About us

What is EDGE?

EDGE is an online network and community of practitioners and professionals working in the field of entrepreneurship, enterprise development and education in Europe.

EDGE provides its members with an opportunity to:

• Make contact with like-minded entrepreneurship professionals.
• Find project partners for participation in EU-funded enterprise development programmes.
• Collaborate with individuals and organisations working in entrepreneurship.
• Share ideas, experience and expertise with other members.
• Research and locate best practice in the entrepreneurship and enterprise development field.
• Keep up to date with news, latest developments and new European funding programmes and events.

Membership of EDGE is free, and the service is available to join through a membership registration.

Who joins EDGE?

There are currently 371 members of EDGE located in 52 countries primarily based in Europe, although membership is also open to entrepreneurship professionals from elsewhere in the world.

Membership of EDGE is useful for entrepreneurship practitioners and professionals who are working in business start up and support agencies, local and regional development agencies, Chambers of Commerce, universities, professional training institutions, consultancies and other professional organisations specialising in this field.

Members' specialist areas of expertise are focused around:

• Business start up support and advice
• Small business development
• Professional education
• Business training
• Entrepreneurship consultancy and research
• Supporting minority and disadvantaged groups
• Microfinance and seed finance
• Information and best practice

What does the EDGE service provide to its members?

The EDGE service provides its members with unlimited access to a members' directory. This directory is searchable by:

• Country
• Members' expertise and professional activity
• Target audience of members

EDGE members can contact other members by e-mail.

The EDGE website is also updated regularly with news about events, reports, new EU programmes and announcements in the entrepreneurship and enterprise development field. There is also a monthly news bulletin that is sent to all members by e-mail.

Who owns and publishes the EDGE service?

EDGE has been operating since 2000. The network was founded by a small group of entrepreneurship professionals who were previously directors of the European Group for Local Employment Initiatives (EGLEI) network, which ceased operating in 1998.

The four current EDGE directors are:

• Rob Sparidaans - Fontys, university for professional education, Netherlands.
• Rosalba la Grotteria - Codex, local development agency, Italy.
• Colin Weatherspoon - Cobweb Information Ltd, business information publisher, UK
• Mogens Thomsen - Consultant, Denmark.

The EDGE website and news bulletin is operated and published by Cobweb Information Ltd.