NESsT Venture Fund Portfolio in Central Europe

The following nonprofit organizations are receiving support from the NESsT Venture Fund in Central & Eastern Europe to develop their social enterprises:

- see profiles from our later-stage portfolio in Europe

- see profiles from our early-stage portfolio in Europe

 

1. NESsT Venture Fund Later-Stage Portfolio

NESsT Venture Fund (NVF) later-stage portfolio members receive an individually-tailored, multi-year venture financing and capacity-building package from NESsT to help start up or expand their social enterprise.

The following organizations are currently members of  NESsT's later-stage portfolio in Central Europe (click here to download profiles of the NESsT later-stage portfolio in Europe):


Bambino Mother’s Center
(Poprad, Slovakia)

Supporting mothers for healthy babies and families.

Click here to read the Bambino Mother's Center "Investment Brief."

Social Mission: Bambino is dedicated to supporting healthy families and babies by offering education and self-help for pregnant women and mothers.

Social Enterprise: Bambino offers courses on natural child delivery and raising children to expectant mothers. The enterprise will applies a sliding fee scale to keep services accessible for low income women. NESsT most recently helped them to develop a marketing and sales strategy.


Chaloupky Environmental Education Centre
(Okríšky,
Czech Republic)

Preserving the environment in Czech Republic.

Click here to read the Chaloupky "Investment Brief."

Social Mission: The Chaloupky Environmental Education Centre provides educational opportunities to increase awareness of environmental issues and the need to protect nature, the environment and the rural Czech countryside.

Social Enterprise: NESsT is helping Chaloupky complete financial projections, a market survey, and a marketing and promotion plan for its eco-conference center, offering training courses, weekend and holiday programs for families, and special eco-programs for adults and children, catering and accommodations.


Káva Kulturális Mûhely

(Budapest, Hungary)

Educating disadvantaged youth through theatre.

Click here to read the Kava "Investment Brief."

Social Mission: Kava achieves its mission of educating disadvantaged children about serious social problems (discrimination, drug use, juvenile crime) through theatrical presentations.

Social Enterprise: Kava sells conflict resolution training to companies, using dramatized skits to teach the concepts. NESsT recently helped them to develop marketing and sales strategies and a performance management system.


Open Garden Foundation
(Hungary)

Promoting community, organic agriculture.

Click here to read the Open Garden "Investment Brief."

Social Mission:
Promotes sustainable, community agricultural production and healthy lifestyles through the operation of organic farms and building a network of producers, processors and consumers of organic foods.

Social Enterprise:
Real Food Box is an up-market, door-to-door, home-delivery service of organic vegetables, fruit and groceries serving a growing demand for organic produce in the Budapest-Godollo area.


Transitions Online (TOL)
(Czech Republic)

Promoting independent journalism.

Click here to read the TOL "Investment Brief."

Social Mission: TOL is a nonprofit media development organization dedicated to using Internet technologies to help strengthen the professionalism, independence, and impact of local journalism in post-communist Central & Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the former Soviet Union.

Social Enterprise: TOL is working to develop several key revenue streams: subscriptions for its online archive, syndication and sale of original content, sale of TOL special news reports, and banner advertising services on its website portal.


Vydra
(Slovakia)

Promoting sustainable rural development.

Social Mission:
A national association of young people that preserves local traditions, cultural and natural values and the sustainable development of the rural Microregion Cierny Hron in rural Slovakia.

Social Enterprise:
Vydra's Tourist Camp is designed to encourage tourism, create local employment opportunities, and sustain Vydra's operations. NESsT is supporting the development of Vydra's restaurant/buffet offering refreshments and meals to tourists visiting the nearby Forestry Museum and other attractions.

 

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2. NESsT Venture Fund Early-Stage Portfolio

NESsT Venture Fund (NVF) early-stage portfolio members receive support at one of three levels of their social enterprise development process:

- Business Plan Development

- Feasibility Study Development

- Pre-Feasibility Study Development

Click here to download sample profiles of active members of the NESsT early-stage portfolio in Europe.

- Business Plan Development

The following organizations in Central Europe have received support from NESsT to develop business plans for their social enterprises:*


Fundatia Estuar
(Cluj, Romania)

Assuring independent living and mental health.

