The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons Politecnico di Milano Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at Politecnico di Milano, you may be familiar with the local incubators and entrepreneurial programmes offered on campus. While these initiatives provide valuable support, expanding your horizons could significantly increase your odds of long-term success. In fact, one study found that 87% of startups that went through top-tier programmes were still active after five years, compared to just 44% of those that went it alone. That’s the kind of difference the right programme can make.

But how do you know if an incubator programme is right for you? With so many rigid, one-size-fits-all options out there, finding the right fit can be tough. That’s where EWOR comes in: a uniquely flexible platform combining global mentorship, funding opportunities, and a prestigious network – designed specifically to help ambitious founders thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore five key reasons why Politecnico di Milano students should look beyond their local incubators and consider EWOR to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

1. Access to Global Mentorship

Many university incubators and local programmes offer mentorship from faculty, alumni, or nearby founders. While helpful, these perspectives are often limited to regional markets and conventional startup paths.

EWOR operates borderless, on a global scale. Fellows are paired with mentors who have founded and scaled companies across continents and industries – including unicorns like SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove. Rather than sporadic office hours, mentorship is built into the fabric of the programme – modular, consistent, and personal.

Politecnico di Milano's primary incubator, PoliHub, offers significant mentorship opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs. PoliHub provides access to a network of over 100 certified mentors who assist startups in building and validating their business models. These local mentors offer valuable support by sharing their experience and expertise across various sectors. They help guide startups in defining their business models and market viability, and provide advisory services to support strategic development and achieve objectives. This local network is crucial for navigating the Italian startup ecosystem and connecting with potential investors and partners.

With EWOR, you’ll have the chance to work with mentors who have scaled their businesses across different countries and industries, providing invaluable insights that can help your startup succeed in the global marketplace.

2. Larger Funding Opportunities

While local incubators may provide grants or limited seed funding, securing substantial capital is often a challenge for early-stage entrepreneurs. EWOR offers up to €500,000 in initial funding for selected startups, which can significantly boost your ability to develop your business. Moreover, EWOR provides access to a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angel investors, ensuring that you have the opportunity to secure further rounds of funding as your startup grows.

Politecnico di Milano's local incubator, PoliHub, is a key part of the university's innovation ecosystem, supporting student and researcher startups. PoliHub offers various funding opportunities, including seed funding and access to a network of investors. A significant program is Switch2Product (S2P), an innovation program providing access to funds, entrepreneurial training, and incubation for student and researcher projects. S2P offers grants, including S2P Grants from the university's Technology Transfer Office and Special Grants from partner organizations, which can be up to €30,000. These funds are intended to help startups develop and validate their technologies and bring their innovative ideas to market.

By choosing EWOR, Politecnico di Milano students can tap into larger funding sources, giving them the financial support needed to scale their businesses more effectively.

3. A Highly Selective and Prestigious Network

One of the main advantages of EWOR is the highly selective nature of its community. EWOR accepts only the top 0.1% of applicants, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

This exclusivity doesn’t just elevate the quality of each cohort — it also unlocks access to an extraordinary network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Just to name a few: Fabrice Grinda, one of the world’s leading angel investors and founder of OLX; Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine after Google; and Vaitea Cowan, co-founder of Enapter, (€640M IPO) and a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Energy. 

Politecnico di Milano's primary incubator, PoliHub, fosters a strong community to help students connect and collaborate. It serves as an innovation district and startup accelerator, bringing together startups, companies, experts, institutions, and investors. PoliHub facilitates connections through regular networking events and community engagement activities, providing opportunities for startups to showcase their work and meet potential partners. The incubator also offers access to a vast network of mentors and organises workshops to encourage knowledge sharing. Additionally, initiatives like the Entrepreneurship Club Polimi and the Startup Challenge further connect students with like-minded individuals, mentors, and industry professionals, fostering valuable collaborations.

While local incubators at Politecnico di Milano may provide valuable networking within the campus or regional ecosystem, EWOR’s global network opens doors to entirely new levels of collaboration. Fellows work alongside peers from dozens of countries and industries, connecting with elite investors, unicorn founders, and seasoned operators.

As many fellows have said, the community is one of the most unexpected – and most valuable – parts of the experience. “The real magic lies in the community: the kind of conversations, insights, and connections that lead not only to breakthroughs – but to lasting friendships with some of the most fascinating people they’ve ever met”.

4. Flexibility and Remote Access

Many local incubators require in-person participation, which can be limiting for students balancing coursework, part-time jobs, or other commitments. 

Politecnico di Milano's primary incubator, PoliHub, is a physical space located on the Bovisa campus, offering co-working areas, meeting rooms, and specialized labs. It provides startups with access to the university's research facilities, labs, and academic resources. PoliHub also has a branch in Lecco. While the core incubator provides a physical environment, Politecnico di Milano utilizes hybrid and remote learning concepts in various programs, which can increase flexibility for student participation. This hybrid approach, combining in-person and remote activities, allows for wider engagement, including international collaboration. The availability of online components can make programs more accessible to students who may face constraints with solely in-person participation.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. Politecnico di Milano students can access top-tier mentorship, founder-led education, and global resources without needing to relocate or follow a rigid schedule. Whether you’re validating an idea or scaling your first product, you’ll have the freedom to build around your life, not the other way around.

And if you're worried about missing out on in-person connection – don’t be. EWOR hosts real-world gatherings like the EWOR Connect and EWOR House, a multi-day retreat where fellows, alumni, and investors connect in person. We also organise city-based meetups and our flagship Grand Pitch event, which brings hundreds of top-tier investors together twice a year. So while the programme is remote-first, it’s far from remote-only.

5. Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Education

Local incubators often provide valuable workshops and learning modules, but they may be limited in scope and depth. EWOR offers over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and educational modules designed by top entrepreneurs and industry experts. This comprehensive entrepreneurial education covers everything from refining your business idea to scaling and securing funding, ensuring that you develop both as an entrepreneur and a leader.

Politecnico di Milano's primary incubator, PoliHub, offers extensive educational support to foster entrepreneurial skills. This includes workshops and educational modules on cutting-edge topics like innovation, startup growth strategies, and emerging technologies. They also provide "Consulting Days" with professionals covering legal, financial, marketing, and IP aspects. Furthermore, programs like TechFormers offer hands-on experience through workshops focused on team building, concept generation, market analysis, and pitching. Students can also access mentorship from a network of certified PoliHub mentors. The university also incorporates an "experience-oriented approach" in its curriculum, allowing students to develop business models in real-world settings, complemented by lectures from academics and practitioners.

With EWOR, you’ll gain access to a more extensive and detailed entrepreneurial education, giving you the tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in today’s competitive startup landscape.

That’s a Wrap

While Politecnico di Milano's local incubators offer great resources for students starting their entrepreneurial journey, EWOR provides an unmatched opportunity for those looking to take their startup to the next level. With access to global mentorship, larger funding opportunities, a highly selective network, flexible remote programmes, and comprehensive entrepreneurial education, EWOR offers Politecnico di Milano students the chance to build and scale their startups on a global stage. If you’re ready to look beyond local incubators and accelerate your entrepreneurial success, EWOR could be the ideal platform for you.

Image credits: Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash