garage (also known as Enigma Gründungszcentrum Gmbh)


Clas BEESE

Mexikoring, 27-29
22297 Hamburg - Germany
Tel :++49  - (0)40 633 06 560
Fax :++49  - (0)40 633 06 550
Contact us

www.wasistgarage.de
.garage start-up centres are supporting microentrepreneurs on their way out of unemployment into self-employment. Currently, there are various .garages operating in several German cities: Berlin, Hamburg, Kiel, Braunschweig, Helmstedt, Dortmund and Essen.
 
Various state-of-the-art support measures are available in different phases of the start-up: orientation, planning, opening shop and growth are offered at every location:
  • .garage check out: People considering self-employment as a current career option, are supported to take the decision whether to become self-employed or not. This workshop takes place over two days.
  • .garage idea-generator:  People wanting to become self-employed, but with no business idea – or too many – are supported in choosing the right idea to press forward with. The idea generator takes two weeks.
  • .garage incubator: Having a sound business idea, the entrepreneurs enter the .garage incubator. Initial market research, competition analysis and cost accounting are the bases for the question, whether to push on with the project or adjust the business model if necessary. Coaching, seminars, office infrastructure, specialised schedules are available for six months.
  • .garage coaching:  After actually opening shop, and finishing the .garage incubator, entrepreneurs are continuously supported by individual coaching. This post-start-up support is available for a maximum of one year.
 
.garages are operated by various privately organized companies, working mainly in PPP with local labour agencies and ministries on the state level to fight unemployment in their respective areas.
 
The curriculum of .garage has been developed by Enigma Company Builders, which has supported more than 10,000 micro-entrepreneurs on their way out of unemployment since 1998.
 
.garage has created its own way in microfinance: by running the so called "Siebte Säule" project, more than 200 loans were granted to entrepreneurs in the years 2001 – 2004.
 
Today's role for .garage is mainly to support its clients, who wish to apply for microcredit, in putting up sound business strategies, setting solid foundations by hands-on market research and writing sound business plans. .garage also offers workshops and training courses on business planning as well as training courses for interviews with MFIs or banks.
 

Currently, .garage is planning its own microfinance scheme for its clients. It will be based on the experience obtained by supporting more than 10,000 microentrepreneurs and will be operational in 2011.