Startup Pre-Accelerator

Startup Series at British University

About the Series

The Startup Series builds a vibrant ecosystem where students, alumni, and founders connect, share real-world lessons, and develop practical entrepreneurial skills. Through workshops, talks, showcases, skills labs, and community events, participants move from idea to impact—with smart use of AI included where it adds value.

Program Components

Startup Bootcamp Events (with Startupbootcamp):

A focused track on acceleration and pitching fundamentals, what investors look for, early validation and MVP development, and practical paths to mentorship, funding, and global networks—giving participants a clear view of the journey from idea to fundraising.

Student Founders Showcase:

Live pitches with expert feedback, exposure to mentors and potential investor introductions, and peer learning within a supportive community—resulting in sharper value propositions and clear next steps.

Startup Spotlight Sessions & Founders’ Talks:

Selected startups share growth, pivot, and traction stories, followed by fireside chats with moderated Q&A on resilience, failure, fundraising, scaling, and product–market fit, plus mentorship cafés and networking for cross-learning—offering human, honest insights and practical next steps for founders.

Startup Skills Lab:

Practical training across market research, business modeling, customer segmentation, pitching and fundraising fundamentals, co-founder discovery and team building, product design, marketing, and go-to-market execution—plus smart use of AI tools to accelerate research and operations—so founders gain skills they can apply immediately.

Open Networking & Community Evenings:

Casual “Startup & Wine” socials, speed networking and idea exchange, and mini-challenges/innovation sprints—designed to build strong relationships among founders, mentors, and investors.

Final Event: British University Startup Forum (May)

A capstone gathering themed Innovation, AI, and the Future of Entrepreneurship, featuring finalist student pitches, keynotes from investors and founders, jury evaluations and awards (including Startup of the Year), and a networking reception.

Who Should Join

Student founders and early-stage teams, aspiring entrepreneurs and product builders, researchers exploring commercialization, and operators, mentors, and ecosystem partners who want to plug into a hands-on startup community.

Timeline (October–May)

• Oct–Dec: Practical training + first Spotlight

• Jan–Feb: Founders’ Talks + Skills Lab sessions

• Mar–Apr: Student Founders Showcase (qualifiers) + Community Evenings

• May: Startup Forum & Awards

All events are hybrid. Exact dates and guest lists are announced monthly.

How to Participate

• Register for the Series: Registration Link

• (Optional) Partner With Us (accelerators, funds, hubs): send us an email.

Practical Info

Format: Hybrid (on-campus + Zoom)
Language: Georgian & English
Cost: Free for BU students; partners & guests by invitation

FAQs

Do I need a startup to attend? No—come to learn, network, and explore ideas.
Are sessions recorded? Most sessions are recorded; registrants receive links.
How are student teams selected to pitch? Apply via the form; shortlists are made monthly.
Will there be mentoring? Yes—through Bootcamp, Showcase feedback, and Mentorship Cafés.

Contact

Research & Development Department
Email: levan.gurgenidze@britishuni.edu.ge
Phone: +995 593 00 07 88
Address: British University, Didi Digomi, Tbilisi