Goals

If an idea is selected to the program, it means that both the proponents and we recognize that there is value in it.
But typically more analysis is necessary to determine if this value can justify spending time and money in building a company.

We provide all the necessary tools and a “safe environment” to test all the assumptions and come out with a determination about quitting or proceeding. We expect you will work hard, but there will be no bad feelings if after this hard work you decide that it is not worth continuing.

If you are going to run a successful business, you need to understand what this entails: from marketing to accounting, form HR management to finding money to invest. Especially certain aspects like intellectual property protection and venture financing are not common knowledge but you need to master them immediately.

You don’t need to become an expert, but it is necessary that you have at least a basic understanding, to be able to do it yourself at the beginning (when you have no money) and to understand what the experts will tell you (when you have money to pay them).

We believe a complete and functioning team is a startup strongest assets, because this will allow for all main aspects of the new business to be well covered and taken care by a competent person, and will give guarantees to the investors. To achieve a complete team we favor the meeting of innovators with managerial figures, so that every startup in the program can take advantage of both sides, to come up with the best possible solution to every problem.

The team is formed for the duration of the program, and we cannot give assurances on how it will evolve over time, but we certainly hope it will constitute the team of founders and will prove an effective match over time.

Many good ideas never become successful businesses, and many successful businesses rest on less-than-perfect ideas: an innovative idea is just the start, but implementation counts even more.

Developing the business model (b-model) is like defining all the aspects of the journey you intend to undertake: where you start, where you want to arrive, the environment and alternatives in front of you, and the route you plan to follow.

At the end of the process you will have a clear picture of the target markets, the completive landscape, the best means to attract customers and talents, how to build a sustainable competitive advantage and a business plan for investors that summarizes it all.

Developing a large network of persons to count on is really important when you are launching a startup: business people inside and outside your industry, successful startuppers, valid professionals and tax / legal experts. We have a large network of people that believe in startups and we will be happy to share it with you in presentations, happy-hours and dinners that will be organized to give you a chance to build fruitful relationship.

Some of them may end up consulting for you or even investing in your business; but it is important to understand what value you bring to people and what you can ask them in turn.

If your business is innovative and you don’t have revenues and physical assets, banks will most probably not finance you: it is not their job to invest your grandmother savings into “crazy” ideas. The good news is that there are other ways to insure financing.

From angel investors to venture capitalists there are several players that are looking to invest in startups. We will work with you on the best ways to present your business, on the differences among different investors and on the “legal stuff” that you should know.

Finally we will also organize a “pitch day” where you will have the chance to present your startup to potential investors.