A four-month experience of mentorship, workshops, and real challenges to build the future of your startup

The Future Founders Program is a free four-month journey designed to guide those who wish to take their first steps as startup founders. This intensive program stands out for its unique training approach, aimed at providing essential skills and tools to tackle the initial challenges of starting a business.

The program will involve 60 selected participants, divided into 15 teams of four people, simulating the real experience of building a startup from scratch. There’s no need to have a business idea beforehand: during the program, teams will develop their projects, addressing all the difficulties associated with a startup’s early stage, such as finding the right co-founders, identifying the target audience, testing the product or service, and preparing a compelling investor pitch.

The program will take place in Milan and includes seminars, workshops, webinars, fireside chats, mentorship sessions, and pitch trials, spread over 16 weeks with weekly and weekend appointments. In June 2025, at the end of the program, participants will have the opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of experts. Among all the projects, the top six will be selected.

The Future Founders Program is open to all aspiring entrepreneurs, with a preference for candidates from the academic environment, such as students, alumni, researchers, and professors. However, anyone eager to take on the challenge is welcome. Pre-formed teams are not allowed; applications must be individual, and attendance at in-person sessions in Milan, as well as a continuous commitment throughout the program, is mandatory.

Applications for the Future Founders Program are open until February 23. To apply, you must submit a motivational letter explaining your reasons for applying and your CV. Here’s the link to apply directly on the website.

The Future Founders Program is a project promoted by B4i – Bocconi for Innovation, as part of MUSA (Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action), an innovation ecosystem funded by the Ministry of Universities and Research through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).