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); 8 June 2026 (16:00–18:00 CEST); Open call until 29 May 2026; free & online; prize €100 for “outstanding ideas”
• 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: batch 21 April – 16 June 2026 (online, free); open call 27 Jan – 25 Mar 2026
• 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 – example batch 21 April – 16 June 2026)

• Kick off + The ABC’s of Start-ups (21 April 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CEST)
• Startup Success Stories & Learnings (28 April 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CEST)
• Customer Discovery 1: Customer Validation (05 May 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CEST)
• Customer Discovery 2: Pivot or Proceed? (12 May 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CEST)
• Customer Discovery 3: Prototyping (19 May 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CEST)
• Selling Yourself & Your Idea (26 May 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CEST)
• Pitch Rehearsals (02 June 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CEST)
• Final Presentations (16 June 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CEST)

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