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The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) is proud to introduce FarmHelp, one of the startups in the current Spring 2021 batch. FarmHelp offers a unique blend of knowledge, data, and technology-based interventions to smallholder farmers, who are impacted by extreme climate conditions and don’t have the capacity or access to technical and/or financial support. FarmHelp aims to accommodate farmers to make data-driven decisions and invest in climate-resilient agriculture.

The concept of Entrepreneur-in-Residence was originally associated with attracting skilled and experienced entrepreneurs to venture capital firms to assume lead positions to provide promising startups with focused support and mentoring for new product development and growth. Over the years, such positions evolved globally to be embraced by corporations, universities, investors, accelerators, and incubators. 

The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) is the official national organizer of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) in Armenia. The program offers entrepreneurs across the country the opportunity to compete globally for a share of US $1 million in cash prizes, plus additional investments and another US $750,000 of in-kind support. EWC is now accepting applications for 2021, aiming to exceed the past mark of 175,000 contestants from 200+ countries in its first year. 

This spring, the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) welcomed the eighth batch of venture startup teams to the EPIC business incubator, despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic.

FinAssist, a startup of the American University of Armenia (AUA) Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC), in partnership with Vega stores, has recently launched its online loan marketplace. FinAssist is a platform that connects consumers to lenders providing them with a convenient ‘one-stop-shop’ for considering various credit options.

EPIC and Noor Games jointly organized the Global Game Jam (GGJ) 2021 for the fifth consecutive year. Global Game Jam is an annual international computer game development hackathon organized worldwide since 2009. It is the world’s largest computer game creation event that brings together people to explore new technology tools and develop a new game.

GIST Innovation Hub Entrepreneurship & Product Innovation Center (EPIC) at The American University of Armenia has been a great example of how innovation ecosystem builders are getting creative and making an impact in their communities. We asked EPIC about their recent batch of programs to support innovators. 

EPIC launched the first Entrepreneurship Summer Festival (ESF2020), an organized week-long program designed to disseminate knowledge and create enthusiasm in entrepreneurship through a unique series of online events. The Festival culminated with “The Future Innovator” Competition, an intensive 2-day program for teams and individuals who had technology-based startup ideas.

EPIC launched the first Entrepreneurship Summer Festival (ESF2020), an organized week-long program designed to disseminate knowledge and create enthusiasm in entrepreneurship through a unique series of online events. The program was supported by the EU4Business “Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia’’ project and jointly hosted by a half-dozen local university partners.

Alisa Chalakhyan (BAB ‘19), a star graduate of the American University of Armenia (AUA) and the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC), tells the story of how she has made tremendous professional progress in such a short time.