Since March 2020, Bocconi for Innovation (B4i) - the entrepreneurial hub of Bocconi University in Milan, Italy - has launched 12 Startup Calls, receiving over 4,167 applications and welcoming a total of 259 start-ups. Over the past four years, these companies have raised more than €59 million and created over 250 jobs. In recent weeks, the thirteenth Startup Call was launched for its Batch XIII, which includes B4i's Acceleration and Pre-acceleration programs.
The Pre-Acceleration program
The Pre-Acceleration program offered by B4i welcomes entrepreneurial teams - formally or informally established start-ups - from all backgrounds and levels of experience. No previous entrepreneurial experience is required, and one does not need to be a Bocconi student or alumnus to participate. The goal of the initiative is to help start-ups validate their business idea and transform it into a real Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
Participants must belong to a start-up consisting of at least two people, both of whom must be of legal age. The program is conducted entirely in English, begins on March 7, 2026, and ends in June of the same year. It is a three-month online course, compatible with other study or work commitments, which includes 11 mandatory workshops (for a total of 55 hours), held on Saturday mornings, with access to a series of mentorship sessions based on the specific needs of each start-up.
Workshop topics include customer discovery, market assessment, business model development, MVP design, and financial planning. The program also includes other services, such as pro bono legal support, an internal Demo Day and a final Demo Day for the best teams selected, networking events, and access to Bocconi's network of contacts.
Applications to join the Pre-Acceleration program must be submitted by Wednesday, January 7, 2026, using the dedicated online application form.
The Acceleration program
Bocconi for Innovation's Acceleration program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and levels of experience, especially those who are just starting out or tech founders. It is not necessary to be a Bocconi student or alumnus to apply. The four-month program requires participants to commit full-time and attend the B4i offices in Milan, where start-ups will have access to a dedicated workspace and daily support from the B4i team.
The program offers various services, including legal assistance, business development, support for marketing strategies, and UX/UI, as well as access to a network of industry experts and advisors tailored to the needs of each business. B4i is also committed to investing €80,000 in selected start-ups through a convertible note and assisting them in the fundraising phase.
The selection criteria for the admission of applications are:
- be a team of at least 2 people willing to work full-time on the start-up;
- be incorporated as a company before the start of the program;
- propose an innovative solution to a real need in a growing market;
- have some measurable validation indicators, e.g., paying users/customers, pipeline of potential users, etc.
Applications to join the Acceleration program must be submitted by January 7, 2026, using the dedicated online application form. The selection and admission timeline is as follows:
- January 7, 2026: Startup Call closes;
- January 26 to February 13: Selection Call for teams that have passed phase 1 (approximately 50);
- by February 15: feedback email from the B4i team;
- February 9 to 20: Selection Call for teams that have passed phase 2 (approximately 25 teams);
- February 26 or 27: in-person interview with the team and B4i Advisors for teams that have passed phase 3 (approximately 15);
- March 2 to 12: final due diligence for teams that have passed phase 4 (approximately 10 teams);
- March 13, 2026: announcement of selected teams (between 6 and 8).
Further details, as well as a series of tips from B4I on how to best manage one's application, are available on the initiative's website.