Social Mission: Estuar is committed to providing reintegration opportunities for adults with mental health problems so that they can lead healthy, independent lives.

Social Enterprise: Estuar is working with NESsT to create a business plan for a café, a social enterprise designed to employ Estuar program clients.


Freedom House Europe
(Budapest,
Hungary)

Building democracy.

Social Mission: Freedom House Europe is dedicated to promoting democracy in Southeast Europe, Newly Independent States and the greater European neighborhood.

Social Enterprise: For a fee, Freedom House will offer program design and management mentoring for CSOs.


Nimfea Environmental and Nature Conservation Association
(Túrkeve,
Hungary)

Protecting the Great Hungarian Plain.

Social Mission: Nimfea works in the Great Hungarian Plain, addressing and solving environmental problems, with a focus on sustainable development and limited exploitation of natural resources.

Social Enterprise: The organization plans to offer eco-tourism packages to local and regional tourists, educating visitors about the environment and the importance of conservation.


Pentru Voi
(Timisoara,
Romania)

Creating opportunity
for adults with
intellectual disabilities.

Click here to read the Pentru Voi "Investment Brief."

Social Mission: Pentru Voi is a leading Romanian CSO providing community-based services to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Social Enterprise: Pentru Voi already operates a bakery that employs four of its clients. With NESsT assistance, Pentru Voi has completed a business plan, is implementing new financial systems, is defining the bakery target market and planning the appropriate product mix that will allow them to reach their financial goals.


Útilapu Hálózat
(Budapest,
Hungary)

Promoting understanding through volunteerism.

Social Mission: Utilapu promotes peace and intercultural understanding through volunteering and international voluntary projects.

Social Enterprise: The organization will run a fair trade shop in Budapest offering, coffee, tea, gifts and handicrafts.


VIA IURIS
(Banska Bystrica,
Slovakia)

Advocating for the environment.

Social Mission: Environmental conservation.

Social Enterprise: Fees for legal aid, consulting & training to NGOs, municipalities, individuals.


* Note: All later-stage portfolio members also received business planning support from NESsT.

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- Feasibility Study Development

The following organizations in Central Europe have received support from NESsT to develop feasibility studies for their social enterprises:**


Environmental Law Service
(Brno, Czech Republic)

Promoting public interest law.

 

Social Mission: ELS gathers lawyers and law students to promote the public interest and protect environmental and human rights.

Social Enterprise: ELS is testing the feasibility of various enterprise ideas, including fees for legal services, policy analysis, and legal education.


Organizacija za gradjanske inicijative (OGI)
(Osijek, Croatia)

Strengthening communities.

 

Social Mission: OGI supports CSOs and civic initiatives that enable positive social change in the local community.

Social Enterprise:


** Note: All later-stage portfolio members and those that received business plan development support also received feasibility study development support from NESsT.

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- Pre-Feasibility Study Development

The following organizations in Central Europe have received support from NESsT to develop pre-feasibility studies for their social enterprises:***


B.a.B.E.
(Zagreb, Croatia)

Advocating for Croatian women.

 

Social Mission: B.a.B.e. is a feminist strategic advocacy and lobbying women’s organization fighting for the improvement of the status of women’s human rights.

Social Enterprise: The group plans to run a Women’s Support Center that will provide legal, psychological and professional services for a fee.


Udruga mladih korak ispred UMKI
(Rijeka, Croatia)

Building community.

 

Social Mission: UMKI strengthens communities by offering community projects to individuals.

Social Enterprise:


Zelena Akcija
(Zagreb, Croatia)

Protecting environmentally endangered areas through sustainable development.

 

Social Mission: Zelena Akcija promotes environmental conservation through sustainable development.

Social Enterprise: In addition to collecting membership fees, the organization sells merchandise bearing their logo and rents event space on their environmentally protected island.

 


*** Note: All later-stage portfolio members and those that received business plan and feasibility study development support also received pre-feasibility study development support from NESsT.

 

Exits

The following organizations in Central Europe have exited the NESsT later-stage portfolio:


Betlem Center
(Czech Republic)

Promoting independence

and self-confidence for people with disabilities.

