Start-up Summer School 2026

Changing the world with innovative ideas and an entrepreneurial mindset — that’s what the Start-up Summer School stands for. It will take place from August 31 to September 4, 2026.

The Start-up Summer School is a place where creative ideas, technological innovation, and well-thought-out business models come to life.

Students work together in interdisciplinary teams, develop solutions, and test them in practice. Along the way, they learn what it takes to start a business and how a company operates. Within seven days, they go from a start-up idea to an investor pitch.

Apply for the Start-up Summer School 2026

For the first time, the Start-up Summer School is being held in cooperation with the University of Bern.

Event Details

The Start-up Summer School takes place at the Department of Business location in Bern.

Kick-off: to be announced | June 2026
Summer School: August 31 – September 4, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Content and Objectives

The Start-up Summer School is all about hands-on experience! Participants:

gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of digitalization
explore the megatrends shaping the future
develop ideas and test them with potential customers
analyze market needs and potential, while also examining competitors and existing solutions
work intensively on practical prototypes
pitch their business case to real investors and receive valuable feedback
…and may even lay the foundation for their own start-up

Along the way, they:

collaborate in interdisciplinary and cross-professional teams. During ideation, prototyping, and business model development, each participant’s skills and expertise are leveraged—highlighting the collaboration essential for entrepreneurial success
are supported and guided by experienced entrepreneur coaches and industry experts
gain hands-on experience working with partners and experts from the business world

Certificate of Achievement

The Start-up Summer School is an elective course that can be selected through BFH diagonal.

Module code: BID0833
Module credits: 3 ECTS

Assessment:

Pass/Fail

Participating Study Programs

Participation is open to all students of BFH and the University of Bern. The Summer School is organized by the BFH Departments of Business and Engineering & Information Technology, together with the UniBE Innovation Office.