FAQ

• I am a solo founder, can I apply?
  No. The team must consist of a minimum of two people, individual applicants will not be considered. However, we regularly organize activities and initiatives tailored for solo founders — subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.
• Do I have to be a Bocconi student or a former student to participate?
  No. Anyone over the age of 18, from anywhere in the world, can submit the application.
• Are the Acceleration programs in-person?
  The Acceleration program is primarily held in person, as we deeply value the power of our community and the experience of sharing our co-working space with over 50 incredible founders. However, we’re flexible in certain cases and can accommodate hybrid participation when needed - we'll evaluate it on a case-by-case basis.
  The Pre-Acceleration Program is primarily online and includes Saturday morning workshops, evening sessions, and meetings with speakers and mentors. Some of these activities may also be held in person for those who are able to attend. Additionally, you are welcome to use our spaces whenever needed.
• How much time do the programs take?
  The Acceleration Program runs for 4 months, while the Pre-Acceleration Program lasts 3 months. You can find more information and details on the timelines here and here.
• Can I apply to both the Acceleration and Pre-Acceleration programs, or do I have to choose just one?
  If you're not sure which program to apply for, you can choose to apply to both the Acceleration and Pre-Acceleration programs.
• I read that you invest €50K* for up to 5%. Does it mean you evaluate my startup at a minimum of €1M?
  Yes, if you have not received the investment with a higher valuation. Otherwise, we adapt the equity of B4i to your valuation. It’s also important to note that the services we provide are not included in the investment, as they are provided “for free” on top of it.
  *The economic conditions of this Investment Agreement are currently under review to eventually improve the B4i offer starting from Batch XII. An updated version will arrive soon.
• Do I have to provide the startup’s financial plan?
  If you’re applying for Acceleration, we require that you have at least an idea of your financial projections for the next year. That’s not because we consider them binding, but because we are interested in the thought process behind the plan.
• Do I need to provide the startup's business plan?
  No, it's not required. We just need the pitch deck.
• Do I have to be incorporated in Italy to participate to the Acceleration program?
  No, but if you apply for the Acceleration program, we’ll request that you commit to incorporate the startup before the program starts.
• Do I have to open a branch in Italy?
  Not necessarily, for example, we have supported startups registered in France, England, Lithuania and Kenya. We can’t accept startups registered in countries marked as tax havens (more info in the Startup Call Conditions).
• Will you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?
  No. Not because we’re here to steal people’s ideas, but because we need to find the best possible projects out of a large number of applications. We can’t sign NDAs with everyone. It’s also in our interest that your ideas stay yours and that we don’t share them with anyone without your consent (it’s written in our rules and regulations). We’re here to invest time and money in you and your projects so that you can thrive, that’s our job, nothing else. If and when you join one of our programs — especially the Acceleration program — we may ask certain individuals involved (such as legal advisors) to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to ensure the protection of you and your business.
• If we took part in - or applied for - a different acceleration/incubation program, are we still eligible to participate in B4i?
  Yes, but we will have to check that requirements from other programs are not conflicting (e.g. full-time attendance required for both). Generally speaking, we are ok with you taking part in other programs as it multiplies opportunities for your company’s growth. Especially in the Acceleration program, we will evaluate each case individually to protect your equity story and the time you invest as founders.
• We need to change/update some of the information we provided. Can we do it?
  Yes. Feel free to do that directly through the Dealum platform, or just email us at infob4i@unibocconi.it

Do you want to know how to apply for B4i programs? Read our guide