Social Mission:
Home care to adults and children with severe mental and physical disabilities

Social Enterprise:
Construction, renovation and maintenance business for homes and businesses.


Center for Community Organizing (CCO)
(Czech Republic)

Promoting public participation in decision-making.

 

Social Mission:
Support development of civil society and participatory democracy in the Czech Republic.

Social Enterprise:
Consulting services to local/municipal governments on implementing public participation programs for development planning.


Energy Centre Bratislava (ECB)
(Slovakia)

Promoting energy efficiency and savings.

Social Mission:
Increases public awareness and use of efficient and renewable energy.

Social Enterprise:
Energy advisory services to households and small businesses.


Megálló

(Hungary)

Overcoming drug addiction.

 

Social Mission: Megálló, a nonprofit organization founded in 1998, offers pre-rehabilitation and rehabilitation services, self-help, work groups and a drop-in center for alcohol and drug addicts. Run by constituents for constituents, Megálló also hosts a secondary school educational program tailored to individual student needs.

Social Enterprise: Megálló is planning to launch an alcohol- and smoke-free social meeting point to both generate income and further its mission. The social meeting point will build upon Megálló's existing drop-in center, including a coffee shop (serving coffee and tea, cold drinks, sandwiches, desserts, snacks and national and international specialties) and internet access. The coffee shop will also serve as a venue for various cultural events (e.g., concerts, public readings, art exhibitions, screenings) and an information center about self-help groups and social and health care services.


P-Centrum
(Czech Republic)

Promoting

self-confidence

and self-reliance.

 

Social Mission:
The Center for Prevention, Treatment and Integration of Persons Endangered by Drug Dependence (P-Centrum) provides treatment and after-treatment to recovering drug addicts and their loved ones.

Social Enterprise:
Woodwork business (employing recovering drug addicts and at-risk youth) producing handmade benches and sculptures for playgrounds and parks.


Tamizdat
(Czech Republic)

Promoting progressive culture and thought.

Social Mission:
Promotes independent, progressive culture as a means of furthering an open society in the formerly-communist bloc of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Social Enterprise:
Tamizdat RPM is an on-line record shop offering the most comprehensive and authoritative catalogue of independent music in CEE.


 

Former members of the NESsT Venture Fund

The following organizations are former members of the NESsT Venture Fund Central and Eastern Europe portfolio:


Africa Asia Forum
(Hungary)

 

Social Mission: The Africa Asia Forum works to promote awareness and understanding of minority groups in Hungary through cultural interchange. The Forum organizes anti-discrimination markches and cultural events like the Africa Asia International Festival in Budapest.

Social Enterprise: The Africa Asia forum explored ways to increase income from renting out African costumes and instruments, catering African cuisine, offering hostel accommodations, and selling African art.


Bliss Foundation
(Hungary)

 

Social Mission: Bliss provides rehabilitation, training, family support, information dissemination and research services for children and young adults with multiple disabilities and severe communication disorders.

Social Enterprise: Bliss is exploring the viability of an enterprise to develop, produce and sell augmentative and alternative communication aides for use by physically-handicapped young adults. Bliss is developing three communication aids: a battery-run device that stores/recalls sentences; a giant keyboard that is easier to see/touch; and a device to allow users to easily control keyboard and mouse actions.


BMI
(Prague,
Czech Republic)

 

Social Mission: Promotes use of internet for development of civil society.

Social Enterprise: Fundraising consulting to NGOs to develop & write European Union proposals.


Charity Zlin
(Zlin,
Czech Republic)

 

Social Mission: Charity Zlin is a nonprofit organization, which deals with charitable, health and humanitarian activities in the Zlin region. The Charity Zlin's mission is to give practical and concrete help to people in physical, spiritual or social distress, regardless of race, nationality, social position or religion.

Social Enterprise: Charity Zlin is looking to increase  income by opening a second-hand shop and Internet cafe for use by the local community.


Disabled Foundation
(Budapest,
Hungary)

 

Social Mission: Employment & integration opportunities for the disabled.

Social Enterprise: Providing financial services for nonprofit organizations.


Domov
(Velké Kapušany,
Slovakia)

Providing hope and opportunity for the elderly.

 

Social Mission: Domov’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the elderly by providing them with nursing and home assistance.

