Training & skills

Executive Master: Venture Building & Innovation Leadership

A modular executive master for aspiring founders, innovation leaders and intrapreneurs who want to build, launch and scale new ventures in complex organizations.

Apply now Deadline: 24 February 2026, 8pm CET

Who will teach

Faculty

  • Online live sessions + in‑person weekends in Pisa
  • International faculty, mentors and guest speakers
  • Project‑based work on real ventures or corporate challenges
  • Networking with founders, investors and industry leaders
Faculty
Format

Blended learning

  • Online live sessions + in‑person weekends in Pisa
  • International faculty, mentors and guest speakers
  • Project‑based work on real ventures or corporate challenges
  • Networking with founders, investors and industry leaders
Apply now Deadline: 24 February 2026, 8pm CET
Curriculum

Yearly pathway

A single monthly view of the venture pathway across the year. The cycle runs from February to December and includes the October Demo Day. July and August are dedicated to personal work and mentoring only (no lectures). Each month may run more than one module. Most modules have hands-on labs.

Monthly plan
Repeats yearly July & August mentoring only October Demo Day
Table
Month Modules Key output
Feb/Mar
Research & Innovation
Canvas & Lean
Pretotyping & market signals
Setting the context; signal evidence and experiment results
Mar
Business model
Business model draft
Apr
Public Speaking
Clear story + 60–90s venture intro
May
Pitching
Design thinking & Product development
Pitch deck draft, rehearsal, customer engagement and product plan
Jun
Market analysis + Market strategy
Product & GTM direction
Market map + ICP + positioning + KPI targets
Jul
Personal work & mentoring only
(no lectures)
Execution sprint + mentor check-ins
Aug
Personal work & mentoring only
(no lectures)
Evidence + pipeline build
Sep
Team building & recruitment
Business development + Leadership
Hiring plan + partnership pipeline + operating cadence
Oct
Valuation & investments
Corporate finance & accounting
October Demo Day
Investment readiness + finance reporting readiness + Demo Day pitch
Nov
Legal
Funding proposal evaluation
IP, incorporation, mandatory documents and structure; write and evaluate proposals
Dec
Agile management
Thesis outline
Project management; how to write the thesis
Detailed syllabus

Module-by-module breakdown

Below is a detailed syllabus aligned with the yearly pathway. Each module includes core topics and the expected deliverables you will produce.

Module

Research & Innovation + Canvas Lean (8h + 4h Lab)

From research results to innovation impact; Structure uncertainty into testable hypotheses with customers and stakeholders.

  • Key topics: research-to-market pathways, Lean Startup, customer discovery, value proposition, hypothesis testing
  • Deliverables: initial assumptions map, canvas, experiment plan
Module

Pretotyping & market signals (4h + 4h Lab)

Run lightweight experiments to collect evidence and reduce risk before building.

  • Key topics: pretotype patterns, signal definition, metrics, interview protocols
  • Deliverables: experiment results + signal evidence pack
Module

Business model (4h + 4h Lab)

Translate learning into a first business model that connects value, customers, channels and economics.

  • Key topics: ICP, pricing logic, channels, unit economics basics
  • Deliverables: business model draft + assumptions to validate, simulations
Module

Public Speaking & Pitching (8h + 8h Lab)

Communicate with clarity and presence a compelling pitch narrative with clear deck and evidence.

  • Key topics: narrative structure, body language, voice, audience adaptation, deck flow
  • Deliverables: 60–90s venture intro, speaking rehearsal plan, demo-day level deck
Module

Design thinking & Product development (8h + 4h Lab)

Build products with customers in the loop.

  • Key topics: empathy and engagement, product planning
  • Deliverables: Methodology and product plan
Module

Market analysis & Market strategy (8h + 4h Lab)

Understand the market landscape and define positioning, channels and KPI targets.

  • Key topics: market size, competitors, positioning, GTM channels, KPIs
  • Deliverables: market map + ICP + positioning statement + KPI plan
Summer

Personal work & mentoring (July–August)

Two months dedicated to execution: apply the playbook with mentor check-ins (no lectures).

  • Key activities: validate assumptions, build pipeline, iterate prototypes
  • Deliverables: monthly progress memo + evidence updates
Module

Team building & recruitment (4h + 4h Lab)

Design the team: roles, hiring plan, advisors and early culture practices.

