From Kecskemét to London, from London to Kecskemét: Our Visit to One of Europe’s Most Important Innovation Hubs

2026-08-20 15:02

London is one of Europe’s most important hubs for startups and innovation: international investors, universities, business development organizations, and technology companies form an ecosystem in which a good idea can quickly grow into a major enterprise. But what can we bring back to Kecskemét from this environment? That’s what we sought to find out during our visit.

A Collaboration Between the University, the Chamber, and Our Instructor

Every year, the Faculty of Economics and Business at John von Neumann University, in collaboration with the Bács-Kiskun County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, offers the “Chamber for Entrepreneurs” course. From the very beginning, the goal of the university and the chamber has been to ensure that students not only learn about entrepreneurship from textbooks but also meet businesspeople and professionals who can share their own experiences with them.

Balázs Zahorecz, a young instructor and entrepreneur, contributed his own ideas to this vision, bringing a unique international perspective to the course. And he did so in a remarkable way: he traveled all the way from the United Kingdom to teach the classes.

Balázs grew up in Kecskemét and went on to build his professional career in London. After earning a master’s degree from University College London—one of the world’s top 10 universities—he founded his marketing agency and consulting firm (Benton Creative) in the British capital. Among other things, he works with growing startups, venture capital funds, and startup programs in numerous countries, focusing on key sectors such as education, technology, and healthcare. Balázs has always considered it a special honor to teach at the Faculty of Economics and Business at John von Neumann University, in the very city where he grew up.

A Special Opportunity for Students

During the course, students work on their own business ideas and present their startup plans in the form of a presentation at the end of the semester. This year, the four top-performing students were offered a special opportunity.

With the university’s support and through the Pannónia Scholarship Program, Balázs offered to organize a visit for the students from Kecskemét to meet with his partners in London. This allowed the students to immerse themselves in the world of London-based startups for several days. They attended events hosted by several startup-supporting companies, watched a London pitch competition, and had plenty of opportunities to network. They were able to present their own business ideas to several experts. In fact, accompanied by their instructors, they also met with staff members from University College London and the University of East London.

What can we bring back from London?

Of course, the success of a startup ecosystem cannot simply be replicated. The environment, the market, the capital, and the entrepreneurial culture are all different in a global city compared to a county seat. However, some of the logic behind these best practices can be successfully adapted!

The study tour provided a wealth of valuable experiences for both the students and the university. It highlighted how higher education institutions can encourage and support the launch of new startups in a wide variety of fields and ways, thereby building an important bridge between the idea and the market.

The organized transfer of professional knowledge, mentoring, office space provided to startups, and the teaching of startup-related knowledge—sometimes through free courses—can extend beyond the university community, as new businesses, along with the knowledge, jobs, and connections they create, can contribute to the long-term development of the entire region.

During the study visits, numerous opportunities for collaboration with London-based institutions emerged, and the development of a plan adaptable to Kecskemét—one that would tailor best practices to local conditions—was also discussed. Through a collaboration between the Faculty of Economics and Business at JvNU, Balázs Zahorecz, and Benton Creative, new plans will soon be developed that will offer great opportunities for Kecskemét’s entrepreneurial residents.