The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons Università di Bologna Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at Università di Bologna, 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 Università di Bologna 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.

Università di Bologna's incubators, like Almacube, offer valuable mentorship opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs. These programs connect startups with experienced local mentors who provide one-on-one coaching and specialized consulting. Mentors share their business experience in areas like management, marketing, and strategy, helping entrepreneurs define their business development path and improve their skills. This local expertise is crucial for navigating the regional ecosystem and turning research into viable business projects. The mentors act as a reference model, supporting entrepreneurs in making professional choices and overcoming challenges.

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.

Università di Bologna supports student entrepreneurship through its innovation hub, AlmaCube, in collaboration with Confindustria Emilia Area Centro. AlmaCube acts as an incubator and accelerator, providing services like co-working spaces, mentoring, and networking opportunities with potential investors and partners. While specific "seed funding" or "grant programmes" exclusively for student startups are not explicitly detailed, the university's initiatives like the "Call for Startup" aim to select and support promising ideas and established startups, guiding them towards business creation and growth through training programs like PDAI. The university also leverages a network of external partners, including investment funds and foundations, to help startups secure the necessary capital for growth.

By choosing EWOR, Università di Bologna 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. 

Università di Bologna's local incubators, such as Almacube, cultivate a network and community designed to foster student entrepreneurship and collaboration. Almacube, as the university's innovation hub and business incubator, actively promotes economic development through the creation of new businesses and cooperation with existing companies. They offer incubation and acceleration programs that support students and young entrepreneurs in developing business ideas and building connections. The incubator community helps students connect with experts, industry professionals, mentors, and investors through various initiatives. Events like the StartUp Ecosystem Day facilitate interaction between startups, students, and the broader community, encouraging discussion and project development. The university also leverages a strong network of partners, including other institutions, organizations, and key stakeholders, to support startup growth and provide students with access to a wider ecosystem. This includes developing an alumni network to facilitate collaboration and knowledge transfer.

While local incubators at Università di Bologna 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. 

Università di Bologna's local incubators, such as Almacube, are designed to support the development of innovative startups and spin-offs, often originating from academic research. They provide resources like physical workspace, mentorship, networking opportunities, and support services. These programs typically operate in a hybrid format, combining in-person activities in Bologna with online components. This structure allows for the benefits of face-to-face interaction, such as workshops and networking events, while also offering flexibility through online sessions, mentorships, and consultations. The hybrid approach can positively impact student participation by making programs more accessible to those with other commitments or who are not always able to be physically present in Bologna.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. Università di Bologna 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.

Università di Bologna's local incubators, like Almacube, offer educational support to foster entrepreneurial skills. They provide training programs such as the Entrepreneurial Startup Programme (PDAI), which includes lectures and one-on-one mentoring to help develop business ideas. These programs cover key business development skills and help build professional networks. The university also offers pre-incubation services, including support in business plan development and team building. Additionally, they have a Makerspace for prototyping and offer various workshops and courses focused on entrepreneurship, business planning, and innovation.

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 Università di Bologna'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 Università di Bologna 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