  • Key topics: role mapping, hiring funnel, incentives, advisor strategy
  • Deliverables: team plan + hiring roadmap + advisor shortlist
Module

Business development & Leadership (4h + 4h Lab)

Build partnerships and lead execution with an operating cadence that scales.

  • Key topics: partnerships, enterprise pilots, sales narrative, leadership rhythms
  • Deliverables: BD pipeline + operating cadence + pilot plan
Module

Valuation & investments (4h)

Prepare for fundraising: understand investor expectations, valuation logic and deal mechanics.

  • Key topics: cap table basics, valuation approaches, term sheet concepts
  • Deliverables: investor narrative + fundraising plan + Demo Day pitch refinement
Module

Corporate finance & accounting (12h + 4h Lab)

Finance fundamentals for founders and innovation leaders: cash, reporting and decision support.

  • Key topics: P&L, cashflow, budgeting, reporting cadence
  • Deliverables: finance checklist + reporting template + unit economics snapshot
Module

Legal (4h)

Protect the venture: IP, incorporation choices and mandatory documents for partnerships and investment.

  • Key topics: IP strategy, incorporation, governance, contracts basics
  • Deliverables: legal checklist + draft document set (as applicable)
Module

Funding proposal evaluation (4h + 4h Lab)

Write and evaluate funding proposals with a reviewer mindset.

  • Key topics: evaluation criteria, narrative clarity, budget logic, risks & mitigation
  • Deliverables: proposal outline + scored evaluation rubric
Module

Agile management (4h)

Execution practices for teams: planning, prioritization and continuous improvement.

  • Key topics: agile principles, sprint planning, roadmaps, retrospectives
  • Deliverables: execution plan + agile ceremonies template
Pricing

Choose individual modules or the full Executive Master

You can attend a single module as a standalone training, or enroll in the full Executive Master pathway. Pricing can be tailored for corporate groups and partner organizations. Fees are VAT excluded, where applicable.

Option 1

Full Executive Master

The full pathway bundles all modules + mentoring + Demo Days into one enrollment.

See also our Discount Policy .

  • Fee (individual enrollment): €13.000
  • Corporate / group package: Ask for a quotation
  • What’s included: all live modules, labs, mentoring touchpoints, community access, Demo Days
  • Optional add‑ons: 1:1 coaching, corporate innovation challenges, tailored projects
All modules Mentoring support Demo Days Network access
Option 2

Individual modules

See also our Discount Policy .

Table
Module Typical month Fee Includes
Research & Innovation + Canvas & Lean
Feb/Mar €1500 Live sessions + slides + community access; Templates + exercises + feedback
Pretotyping & market signals
Feb/Mar €1000 Experiment design + evidence review
Business model
Mar €1000 Model clinic + peer review
Public Speaking + Pitching
Apr €2000 Rehearsal + coaching
Design thinking + Product development
May €1500 Product design with customers in the loop
Market analysis + Market strategy
Jun €1500 Positioning + KPI plan
Team building & recruitment
Sep €1000 Role map + hiring plan
Business development + Leadership
Sep €1000 Pipeline + operating cadence
Valuation & investments
Oct €800 Fundraising readiness clinic
Corporate finance & accounting
Oct €2000 Finance basics + reporting setup
Legal
Nov €800 IP + incorporation checklist
Funding proposal evaluation
Nov €1000 Write + evaluate proposals
Agile management
Dec €800 Execution rhythms + tools
Discount policies

Discount policies

Discounts may apply depending on your affiliation and circumstances, i.e. corporate or group bundles, promoters or participants of Start Attractor, members of the Start Club, people living more than 200 km from Pisa.

Get more
Application

Apply to the Executive Master

Select the full Executive Master or a set of individual modules. On submit, your email client will open with a pre‑filled application message.

Application form

The master and individual modules will be activated only if there are at least 10 participants.








Enrollment

Discount policy (choose one)

If multiple conditions apply, we will consider the best option.


By submitting this form you agree that Start Attractor may store and process your data in line with its Privacy Policy.
Submitting opens your default email client (mailto). No data is stored on this website.