Cascais Entrepreneurial Schools

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The Cascais Entrepreneurial Schools program is an enterprise education initiative in the municipality of Cascais.
What are the main aims and objectives?

The main aims and objectives of Cascais Entrepreneurial Schools are to cultivate and enhance the entrepreneurial potential of young people within the municipality of Cascais. The program focuses on promoting entrepreneurship, encouraging creativity, and fostering innovation among students. It aims to support the creation of new businesses by equipping students with essential entrepreneurial skills and knowledge through practical experiences, such as developing business plans and participating in competitions. Moreover, the initiative seeks to stimulate economic growth and job creation within the community by mentoring and guiding young entrepreneurs, ultimately contributing to a vibrant and dynamic local economy.

How does the program work?

The program allows students (from 7 years old up to 22 years old) from Cascais develop entrepreneurial skills, understand the different stages of the entrepreneurial process and be aware of the role that entrepreneurship plays in economic and social development. The school provide ensure that students experience the following:

Business Plan Development:

Students are encouraged to create and develop business plans using the "Business Model Canvas" template. This visual chart helps them consider various business aspects, such as strengths, weaknesses, financing, target audience, and necessary resources.

Support and Mentorship:

Throughout the process, students receive support from specialized professionals who offer career guidance throughout their entrepreneurial journey and support them in refining their business ideas and plans.

Competitions and Presentations:

At the end of the program, selected teams present their business ideas in a final competition. Each team gets 5 minutes to present their concept, and the winning team is awarded a "Mission to an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre" granted by the European University.

Educational and Professional Integration:

The competition and associated activities aim to awaken the entrepreneurial spirit among young people, integrating entrepreneurship into their professional careers and helping them understand its importance.

Community and Economic Impact:

DNA Cascais, the organization behind the program, has supported the creation of numerous new companies and jobs, contributing to the local economy and community development.

What is the overall cost?

There is no publicly available detailed breakdown of the exact costs involved in running the Cascais Entrepreneurial Schools program.

How was it implemented?

The Cascais Entrepreneurial Schools program was created in 2007 and is run by DNA Cascais, a non-profit organisation based in the municipality of Cascais (part of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area) whose mission is to foster entrepreneurship in Cascais and in the Lisbon region, including social entrepreneurship and support for young entrepreneurs.

DNA Cascais designs the structure and content of the Cascais Entrepreneurial Schools program, ensuring it aligns with its mission to foster entrepreneurship. The organization oversees the implementation of the program in schools, providing the necessary resources, training, and support to both students and teachers.

Monitoring + Evaluation Methods

Every year the numbers have been increasing.

In the past 10 years around 30.000 students have enrolled in this program.

Just in 2016, there are 10.000 students involved in this type of program, from the age of 7 years up to 22 years old. More than 300 teachers are involved per year.

What impact has been measured?

The Cascais Entrepreneurial Schools program can point to impact in several key areas:

  • Youth Engagement: The program has involved more than 49,000 young people, fostering a strong entrepreneurial spirit among the youth in Cascais.
  • Educational Reach: It has engaged 300 teachers and 50 schools in the municipality, integrating entrepreneurship into the educational curriculum and providing a comprehensive framework for entrepreneurial education.
  • Company Creation and Job Generation: DNA Cascais, the organization behind the program, has supported the establishment of 512 new companies, creating 2,155 new jobs and attracting 69.1 million Euros in global investment.
  • Community and Economic Development: By promoting entrepreneurship, the program has contributed to local economic growth and community development, making a substantial impact on the municipality's economic landscape.
  • Recognition and Certification: DNA Cascais has been certified as a Business and Innovation Center (BIC) by the European network EBN and has received recognition for its good practices from the European Commission, highlighting its effectiveness and success
What lessons can be learned?

Areas for further development have been identified

  • Creating an entrepreneurial mindset across the entire school community (students, teachers, non-teaching staff, parents)
  • Promoting more interdisciplinary work in schools
  • Building bridges between schools and the labour market and companies
  • Creating more avenues for students to create startups that continue after the program

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