Social Enterprise: With NESsT assistance, Domov is launching a weaving workshop that trains and employs their clients to create and sell traditional hand-woven rugs.


Erdei Iskola Foundation
(Szentendre, Hungary)

 

Social Mission: Educates/Motivates people to feel responsible for environment.

Social Enterprise: Environmental education & eco-tourism teaching kit (materials & publications).


Independent Ecological Center (IEC)
(Budapest, Hungary)

Social Mission: The IEC promotes and manages various programs that aim to foster environmental awareness and protection through local community initiatives, such as ecological publications and activities for children.

Social Enterprise: The IEC is looking to improve its income by opening a "Ride the Bike" rent-a-bike station in the Dorogd Basin.


Juristic

(Prague, Czech Republic)

Social Mission: Provides advocacy assistance
to law students & lawyers.

Social Enterprise: Sale of legal literature through online internet portal service.


Majak

(Zlate Moravce, Slovakia)

 

Social Mission: Offers counseling/reintegration services to former criminals.

Social Enterprise: For-profit cargo transportation company in Slovakia & European Union countries.


MOST
(Bratislava, Slovakia)

Social Mission: MOST improves quality of life for people with mental health disorders.

Social Enterprise: Selling products from ther ceramics workshop; training courses for disabled clients.


Drustvo za Prostovoljno Delo MOST  (MOST)
(Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Social Mission: MOST is an organization that works with volunteers and international civil service, running youth volunteer camps that not only benefit the community in question but also foster understanding and exchanges among volunteers.

Social Enterprise: MOST is looking into plans to increase income by opening and operating a youth hostel in the Slovene capital, Ljubljana.


Nonprofit Information and Training Centre Foundation (NIOK)
(Budapest, Hungary)

 

Social Mission: NIOK's mission is to strengthen civil society in Hungary by providing capacity-building services and fostering a supportive environment for local nonprofit organizations.

Social Enterprise: NIOK is exploring ways to increase income by expanding its existing online services to nonprofit organizations, including: online software (e.g., accounting software) and website development and hosting services.


Partners Hungary Foundation
(Hungary)

 

Social Mission: Partners Hungary works to prevent and resolve tensions and conflicts that arise in the transition to democracy, the emergence of new social, political, market, and institutional structures and to manage changes.

Social Enterprise: Partners is looking to increase income from its current consulting services by expanding to additional target markets including the business sector, providing conflict management, mediation, organizational development and accredited trainings on a fee-for-service basis.


People and Water -- "People to People"
(Kosice, Slovakia)

 

Social Mission: People and Water provides services to municipal and rural communities, primarily in the Carpathian Euroregion, working to solve economic, social, cultural and environmental problems at grassroots level. It aims to foster proactive citizen participation through the development, renewal and promotion of traditional culture and the specific features and diversity of this region.

Social Enterprise: People and Water is looking at the possibility of developing its revenues through a tourist agency promoting rural tourism.


Pravno-informacijski center nevladnih organizacij (PIC)

(Legal information center for NGOs)

(Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Social Mission: The PIC Center aims to support non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and individuals. It offers legal aid and advice in the fields of company, social, labor, and housing law, and human rights and has various publications designed to improve people's awareness of their rights.

Social Enterprise: The PIC Center is looking to increase its revenues by offering mediation and alternative dispute resolution services as well as workshops and training for mediators.


Reintegra/Krnovska Synagoga
(Krnov, Czech Republic)

Empowering the disabled through meaningful employment.

Social Mission: Reintegra helps people with physical and mental health handicaps be effective participants in society and live fuller lives by finding employment.

Social Enterprise: With NESsT assistance, Reintegra will expand its existing woodshop for disabled employees. The workshop produces and sells luxury gift-wrapped wooden puzzles.


Slovenian E-Forum: Society for Energy Economics and Ecology (SE-F)
(Slovenia)

 

Social Mission: SE-F aims to contribute to sustainable energy policy on a local, national, regional and global level by: fostering public participation in the preparation, design and implementation of energy and climate policies; playing a watchdog role in energy decision making; conducting awareness-building and educational campaigns; and distributing information on innovative institutional schemes as well as financial and technical tools for sustainable energy services.

