Lab to Market: Bridging Innovation and Entrepreneurship
How can a partnership between Columbia University, the National Technical University of Athens, and Greece’s innovation ecosystem help turn new ideas into new businesses?
Lab to Market: Bridging Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a new initiative between Columbia University and the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) aimed at empowering a new generation of scientist-entrepreneurs in Greece. The initiative is run by the Columbia Global Center in Athens, led by Columbia University’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), with the support of Columbia Business School, Endeavor Greece, and the Hellenic Institute of Advanced Studies (HIAS). This initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation.
Overview
The Lab to Market Initiative seeks to bridge the gap between basic research and entrepreneurship by creating a structured initiative that equips students and researchers with the business skills, mentorship, and industry connections needed to turn their groundbreaking ideas into viable, scalable ventures.
The Initiative will run for five years and with the generous support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation it is free of cost for all participants.
This initiative is designed for students and researchers who want to:
- Gain hands-on training on how to build a successful start-up.
- Learn how to build scalable ventures with real-world impact.
- Gain mentorship from international leaders in technology, business, and innovation.
- Join a vibrant community of peers and mentors bridging Athens and New York.
Led by Columbia Engineering, the initiative draws on Columbia’s expertise in technology transfer, innovation and entrepreneurship education.
Eligibility and Applications
The initiative is open to students, researchers, and post-docs in engineering, natural sciences, or life sciences schools and departments of any Greek university, as well as graduates of these schools and departments within the last 12 months. Preference will be given to PhD students, master's students, advanced undergraduate students, and early-career researchers (post-docs).
Every team must include at least one member with an engineering background who has been part of the team from the start, has played a significant role in developing the idea.
The initiative's thematic focus for the second cohort will be Artificial Intelligence, Health Sciences, and Energy & Sustainability. Exceptional applications in other thematic areas will also be considered.
The second cohort will include up to 90 participants, who will be selected by a joint committee led by Columbia and NTUA faculty.
Applications for the second cohort will open on November 10, 2026. To learn more about the initiative and how to apply, join our information session at NTUA on October 15, 2026. Register here.
Upcoming Key Dates
Information Session/Kick-off event: Oct. 15, at NTUA
Application Deadline: Dec. 1
Initiative Launch: Jan. 11-13
Program Details
As a Lab to Market fellow, you will:
- Start strong at an intensive Startup Bootcamp in Athens (January, 2027), with hands-on workshops, mentoring, and team-based learning.
- Learn how to build a startup through weekly virtual training from January to December 2027, covering business foundations, entrepreneurship, and scaling.
- Take part in a Business Bootcamp powered by Columbia Business School.
- Get guidance from mentors, including business leaders from Greece and academics from Columbia and beyond.
- Grow your network through company visits, talks, networking events, and major events such as the Delphi Economic Forum.
- Have the chance to travel to New York during NY Tech Week (June 2027), fully paid, to connect with Columbia, local entrepreneurs, and the global innovation ecosystem (for outstanding participants).
- Compete for €50,000 in prizes at the pitch competition in December 2027, to help launch your startup.
- Receive a Certificate of Attendance at the end of the program.
The training program runs over two semesters in two phases, combining in-person bootcamps and workshops with weekly virtual sessions.
Phase 1: Business Foundations (Spring 2027)
- Kicks off with the Startup Bootcamp in Athens.
- 40 hours of instruction over 12 weeks, combining the in-person bootcamp with weekly virtual sessions.
- Mentoring sessions with Columbia faculty and industry mentors from Endeavor Greece, and HIAS.
- Ends with the trip to New York during NY Tech Week (June 2027) for outstanding participants.
Phase 2: From Lab to Market (Fall 2027)
- Five modules, from customer validation and MVP development to go-to-market strategy and investor readiness.
- A Business Bootcamp powered by Columbia Business School (in person).
- Mentoring sessions with Columbia faculty and industry mentors.
- Customer discovery interviews with experts, potential customers, and partners.
- Ends with the pitch competition in December 2027.
- One-on-one mentoring with Columbia faculty, local entrepreneurs, and venture investors, with the support of Endeavor Greece and HIAS.
- Ongoing guidance on research commercialization and startup growth.
- Networking events organized by Endeavor Greece.
- Visits to startups, venture capital firms, and innovation hubs in Athens.
- Participation in the Delphi Economic Forum and other leading entrepreneurship events and festivals.
- Pitch competition for teams to present their ideas to investors and experts and connect with venture capital and angel investors, after completion of the Business Foundation training.
- Winning teams receive monetary awards to assist them in growing up their business.
- Official Pitch Competition Guidelines can be found here.
Selected participants will travel to Columbia University in New York during NY Tech Week (June 2027) to experience the global startup ecosystem firsthand, with travel costs covered by Columbia University.
The initiative is overseen by the Columbia Global Center in Athens, with Columbia Engineering and NTUA acting as the lead academic partners. The initiative is run in collaboration with Columbia Business School, Endeavor Greece, the Hellenic Institute for Advanced Studies, Columbia’s Business School and is generously funded by the Blavantik Family Foundation.
