Start for Future programmes (Learn, Start & Create).

Details

• URL: https://startforfuture.eu/page/sff-programs
• Alumni: —
• Programmes: Learn / Start / Create
• Learn (in short): educational track for students and research teams; ends with a pitch festival + certificate; chance to win a financial prize
• Learn key facts: 1 session (pitch festival); free & online; prize €100 for “outstanding ideas”. The 2026 Learn edition is over (the open call ran until 29 May 2026, pitch festival on 8 June 2026). A new Learn call has not been announced yet; check the programme page (consulted 16/10/2026).
• Start (in short): 9 weeks of pre-incubation for teams/founders/early-stage startups; weekly workshops + 1:1 mentoring; from idea to “incubation-ready”
• Start key facts: runs twice a year (April–June / October–December), online and free. Current batch: 13 October – 8 December 2026; the open call for it ran from 10 August to 30 September 2026 and is closed (source, consulted 16/10/2026). The call for the next batch has not been announced yet.
• Create (in short): (online) incubator network to scale internationally with access to ecosystems, know-how/infrastructure, mentoring and investor connections
• Create key facts: twice per year (Apr–Jun / Oct–Dec); participation after completing the Start Program; free & online

Overview: your path with Start for Future

Start for Future (SFF) offers three programmes that build on each other:

• Learn Program: international educational track + pitch festival (for students & research teams).
• Start Program: 9-week pre-incubation (from idea to “incubation-ready”).
• Create Program: (online) incubator network to scale internationally (after Start).

Learn Program

LEARN is aimed at students and research teams working on a problem and developing a solution. You get input from experts on topics such as entrepreneurship, AI, sustainability, technology and leadership. At the end you present your idea internationally, can obtain an SFF Certificate of Completion, and have a chance to win a financial prize.

Learn journey (session)

• SFF LEARN Pitch festival: teams pitch their ideas to a jury for the SFF Award.

Start Program (9-week pre-incubation)

START is a 9-week pre-incubation programme for teams, founders and early-stage startups who want to turn their idea into an incubation-ready business concept. Through weekly workshops and 1:1 mentoring with startup coaches, you refine your concept, apply learnings and set concrete goals towards building a company.

Start journey (sessions – batch 13 October – 8 December 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m.)

• Kick off + The ABC’s of Start-ups (13 October 2026)
• Your Team: Review and Journey Analysis (20 October 2026)
• Customer Discovery 1: Customer Validation (27 October 2026)
• Customer Discovery 2: Pivot or Proceed? (3 November 2026)
• Customer Discovery 3: Prototyping (10 November 2026)
• Team Progress Challenge (17 November 2026) — teams compete for €500
• The hostile Environment simulation (1 December 2026)
• Final Presentations (8 December 2026)

Create Program (incubator network)

SFF CREATE is a European network of incubators and entrepreneurship centres. Partners offer local programmes (workshops + 1:1 coaching) as well as access to the fully online CREATE programme. CREATE supports startups with access to other ecosystems, know-how and infrastructure, mentoring and investor connections.

Create journey (sessions – example)

• How to be a successful startup (23 April 2026, 4:00–5:30 p.m. CEST)
• Co-Creation with companies (21 May 2026, 4:00–5:30 p.m. CEST)
• Sustainability as an inevitable element (11 June 2026, 4:00–5:30 p.m. CEST)
• Non-Equity Funding on the European Level (16 July 2026, 4:00–5:30 p.m. CEST)
• How to present to VCs and business angels (17 Sept. 2026, 4:00–5:30 p.m. CEST)
• Demo Day with investors (22 Oct. 2026, 4:00–5:30 p.m. CEST)

Links (how to apply)

• Learn: Apply for Learn (Typeform) + join the SFF Learn Hub (via the programme page)
• Start: Apply for Start (Typeform)
• Create: Join Create (via OpenHubs) — after completing the Start Program