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Submit your application to the Acceleration and Pre-Acceleration programs.
Applications are open to anyone (it is not necessary to be a Bocconi student or alumnus/a) anywhere.
Deadline: January 8th, 2025.
"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 Simone, Zero Impack
"The pre-accelerator program was the first step towards becoming a real company. We found full support from the team, and achieved a growth that projected us into the future. We are extremely grateful for that challenging but fulfilling experience."
Antonella Viggiano and Benedetta Fanelli, Khooa
"The pre-acceleration program really helped us to hone in on critical areas of our business, and also gave us access to an incredible network of mentors and advisors, many of whom we are still in touch with even after the end of the program!"
Dayana Yermolayeva and David Linsey, JiPay
"The Pre-Acceleration program is a unique opportunity to turn your business ideas into reality, supported by a network of professionals with extensive experience in creating successful startups."
Clarice Buonsante, Tipicality
"The Pre-Acceleration program is one of the best opportunities for young startups in Italy. Thanks to B4i, we understood how you can shift from Idea to Startup in the right way."
Alessandro Puppo, Green Games
The B4i Pre-Accelerator is a 3-month free training program designed to transform early-stage business ideas into Minimum Viable Products.
This program is open to aspiring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and expertise 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 sessions 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.
Participants will also benefit from dedicated mentorship, legal support, exclusive perks, and access to the Bocconi network.
From our 9th batch
350+
applications
15
selected teams made of 3 members on average
70+
hours of training
20
speakers
1 or 2
mentors assigned to each team
75+
mentorship sessions
Applications deadline
The application period closes and our team begins the process of candidates selection
Start of the program
The selected candidates begin their 3-month program
End of the program
The initial ideas of entrepreneurs have now taken the form of a minimum viable product
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.
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:
Alessandra Scotti
Institutional Relations & Scouting @ LIFTT
Paolo Lombardi
Author, Startup Program Design
Director of Technology Innovation @ Taylor & Francis Group
Giovanni Berti
Partner @ Corporate Hangar, Professor @ SDA Bocconi, MBA
Deborah Raccagni
Lecturer @ Marketing Department at Bocconi
Filippo Satolli
Digital Entrepreneur & CEO @ 4books
Alessia Fontanari
Co-founder @ Mapo Tapo & Go-to-Market Strategy Manager @ Doctolib (Italia)
Jegor Levkovskiy
Sales Manager @ PonyU
Duccio Alberti
Associate Professor of Leadership @ SDA Bocconi School of Management
Pietro Chiarentin
Manager @ DGM Consulting Srl and Teaching Assistant @ Bocconi University
Pietro Fazzini
Senior Associate @ Orrick
Demetrio Maltese
Notary @ Giamalex
Rossano Gagliardi
Trainer and Coach
Guido Magrin
CEO and Co-founder @ TeiaCare
Mikkel Draebye
Director, Master in Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MISA) @ SDA Bocconi
Matteo Redaelli
Security Consulting Senior Manager @ Accenture
Martina Pennarola
Senior Principal Success Manager @ Salesforce
Francesca Pallara
Associate @ Kois
Danilo Devigili
Partner @ Collectibus srl società benefit
Patrizia Cozzoli
VP Corporate Development @ Lansweeper
Alessandro Basile
Managing Partner @ AB Innovation Consulting
Filippo Giordano
Full professor of Management @ LUMSA University
Enrico Santarelli
Chief Marketing, Products and Digital Officer @ Clementoni
Matteo Soffritti
Marketing Manager @ Ferrero
Simone Demelas
Venture Building Consultant
Giuseppe Tamola
Consultant and Advisor (ex-Zalando, Yoox-Net-a-Porter, sundayapp)
Alessio Petracchi
Omnichannel Client Director @ Mirror
Pontus Karlsson
Co-founder & CEO @ Off Script
Leonardo Berlingieri
Head of Commercial InPost
Emily S. Turilli Ghisolfi
Associate @ ADYA
Michele Mattei
Fintech Expert | Investor | Manager | Advisor
Moira d’Agostini
Fragrances Brands General Manager @ The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (Italy)
Guido Maria Vimercati
Founder of Hurrah.eu
KY Tan
Director Business Development @ Brainlab
Giorgia di Summa
Business Development Manager at Alma
Eleonora Bianchi
Head of Digital Services & Consumption @ Universal Music Italia
Sara Bellini
CFO @ ALTO Robotics SpA
Marianna Lo Zoppo
Junior Lecturer @ SDA Bocconi | PhD Candidate @ Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Mariangela Squarciafico
Junior Life Science Innovation Manager @ Bioindustry Park Silvano Fumero S.p.A.
If you have an innovative startup or idea that can solve real market problems, then we’re ready to invest the experience, knowledge, time and resources of the wider Bocconi community in you and your team.
Apply now
