Register for
Future Makers Open Innovation
Future Makers Open Innovation is a digital incubator dedicated to start-ups that explore innovative ideas using the latest technological & social trends.
Apply by filling the form below:
Workshops
Future Makers Open Innovation will host a total of 15 workshops. These workshops will include 12 sessions on general business knowledge and 3 specific sessions on industry-specific themes.
Hours
The total amount of hours spend within FM Open Innovation is ~50, including the workshops & the mentoring sessions. We are expecting from the aspiring founders to be present at 80% of the sessions.
Teams
FM Open Innovation will gather between 15 and 25 start-up ideas that are related in a way or another to the tech & innovation sector. Out of the total number of start-ups, only 10 will have the chance to pitch during the Future Makers final.
Countries
Our goal is to create an international environment where young future-makers can strive and prosper.
FM Open Innovation accepts start-ups from the entire the CEE region, mainly focusing on Romania, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Rep. Moldova & Slovakia.
Investment Pitches
The most advanced start-ups will be invited to pitch their start-ups in front of a group of investors from CEE.
This opportunity will help you get insights from leading investors and potentially land your start-up a first round of investments.
Timeline for 2023 Edition
FM Open Innovation:
Application Period
Start-up characteristics:
Tech-driven: exploring new technological innovations through business development.
No more than 2 years business maturity.
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Open Innovation
Setting up the foundation:
Weeks 1 to 4
Week 1: Lean Canvas (Problem Def., Assumptions Mapping, Choosing the Right Experiments)
Week 2: Customer Discovery & Validation
Week 3: Product-Market Fit
Week 4: Do it like an Israeli
Business Essentials:
Weeks 5 to 9
Week 5: Group Presentations
Week 6: Product/Service Prototype/MVP
Week 7: Building Sustainable Business Models
Week 7: Business Strategy & Developing a Winning Roadmap
Week 8: Growth Marketing
Week 8: Performance Marketing
Week 9: Financial Management
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Personalized Sessions:
Weeks 10 to 11
Week 10: Future Trends & Foresight
Week 10: Personalized Workshop (1)
Week 11: Personalized Workshop (2)
Week 11: Personalized Workshop (3)
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Pitch Training & FM Final:
Weeks 12 to 15
Week 12: Pitch Training
Week 13: Intro into Investment
Week 14: Pitch Rehearsal
Week 15: Final Prep
Week 16/17: Future Makers Final
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What other participants say:
”The passion and the dedication that the team has to actively help each entrepreneur succeed in their vision. I know that whatever help I may need, the Future Makers team will always be there for me to reach out to.”
Orestis Haveri
Troosh, Greece
”The program was very well designed and delivered. All content and presenters were on a high level. The program organizer Ioana was exceptional and Corina and Paul were also very helpful and supportive.”
Zhenya Dimitrova
Namiram, Bulgaria
”Building and growing a start-up is more complex than I expected, but now I know more about it.”
Sergiu Nichitean
Solemna, Romania
”I loved the quality of the materials and the online course, they were very helpful to follow up after the workshop and it is very good that we can have access any time. Thank you!”
Sabina Ioana Poenar
MedExpress, Romania
”You are great! You should be proud. And keep it up, in a few years, Future Makers could become one of the best programs for early-stage startups in this part of the world.”
Milomir Dragović
Oakly, Serbia
”I loved the opportunity to work with a mentor at the very end of the program when the stress levels are higher and timeframes - shorter. Overall, my experience with Future Makers was great and gave me the structure and timeframe to do my homework. I will be forever thankful for what you did for me.”
Eva Stoyanova
Matter, Bulgaria
”Future Makers connected us with wonderful people who helped us and our idea grow, and at the same time exposed us to investors.”
Mirona Păun,
winner Future Makers 2018
Tzitzi Poc Adventures, Romania
”Our participation in the FutureMakers incubator got us working on our niche and our positioning, creating valuable connections and getting us ready for our upcoming seed round.”
Anastasis Stamatis,
Dataphoria, Greece
"So many important things happened during our Future Makers incubator, but the most important was the fact that we had the opportunity to have access to a large network of entrepreneurs, peers, mentors, corporates and investors and to learn from them."
Adina Teleuca,
toboro, Romania
"This was a great validation that we are on the right path. It was the jumpstart for us at the right time."
Sabin Dimian,
Veltra Bikes, Romania