Social Enterprise: SE-F offers a range of energy services, including: a "climate change" kit of awareness raising activities; "energy detective", "energy manager" and "energy culture" environmental education programs; workshops on holistic energy conservation for representatives of local governments, power companies and school directors. SE-F is also looking into offering energy bookkeeping, energy auditing and advisory services.


Slovenian Mental Health Association (SENT)
(Ljubljana, Slovenia)

 

Social Mission: SENT is a nonprofit organization that brings together people with mental health problems, their relatives, mental health professionals and all other interested parties. SENT aims to raise public and political awareness of mental health issues, become part of the decision-making process in the field of mental health, and publicly encourage the processes of de-stigmatization.

Social Enterprise: SENT intends to use the Razori Estate, owned by SENT and a registered social firm, to conduct various business activities aimed at increasing revenue, including services to the tourist industry, particularly congress or seminar tourism.


Somogy PANC
(Somogy, Hungary)

 

Social Mission: Promotes rural development
& conservation.

Social Enterprise: Two potential enterprises: fish farming & rural eco-tourism on their property.


Confederation of Social Associations Somogy County Organisation (Somogy TESZ)
(Somogy, Hungary)

 

Social Mission: Somogy TESZ (Confederation of Social Associations) is a non-profit umbrella organization that aims to assist the development of an efficient and recognized civil society sector by providing professional and technical assistance and services, as well as by their federating activities.

Social Enterprise: Somogy TESZ aims to improve its revenues through a nonprofit service center providing information to organizations on how to be non-profits in Hungary.


SOSNA
(Kosice, Slovakia)

Social Mission: Engages local community to solve environmental problems.

Social Enterprise: Operate a market selling organic foods & handmade crafts.


Tereza
(Czech Republic)

 

Social Mission: The Civic Association Tereza is an independent non-governmental organization that works in the fields of environmental protection and further education for children and adults, organizing programs that combine specialized, educational and recreational activities.

Social Enterprise: Tereza has launched a consulting enterprise -- the Czech Fundraising Center (CFC) focuses on training and educational seminars in CSO management, and more specifically fundraising through workshops, consulting services and publications (e.g., printed, CD-ROM, or online).


Rural Organisation for Community Activities (VOKA)
(Slovenia)

 

Social Mission: VOKA is a network of organizations and individuals, capitalizing on local potential and supporting the sustainable and democratic development of communities through technical assistance to improve the quality of life for rural populations.

Social Enterprise: Voka aims to increase income by creating a network of craftspeople and artisans and  serving as a broker to facilitate greater market access.

 

 

Click here to download profiles of the NESsT later-stage portfolio in Europe.

Click here to download profiles of the NESsT early-stage portfolio in Europe.

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NESsT Venture Fund Portfolio News Highlights

Megálló joins NESsT later-stage portfolio in Hungary

The BTA Megálló Group (Belvarosi Tanoda Alapitvany), founded in Hungary in 1998, has joined the NESsT Venture Fund later-stage portfolio. Megálló offers rehabilitation services, self-help, work groups and a drop-in center for people overcoming addiction.

________________________

Tamizdat opens shop in Prague and re-launches website

NESsT portfolio member Tamizdat has redesigned its website with a new database and shopping functions, adding MP3 samples of almost all 600+ releases available in its RPM catalogue of independent artists in Central & Eastern Europe. Tamizdat also opened a record shop in central Prague to increase visibility, attract more Czech youth and tourists.

________________________

Slovak Prime Minister

supports Vydra

Slovak National FlagVydra, a member of the NESsT Venture Fund later-stage portfolio, was recently honored by a personal visit and commitment of support from the Prime Minister of Slovakia. “This is a tremendous achievement and vote of confidence in Vydra’s ability to show tremendous impact in reviving their rural community," said Eva Varga of NESsT.

________________________

Open Garden Foundation awarded Sasakawa Environmental Award (SEA)
NESsT portfolio member Open Garden Foundation (OGF) was honored with a prize from Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation Central Europe Fund. Awarded at a ceremony in Budapest, the SEA recognizes OGF’s pioneering role in promoting community organic agriculture in Hungary through the “Real Food Box.”

 


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