The business in reality

On May 20, 2026, the Entrepreneurial Compass hosted an open day for entrepreneurs, aimed at providing genuine, practical, and honest support to aspiring or developing entrepreneurs. During the half-day professional program, participants could listen to presentations on financial, market research, communication, and business development topics, and also learn about personal entrepreneurial experiences in an inspiring roundtable discussion. The host and moderator of the day was Attila Antal, who coordinated the program and helped create a true community atmosphere alongside the professional presentations. Among the participants were mainly entrepreneurs operating in the service sector or wishing to start there, but there were also attendees from the fields of trade, hospitality, antique artworks, and creative industries. Even during the breaks, the conversations indicated a strong demand for such practical, people-centered entrepreneurial events.

Financial Awareness and Digitalization 

The e-Officium presentation showcased the role of modern accounting and financial awareness in the life of businesses. The central message of the presentation was that accounting is no longer just simple administration, but a decision-support process. 

The highlighted topics were: 

• digitalization, 

• change in entrepreneurial mindset, 

• cash-flow management, 

• and the conscious use of financial data. 

The presentation also highlighted the most common starting mistakes: 

• mixing personal and business funds, 

• choosing the wrong tax form, 

• missing deadlines, 

• and rejecting digitalization. 

A strong thought was shared from a quote by Warren Buffett: 

"It is crucial for every entrepreneur to understand the language of accounting if they want to build a successful company.” 

Financing and Business Development – without conscious financial foundations, there is no stable growth

The Budapest Business Development Foundation's presentation by Mária Nagy, customer relationship manager, showcased the financing opportunities available for small businesses in Budapest.

The presentation detailed:

• support for becoming an entrepreneur,

• the role of the Széchenyi Program Office,

• the EU and GINOP Plus applications,

• as well as the opportunities of the Budapest Microcredit Program.

A particularly important thought was:

“Most businesses fail not because of lack of money, but because of bad decisions.”

The presentation also mentioned that financing alone is not a solution:

• thinking about loans or grants is only worthwhile if the involved resources truly result in growth, stability, or more efficient operation.

The participants received a detailed picture of microcredit constructions, preferential financing options, and mentoring programs related to starting a business.

Market Research and Customer Understanding – How to Find Your First Customers? 

One of the important elements of the professional program was a lecture by János Kui, the head of Marketing Resolution, which highlighted the importance of market research and customer understanding. The central message of the presentation was that one of the most important foundations of a business's success is the conscious definition of the target audience and the knowledge of the market. 

During the presentation, it was mentioned that there is now a wealth of freely available data and information that a startup can utilize effectively. Among other things, the following were introduced: 

• the KSH databases, 

• professional portals and trade press, 

• location analysis options, 

• as well as various qualitative and quantitative research methods. 

One of the strongest messages of the presentation was: 

“We are not John Wick… we cannot shoot at everyone… because we won’t have enough ammunition.” 

This analogy highlighted that businesses need to consciously select their target audience and communication channels. 

At the end of the presentation, special emphasis was placed on continuous feedback and conscious planning: 

• research, 

• ask, 

• calculate, 

• build a database, 

• and always know your market. 

Authentic Communication and Online Marketing in 2026 

The focus of the communication presentation was on how to build authentic, human-centric, and truly effective communication for a small business today. The presentation emphasized that loud advertisements are no longer the most effective; rather: 

• trust, 

• authenticity, 

• community, 

• and personal stories. 

A separate section dealt with the basics of brand building: 

• what the brand really means, 

• how to create a recognizable character, 

• and why consistent communication is important. 

One of the strongest messages of the presentation was: 

“The strongest part of your business is often not your product – but you yourself.” 

Roundtable Discussion – “Business in Reality” 

One of the most inspiring parts of the day was the roundtable discussion moderated by Gabriella Király. 

Participants: 

• János Kui – Marketing Resolution 

• Réka Csergőffy – CSR Solution 

• Ágnes Magyar-Hikisch – nepazarolj 

• Nóra Erdei – Erdei Ice Cream Shop 

• Zsuzsa Ferenczi – ArtCore Gallery 

The conversation took place in a particularly honest and personal atmosphere. It was not about “textbook entrepreneurial advice,” but real experiences: 

• starting out, 

• uncertainty, 

• overload, 

• development, 

• human relationships, 

• and the challenges of being an entrepreneur. 

The participants agreed that a new entrepreneur must now build consciously: 

• financially, 

• in communication, 

• in operations, 

• and in human relationships as well. 

Several emphasized: 

• the importance of gaining knowledge, 

• the stable establishment of the foundations, 

• and that early awareness pays off in the long run. 

One of the strongest common thoughts from the conversation was that business is ultimately always about people: 

• about colleagues, 

• about business partners, 

• about consumers, 

• about subcontractors, 

• and about the quality of relationships. 

The closing message can perhaps be summarized best as follows: 

Treat everyone as you would like to be treated. 

A Day of Real Entrepreneurial Experiences 

The Entrepreneurial Compass was not just a series of professional presentations, but a community event where real experiences, human stories, and practical knowledge met. 

Participants returned home not only with information but also with motivation, new connections, and specific business development ideas. 

The organizers aimed to create an entrepreneurial environment where it is not the “perfect success stories” that take center stage, but rather honest experiences - and based on feedback from the event, this goal was fully realized.