11 ideas, 4 months, one goal - the new group PONI RRA Koroška has started its entrepreneurial journey

At RRA Koroška, we entered 2026 entrepreneurially – on January 5, a new group, PONI RRA Koroška, started work, which will complete the program on April 30, 2026. We have four intensive months of learning, mentoring, market research, testing solutions, and networking ahead of us – with a clear goal: to turn a business idea into a concrete story with real steps, customers, and opportunities.

PONI is not just a program – it is a space where individuals are allowed to think bigger, ask the right questions, and take that important first step.

This year's group consists of 11 participants, united by the motivation to develop their own entrepreneurial path. The group is distinguished by a great combination of youthful energy and experience: the average age is 33 years, and the range is from 19 to 53 years, which means that a fresh perspective and practical knowledge complement each other perfectly in the process of developing ideas.

A wide range of entrepreneurial ideas

Participants enter the program with very diverse orientations – from products and brands to services, tourism, health and digital solutions:

• MarEla – unique children's clothing and fabric products with stories
• Camelina – brand development (castor oil and castor oil cake) at the Kapler eco-farm
• GOS – online event platform
• Health without Borders – a project to bring together young people with autoimmune diseases from Slovenia and Austria
• Revival of the Polh tourist farm and the cultural monument Polhov mlin
• Restoration and processing of upholstered furniture, nautical products and products made from recycled PVC tarpaulin
• Teaching yoga and organizing theme trips / tutoring math for colleges
• Customized home fitness centers and functional training spaces and customized training
• MYP – My Path to Self – modern tools and workshops for a balance between inner peace, creativity and entrepreneurship for women
• Green retreat – psychological support in a natural environment

Why such support is crucial at the beginning

The beginning of an entrepreneurial journey is often the most sensitive phase – this is when the foundations are laid: from a clear definition of the problem and target group to the creation of the offer, the first tests on the market, pricing strategy, communication and sales. It is during this period that structured support is extremely important, as it helps to translate the idea from “I have an idea” to “I know who, why and how to offer it”.

At the Regional Development Agency for Koroško, participants in the PONI program receive comprehensive support in various areas of business. In addition to internal mentors, colleagues from other areas within the agency are also involved in the process - with practical guidance regarding the preparation of a business model, product/service development, marketing and communication, connecting with the local environment and finding opportunities for further development. Such an environment allows participants to gain a broader picture faster, make decisions more easily and, above all, take concrete steps.

In the coming weeks, with mentor support and through targeted training, participants will upgrade their ideas into business models, test them on the market, design their offering, define target groups, and build a network of connections that often brings in the first partners and customers.

More about the PONI project:
www.rra-koroska.si/poni

You can also follow our activities on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/PONIKoroska

The next opportunity to join the PONI RRA Koroška program will be with a call for applications published in March 2026.

Projekt sofinancirata Republika Slovenija in Evropska unija iz Evropskega sklada za regionalni razvoj.