top of page
3.png
2443.jpg

Don’t just build ideas — validate business models and launch real ventures with Venturethon

Venturethon is a sprint-based entrepreneurial competition that brings together students and first-time founders from around the world to build, validate, and scale high-potential business models — not just prototypes.

By combining the best elements of entrepreneurship education, international competition, and the venture studio model, Venturethon provides a complete pathway from learning to launch.

Venturethon is a structured pre-accelerator program designed to help early-stage founders validate business ideas, develop initial prototypes (MVP directions), and prepare for participation in full accelerator, incubator or venture building programs. It provides targeted mentorship, intensive workshops, and practical guidance aimed at strengthening teams, refining value propositions, and testing market assumptions. As a short-cycle, high-intensity program, Venturethon fulfills the core purpose of a pre-accelerator: equipping early-stage startups with the essential foundation needed to enter subsequent acceleration phases.

2024-12-14_Hakatonas_Lukas-Kodis-30-scaled.jpg

Compete Globally, Validate Locally

Venturethon is a global digital venture-building competition that brings together students and first-time founders from all over the world.

Each year, participants move beyond just pitching ideas — they test, validate, and scale real business models using proven entrepreneurial frameworks. With the support of mentors, entrepreneurs, and investors, teams receive feedback, gain traction, and demonstrate growth potential.

Participation in Venturethon is completely free of charge

By joining Venturethon, participants become part of a global community of innovators, earn certifications that boost career opportunities, and compete for the chance to be incorporated into the Venturethon Venture Studio or partner incubators and accelerators — opening the door to investment, mentorship, and global visibility.

How Venturethon works

Learn & validate

Attend workshops on lean startup, business‑model design and sales; use provided frameworks and templates to validate your idea.

Pitch & showcase

Present your validated business model and traction data to a panel of investors and industry experts.

edit.png
growth.png
compete.png

Register online & join a cohort

Sign up as an individual or team. Once accepted, you'll join a global cohort.

idea.png

Build traction

Conduct customer discovery, prototype solutions, measure traction and iterate. Our mentors help you align growth with market demand.

presentation.png

Get incorporated & scale

The most promising teams are incorporated into Venturethon's venture studio or matched with partner incubators/accelerators.

Venturethon 5-Week Curriculum

  • Goal: Define the problem clearly and form strong teams

    Activities

    • Onboarding session (introduction to Venturethon, rules, tools).
       

    • Team formation & role assignment.
       

    • Workshops on problem framing, customer pain points, and value proposition.
       

    • Mentor check-ins to refine initial problem statements.

    Deliverables

    • Team charter
       

    • Problem statement + hypothesis
       

    • Draft value proposition canvas

  • Goal: Test assumptions about the problem and target customers

    Activities

    Deliverables

    • Conduct customer interviews (online/offline).
       

    • Workshop on market research & segmentation.
       

    • Build and test customer personas.
       

    • Mentor feedback on findings.

    • Minimum 10–20 customer interviews.
       

    • Defined customer persona(s).
       

    • Evidence of validated/unvalidated assumptions.

  • Goal: Create a minimum viable experiment to test the solution’s appeal

    Activities

    • Workshop on Lean Startup & MVP types (landing pages, clickable prototypes, explainer videos, pre-orders).
       

    • Teams build simple MVPs using no-code tools.
       

    • Run quick validation tests (ads, surveys, sign-ups).
       

    • Mid-week pitch rehearsal with mentors.

    Deliverables

    • MVP (basic version).
       

    • Metrics from early tests (clicks, sign-ups, feedback).
       

    • Updated business model canvas.

  • Goal: Show early traction and validate the business model.

    Activities

    • Workshop on business models & revenue streams.
       

    • Iterate MVP based on feedback.
       

    • Focus on traction metrics: customer acquisition, willingness to pay, conversion signals.
       

    • Mentors provide investor-style feedback.

    Deliverables

    • Evidence of traction (sign-ups, pilot users, pre-orders).
       

    • Validated business model (or pivot documented).
       

    • Draft pitch deck with data.

  • Goal: Present validated business models to judges, investors, and partners.

    Activities

    • Pitch training (storytelling, slides, Q&A).
       

    • Teams finalize pitch deck.
       

    • Demo Day → pitch to jury of investors, corporates, and educators.
       

    • Winners announced + prizes + certification ceremony.

    Deliverables

    • Final pitch deck.
       

    • Demo Day presentation.
       

    • Certification of participation for all students.

Do not hesitate and secure your spot!

Sustainable Growth Model

Our innovative funnel model ensures free access for educators while building a sustainable ecosystem that benefits students, teachers, and the broader entrepreneurship community

Teachers Get It Free

Teachers receive free teaching packs, frameworks, and toolkits.

school.png

  • Complete curriculum resources

  • Student engagement tools

  • Assessment frameworks

  • Mentorship guidelines

Student Acquisition

In exchange, teachers bring their students to Venturethon

education.png

  • Massive reach expansion

  • More student participants

  • Stronger community growth

  • Enhanced brand recognition

Monetization Channels

Revenue generation through premium services and partnerships.

money-bag.png

  • Paid certifications & courses

  • Summer/winter schools

  • Corporate sponsorships

  • Technology partnerships

Long-term Value

Sustainable growth through venture studio equity.

time.png

  • Equity in successful ventures

  • Investor deal flow

  • Corporate partnerships

  • Global ecosystem expansion

bottom of page