Caucasus University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center’s Startup Pre-Acceleration Program CUnicorn+ is nearing its completion!
The program is implemented within the framework of the U.S. Embassy’s Democracy Commission Small Grants Program and aims to support young people in developing entrepreneurial skills, innovative thinking, and early-stage startup ideas.
VII Week
The seventh week focused on key topics such as branding and design, as well as competitor analysis. Participants explored how to create an effective brand, use visual communication strategically, and conduct in-depth assessments of competitors in the market.
The week’s mentor was Nini Mosiashvili, Co-founder and COO of Helio.AI, who shared her practical experience and valuable recommendations on brand identity and positioning.
The invited speaker of the week was Giorgi Mumladze, CEO of DATURA and COO of Awork, who shared his hands-on experience in startup development, teamwork, business scaling, and innovative approaches to entrepreneurship.
VIII Week
he eighth week of CUnicorn+ was dedicated to exploring digital marketing strategies and practical approaches. Participants delved into key topics such as:
Planning digital marketing campaigns, setting goals, defining KPIs, and monitoring results;
Selecting distribution channels, developing advertising strategies, and budgeting for startups.
The sessions were led by representatives of Maverik - mentor Giorgi Mgeladze and speaker Giorgi Kenchuashvili, who shared valuable insights, practical experience, and real-life examples on how to build effective marketing strategies.
Giorgi Mgeladze — CEO of Maverik, Lecturer of Digital Marketing at Caucasus University.
Giorgi Kenchuashvili — Founder of Maverik and Lecturer of Digital Marketing at several leading Georgian universities.
IX Week
Program participants learned about startup funding strategy and alternatives, as well as the main principles of company valuation, financial reporting, and budgeting.
The mentor for the ninth week was Ketevan Khuntsaria, an entrepreneur, co-founder of Lilisi, an angel investor, and a member of the Axel Investment Board.
The invited speaker for the meeting was Kerry Slater, an International Partnership Specialist at the George Washington University Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and a Capacity Building Specialist at the MAC Institute Georgia.
X Week
The main focus of the tenth session was pitching — specifically, the development of an investor-ready pitch deck.Participating startup teams worked on how to present their ideas clearly, structurally, and convincingly from an investor’s perspective.
The mentor of the tenth week was Iro Tsagareishvili, Managing Director of Georgian Business Angel Network.
“This project was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.”
