The Studios business accelerator at Howest University College of West Flanders is preparing for another exciting edition of its Entrepreneurship Forum at the Multi-Mania Conference on the 24th of May 2011 at the XPO in Kortrijk, Belgium.

With 12 diverse, local and international speakers, spread out over eight, 45-minute sessions between 9:30 and 17:45, The Studios Entrepreneurship Forum promises to educate and enlighten people on how to foster the entrepreneurial spirit within students, schools and businesses.

There will be stories of struggle and success from all different fields with all sorts of flavors. From an online network of offline mobile desks to offline mobile photo and video machines that bring events online. From one ghost writer who is already thinking about his third start-up to one lone company that is creating communities for start-ups all over the world. From a stylish coffee barista who is thinking local with an international twist to local restaurateurs, chocolatiers and jam makers that are taking on the world. From supporting entrepreneurship online via crowd-sourcing and crowd-funding to going straight to the source and riling up crowds of students at schools.

It might seem odd to fill eight sessions of the biggest, free multi-media conference in Europe with guest speakers talking about topics such as starting up companies. But entrepreneurship is so much more than that. It is about taking risks, following your passions, believing in your ideas and getting them out there to the right user group or public. Everyone can benefit from learning how to turn a great idea, product or service into something further than just a thought.

Europe needs more entrepreneurs and The Studios at Howest is doing its part in encouraging students to turn their business ideas into businesses. Set up at Howest with the help of the EU Interegg project E-Clic, European Collaborative Innovation Centres, The Studios is more than just an office building. In addition to creating a mix of new companies launched by Howest alumni and outside, more senior start-ups, The Studios aims to create a lively environment, in which networks grow and creativity flourishes. The Studios is a great place to thrive for companies in the creative fields of new media & communication technology, digital arts & entertainment and industrial product design.

When it comes to entrepreneurship, every meeting and event, let alone elevator ride, is a potential place to practice your pitch and to watch your contacts and opportunities grow. In business, it is not only about getting people to listen to you, but also, and perhaps more importantly, about listening to what others have to say and learning from their experiences.

The Studios Entrepreneurship Forum will feature stories about the ups and downs of starting your own business and different approaches to marketing and brand-building on and offline. Whether you are thinking about starting a business or onto starting your third business already, you will surely leave the Entrepreneurship Forum inspired, with more tools than you came in with.