Pre-Acceleration - Bocconi for innovation

"At B4i we've found an immersive experience with intensive lectures and practical one-to-one sessions with mentors and business angels. Their network and everyone's commitment to helping startup teams thrive helped us solve problems we didn't know we had."Alessia Rosa, Nadim Conti, Valentina Lidoni and Pablo GiaccagliaPrevieni

"The B4i Pre-acceleration program was instrumental in shaping our entrepreneurial mindset. We were encouraged to 'get out of the building', which led us to successfully launch the very first version of our impact startup! Highly recommended."
Christian Pulieri and Fausto CapriottiMath Legacy

"The B4i Pre-acceleration program allowed us to validate our idea and identify the best business model. We would highly recommend it as it provides access to high level mentors and network, beautiful workspaces and constant challenges that push you to improve."Giuseppe D'Alessandro, Massimo Sabatini, Massimo Brochetta and Riccardo BottiroliForeverland food

"The B4i pre-acceleration program has played a key role in turning our business idea into reality through diverse, interactive training sessions and the access to the invaluable network of the Bocconi community."Giulio Simone and Irene SimoneZero Impack

The Pre-Acceleration program in brief

The B4i Pre-Accelerator is a free 3-month program offering comprehensive support and practical tools to help you validate your business idea and turn early-stage projects into Minimum Viable Products.

Through a mix of training, mentorship, legal support, exclusive perks, and access to the extensive Bocconi network, it helps aspiring entrepreneurs turn their ideas into real ventures.

This program is open to entrepreneurial teams of all backgrounds and experience levels. It is mostly online, making it compatible with any work or study commitments, and no prior entrepreneurial experience is required.

The program includes 11 Saturday morning workshops that cover the most important aspects of starting a business, such as customer discovery, market assessment, business model development, MVP design, financial planning, and more.

What's included

Online sessions with mentors to address specific matters;
An internal Demo Day event with B4i team, speakers, advisors and mentors
Free and discounted services from Bocconi and over 50 affiliated service providers (databases, payment systems, CRM, and more)
Pro bono legal orientation in areas such as IP strategy, IP protection, privacy, company setup
A final Demo Day event for the top-selected teams to pitch their ideas to a audience of experts and potential investors
Ongoing support from the B4i team for idea validation, go-to-market strategies, pitch refinement, and everything else needed to help you grow your business
Online & in presence evening pills with experienced speakers for in-depth discussions on specific topics (customer interview techniques, how-to-pitch, rapid testing, fundraising etc.)
Networking events and access to Bocconi network
One-on-one meetings with our speakers to apply lessons learned and receive practical tips

Legal Desks and business support services

Our Legal Desks offer startups a practical introduction to the key legal frameworks they need to navigate. As a core component of the Pre-Acceleration Program, they cover essential areas such as privacy, intellectual property, corporate law, tax advisory, and payroll. The program also includes a series of additional services (like business development and product workshops) — tailored to the startup’s legal status (incorporated or not), with dedicated support for govtech startups and beyond. For incorporated startups, specific services are made available through our involvement in the AI-PACT hub.

KEY DATES

May 9
- 2025
  - Applications opening
  - The application period opens: it’s time to propose your startup
Jun 22
- 2025
  - Applications deadline
  - The application period closes and our team begins the process of candidates selection
Sept 13
- 2025
  - Start of the program
  - The selected candidates begin their 3-month program
Dec
- 2025
  - End of the program
  - The initial ideas of entrepreneurs have now taken the form of a minimum viable product
Feb
- 2026
  - Demo day
  - Top-selected teams will pitch their ideas in front of a panel of evaluators including potential investors, customers and advisors

Our application calls open twice a year in May and November.
The two batches kick off in March and September and welcome up to 20 teams per batch.

Is it for you?

The program is open to anyone (there’s no need to be a Bocconi student or alumnus/a) and is accessible to individuals from any background and expertise level. However, to be eligible, you must meet certain requirements:

Participants need to be in a team of at least 2 people, who must have reached the age of majority.
We expect participants to be able to speak English, since the program is entirely held in English.
Please note: we expect participants to attend all sessions and workshops.

Beyond the formal requirements, we’re looking for motivated teams with innovative ideas and a real commitment to entrepreneurship. Participants are expected to dedicate time and energy to the program, take it seriously, and be ready to challenge themselves in order to grow.