They soon discovered that 1000rolls were not enough and had to produce more.42
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