The #beatingtheodds incubator
is free and open to everyone
between 18-30 years old
Applications are closed!
Applications closed January 17th
Applications
Open
Applications
Closed
December 2021
17 January 2022
Start
Programme
2 February 2022
End
Programme
25 May 2022
The Programme
In order to unlock the true potential of entrepreneurship as a vehicle for change, we need diverse perspectives and people from diverse backgrounds to start building businesses that ensure a positive future in which we are able to tackle complex challenges through inclusive problem-solving capabilities.
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Throughout an intensive sprint, scheduled from 2 February to 25 May 2022 in Brussels, participants will get the opportunity to transform their business idea into a company fit for market by going through 4 phases of the startup life cycle. We offer a 4-month hybrid programme of on -and offline training & support, and access to an extensive network of local and international mentors and seasoned entrepreneurs and investors.
4-month sprint
Explore
Design
Go-To-Market
Build
During phase 3 you'll work on developing your first MVP, gaining customer feedback and validating product-market fit.
Topics & Tools
Prototyping, validation techniques & tools
During the last phase of the programme, you'll set up a plan to enter the market and sharpen your pitching skills.
Topics & Tools
Marketing strategy Canvas, pitch & presentation skills
2 February - 25 May, 2022
This first phase is all about challenging your business idea and assumptions.
Topics & Tools
Market scan, stakeholder discovery, theory of change, user research and idea validation.
After your business idea is validated we'll move to the 2nd phase where we'll work on designing a solid impact business model and ensuring your value proposition resonates with your audience.
Topics & Tools
Value proposition, impact business model generation
Who are we looking for?
Are you between 18 and 30 years old?
Do you have a business idea or early stage business with positive impact on people and planet but you could use support from others who have already been through the process? Are there still some business skills you feel less confident in? Do you want to connect with your peers, future customers partners and investors?
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Then this programme is for you!
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This programme is for young aspiring or early-stage entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds who either have a business idea or are taking their first steps in developing their idea.
Whatever your background, study or skills are, in this programme, everyone who is motivated to make a difference is welcome! We are convinced that anyone who has beaten the odds before has it in them to do so again in the future and that this quality makes people perfectly positioned to become entrepreneurs.
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What you'll learn
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Start from an idea or early stage business and build it into a viable business.
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Define your mission and plan your strategy for how to achieve it.
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Explore and understand your market and stakeholders.
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Design your impact business model and make your message resonate with your audience.
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Build prototypes and validate product-market fit.
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Set up a plan to enter the market and sharpen your pitching skills.
What we offer
Hybrid Training
On and offline training including exclusive content and tools to explore alongside. The tailored training is designed to equip you with the right knowledge and skills to move forward with your startup
Access to financing
We are financing experts, we help you navigate the many financing instruments and make introductions. The Demo Day offers an extra opportunity to showcase your business to investors and potential customers. We'll figure out together who we need to get into the room
Mentoring
Individual mentoring sessions based on your needs we’ll match you to our extensive network of local and international mentors and seasoned entrepreneurs. Once the programme starts, every startup will get up to two fixed mentors and receive 8 hours of individual mentoring by each mentor on a bi-weekly basis.
Access to networks
Throughout the programme we'll make introductions that will help your business to grow. New partners or customers are essential to grow your business,
Co-working hours
Discuss any challenge you might face with other participants and our team during the bi-weekly co-working hours at the Google Digital Atelier
Alumni
Join a growing peer-to-peer network of fellow founders seeking to build a successful impact business and bring about real change
"Beating the odds set my fears of starting
a company free!"
Zahara Ngeze
​“If diversity and inclusion are major drivers for innovation and entrepreneurship, Impact Shakers is the crossroad where everything comes together enabling high-impact and mutual growth.”
Omar Mohout,
Partner & Head of Digital, Nova Reperta
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Partners
Collaboration is essential to our vision and mission.
We engage our partners and community actively to realise our mission.
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#Beatingtheodds is an initiative by Impact Shakers and is supported by:
