Eight new teams onboarded the Aalto Creatives pre-incubator programme this autumn

On the last week of September, the programme kicked off an intense journey designed to grow budding ideas into market-ready business models. Starting with personal coaching sessions, participants will refine and validate their concepts under the mentorship of experts from Aalto Startup Center and Aalto Studios.

The first half of the programme prioritises the fundamentals for first time founders. Weekly sessions cover topics such as entrepreneurial mindset, service design, intellectual property rights (IPR), go-to-market strategies, and effective fundraising techniques. This phase gives participants essential tools for further development of their business plans.

In the first weeks, participants are also introduced to Aalto Fablab which is a digital fabrication laboratory. This workshop environment has the perfect setup for prototyping and the participants can have access to it during the programme.

The emphasis shifts in the latter half of the programme towards mastering the art of pitching. Successful pitching is crucial for attracting investors and engaging potential customers. Teams will polish their pitches through targeted workshops and present their refined ideas at the Aalto Creatives Demo Day event in December.

As a bi-annual programme, the Aalto Creatives pre-incubator has become a cornerstone of entrepreneurial development for creative industries within Aalto University. Supported by the City of Helsinki, it is part of the broader Campus Incubators network, fostering resources and opportunities for innovation in the Helsinki capital region.

Next Aalto Creatives pre-incubator programme starts in March 2026. The call for applications for next spring is already open. More information on programme contents, schedules and applying can be found on the Aalto Creatives website.