Beyond Pre-Accelerator

The Programme

Beyond Pre-Accelerator

Beyond Pre-Accelerator is an educational + practical programme aimed at helping participants go through the entire entrepreneurial process, from generating business ideas related to healthcare to creating an MVP (minimum viable product).

The programme builds a bridge between purely educational programmes delivered to universities and more advanced accelerators and incubators.

The Vision

To give university students (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD) the opportunity to work on finding innovative solutions to healthcare challenges, while experiencing building their own company.

The Goal

To create multidisciplinary entrepreneurial teams by bringing together students from Medicine, IT, Engineering, Business and other. The Beyond Pre-Accelerator specifically focuses on challenges that oncology faces and aims to improve the below through driving innovations in:

Prevention
Early Diagnosis
Treatment / Rehabilitation
Psychological support / Reintegration / Palliative care
Cases reports / Data collection / Research methods

The programme is organized by Junior Achievement Cyprus and supported by eight stakeholders: The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Karaiskakion Foundation, Cyprus Oncology Society, Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations, Cocoon Creations, IDEA, Cyprus Seeds and CYENS Centre of Excellence.

For more details, click the “General Information” tab on the left side of your screen.

Apply now as an individual or as a team by clicking on the “Apply Now” tab.
Applications are open until the 20th of October 2024.

General Information

Implementation Process

The Beyond Pre-Accelerator Programme has a duration of five months and it’s split in three phases:

The Educational Phase
The Test and Development Phase
The Demo Day

The Educational Phase

The educational phase lasts for three months. During this phase students:

Form multidisciplinary
Learn about the challenges oncology faces.
Are familiarized with the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and with primary tools and approaches for starting a business.
Generate innovative ideas.
Get one mentor for each team.

By the end of the educational phase, teams conclude to one solid business idea which they present to a jury committee. Six teams only advance to the next phase.

The Test and Development Phase

During the Test and Development Phase, teams work on further advancing their idea and business model, but they also start developing their product or service. This phase lasts for three months and it includes:

Pairing two mentors with each team – one business & one subject matter expert.
JA distributing a small funding to the teams.
Teams developing a minimum viable product (MVP).
MVPs being tested and pitched
JA tracking the progress of the teams through regular meetups

The Demo Day

The programme finishes with a one-day event, the Demo Day.

During the Demo Day the six remaining teams present their businesses in front of an audience with the goal to expand their network and receive further opportunities to continue building their business and developing their product or service.

Educational Material

For all the basic topis there is rich educational material on the programme’s online platform, while in selected topics, experts provide additional ideas and knowledge through seminars and webinars. In addition, experienced professionals provide ongoing guidance and support, acting as mentors.

Topics that are covered during the programme, include the following:

The Entrepreneurial Mindset
Human Resources and Management
Brainstorming Ideas
Market Research
Business Model
Productivity
Project Management
Customer Development / Product Market Fit
Lean Startup Methodology
Finances
Product Development
Marketing and Sales
Legal Obligations of a Business
Test and Learn
Valuation, Equity, and Investor Relations
Pitching and Presentations

*The programme is implemented in the English language.

Applications

Students can apply individually or as a team.

Applications are open until the 20^th of October 2024.

All applications go through an evaluation process and a maximum of 70 students are accepted to participate in the programme.

Teams

Teams can consist of 2 – 4 students, and members must come from at least two different academic disciplines.

For students applying individually, teams are formed at the 2-day Bootcamp (i-Days).

Benefits

Many networking opportunities with various professionals, academics, and students of similar interests.

Access to the programme’s online platform with rich educational material that covers contemporary topics of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Seminars and Webinars on specialized topics by experts.

Continuous support and guidance from experienced professionals acting as mentors.

Joining the large family of Junior Achievement and accessing a multitude of leaning and information opportunities.

Potential participation in EIT Health i-Days and Gen-E European Competitions.

EIT Health i-Days

Innovate in Healthcare Bootcamp – EIT Health i-Days

The Innovate in Healthcare Bootcamp marks the commencement of the Beyond Pre-Accelerator Programme and is also part of the EIT Health i-Days.

During the 2-Day event on the 1st – 2nd of November 2024, all accepted participants gather at a hotel and go through an intensive training which includes but not limited to:

Panel discussion by various experts on the challenges oncology faces.
The entrepreneurial mindset
Brainstorming ideas
Evaluating ideas
Developing a business model
Presenting the idea and business model

At the end of the Bootcamp, teams present their ideas at a jury committee which evaluates the ideas and provides feedback. One team gets the opportunity to represent Cyprus at the EIT Health i-Days European Competition, in Barcelona, Spain (30th of November – 1st of December)

Get Inspired

FAQ

We are students of the same academic discipline, can we apply as a team?

Yes, up to 3 students coming from the same academic discipline can apply together as a team. However, during the 2-Day Bootcamp, your team should add member(s) from other academic disciplines as well.

Can I participate with two different teams?

No, you can participate in the programme as a member of only one team.

Can a team consist of students from different universities/colleges?

Yes.

Is there a participation fee?

No, the programme is offered free of charge.

Will I get a certificate of participation?

Yes, all participants who complete the programme receive a certificate of completion.

Apply Now

To apply to Beyond, start by registering in the platform of EIT Health. You will then be able to select the programme of your choice and fill out your application.

Click here to Register and Apply: https://apply.eithealth.eu/s_Login.jsp (there you can find also step-by-step instructions)

Important Note: By registering for the Beyond Pre-Accelerator Programme you will need to participate in the whole journey until the Pitching Day (see the image below).

PARTNERS