Success stories

Meri, from Sevan in North-eastern Armenia, always took an interest in people, how they achieve success, their experiences. She applied to the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme as a New Entrepreneur because she saw it as a new adventure. She sought to learn new skills to develop her existing IT company of 2 years and bring new ideas, and gain habits of a foreign culture and way of life. Meri wanted to enlarge her market size and services to the Armenian diaspora in software development services and training. So she was motivated to learn how to run a successful business, broaden her worldview, and deepen her knowledge of operating in international markets and working with international clients.

During the 6-month exchange, Meri and Maria worked very closely to support each other and ensure the achievement of their goals. Meri actively worked on developing two software tools to process data more effectively, keep track of customer data and automate some of the daily activities. In order for Meri to understand and assess the company's needs and then develop the most appropriate and well-functioning solution, the HE used her network to organize meetings and study tours with other players and partners in the industry to introduce Meri to the company's marketing strategy and involve her in the entire process of building customer relationships. Meri also had the opportunity to meet with other IT specialists, exchange ideas and receive valuable feedback․

This exchange became an amazing resource for Meri in her personal and professional development. She not only developed as a business owner by learning how to conduct market research, design and implement a successful marketing strategy, approach potential clients, build partnerships, and negotiate more confidently, but also as a programmer by taking responsibility for the entire software development process. For her part, Maria considers this exchange a completely new and enriching experience, where she learned what it's like to meet with a programmer and understand their perspective. They both learned a lot about cross-cultural differences and expanded their networks. Upon her return to Armenia, Meri plans to use all the knowledge and skills she gained from the exchange to make her company more competitive. She is also looking for a team of programmers to help her complete her the software for the hotel industry with the aim to commercialize it in the future.