Columbia University, through its Engineering School and the Columbia Business School, has a long-standing commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and driving innovation. With programs like Columbia Technology Ventures, the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise, and extensive resources for tech transfer, Columbia has been at the forefront of bridging academic research with entrepreneurial ventures. Its proven track record in entrepreneurship and tech transfer, alongside its strategic partnerships globally, has consistently supported the creation of impactful ventures across various industries.
In Greece, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) stands out as one of the top engineering schools in Europe, producing cutting-edge research in AI, energy, and deep tech, while at the same time providing Columbia Engineering 15 faculty members with NTUA degrees. NTUA is looking to assist its young engineers and scientists acquire new opportunities to go beyond scientific research and take on new roles as entrepreneurs.
Endeavor Greece, a leading global network supporting high-impact entrepreneurs – co-founded by a Columbian, and currently led by Columbia community members – and the Hellenic Institute of Advanced Studies (HIAS), a network of Greek leading scientists globally, will provide additional mentorship and access to a wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, further enhancing the success of the initiative.
Together, these organizations bring an unrivaled network of faculty, researchers, and entrepreneurs to support Greece’s next generation of innovators.
FAQs
Lab to Market is open to teams of 2–4 members. Members can be students, researchers, or post-docs in engineering, natural sciences, or life sciences at any Greek university, or graduates of these fields within the last 12 months. Preference is given to PhD students, master's students, advanced undergraduates, and post-docs.
Every team must include at least one member with an engineering background, who has been part of the team from the start and submits the application on behalf of the team. Faculty members may participate as advisors, but are not counted as official team members.
Yes. Lab to Market is a team-based program, and we accept applications from teams of 2–4 members. Individual applications are not accepted.
If you don't have a team yet, the info session on October 15, 2026 is a great opportunity to meet potential co-founders before applications open and join a team.
Research indicates that teams of three to four members tend to distribute work most effectively and equitably. That said, existing teams with more members (e.g., five) are also welcome to apply.
No problem — teams may submit a temporary name for the purposes of the application. You can update or change your startup name at any point during the Initiative.
No. Applicants may apply with an early-stage concept, provided it has strong potential for technological innovation. The initiative is designed to help participants validate, refine, and develop their ideas through mentorship and hands-on training.
Applicants may serve as the lead for only one idea, as leading a team is time-intensive. However, applicants may participate in an advisory capacity on another team with a different idea.
The program is not designed to refine technology itself. Instead, it focuses on identifying real users and market needs. Participants are encouraged to work on an area they are genuinely excited about. The key starting point is asking, “What do people actually need?” The initiative emphasizes engagement with society to understand needs, constraints, and capacity before building a solution.
No, applicants are not required to fit their ideas strictly into a specific thematic category. However, the thematic areas selected for the first cohort are Artificial Intelligence, Energy and Sustainability, and Health. If your idea is innovative, we are very much looking forward to receiving strong proposals from any technological field, including those outside the core areas.
All teams must meet the eligibility requirements, including having at least one member with an engineering background. Eligible teams are then evaluated on:
- Quality and originality of the proposed idea
- Team composition and complementary skills
- Motivation to pursue entrepreneurship and commitment to active engagement in the program
Each cohort is expected to accept 25 teams (approximately 90 participants total), depending on application quality.
The initiative runs from January to December 2027 and is structured in two phases.
Before the program
- Info Session: October 15, 2026
- Applications open: November 10, 2026
- Application deadline: December 1, 2026
Phase 1: Business Foundations (January – June 2027)
- Startup Bootcamp in Athens: January 11–13, 2027
- Weekly virtual sessions and mentoring: January – June 2027
- Fully funded NYC trip for outstanding participants during NY Tech Week: June 2027
Phase 2: From Lab to Market (September – December 2027)
- Five training modules, mentoring, and customer discovery: September - December 2027
- Business Bootcamp powered by Columbia Business School
- Pitch competition with a €50,000 prize pool: December 2027
The fully funded New York experience takes place during NY Tech Week (June 2027) and covers travel, accommodation, and meals, along with a curated set of activities, including:
- A visit to the Columbia University campus
- Participation in NY Tech Week events
- Visits to innovation hubs and accelerators
- Meetings with investors, entrepreneurs, and Columbia University experts
- Workshops and deep-dive sessions on scaling and commercialization
- Opportunities to present your projects to the global innovation ecosystem
Mentors play a central role in guiding the teams throughout every stage of the initiative. They offer expertise in technology development, business strategy, and the innovation landscape.
Teams are responsible for taking initiative and reaching out directly to their assigned mentors, scheduling meetings, and actively engaging with their guidance. Mentors provide support, feedback, and network connections — but teams must drive the relationship and take ownership of their progress.
No. Lab to Market is open to current students, researchers, and post-docs, as well as recent graduates who completed their studies within the last 12 months. All participants must come from an engineering, natural sciences, or life sciences school or department of a Greek university. Graduates from more than 12 months ago are not eligible.
The program combines online and in-person activities.
In person:
- Startup Bootcamp in Athens (January, 2027)
- Business Bootcamp powered by Columbia Business School
- Selected workshops
- Networking events, company visits, and events such as the Delphi Economic Forum
- Mentorship meetings
Online:
- Phase 1 Weekly training sessions by Columbia University
- Phase 2 training modules
- Mentorship meetings
Yes. Participants should expect regular assignments between weekly meetings, primarily focused on customer discovery and market research. This includes conducting around 7-8 interviews per week and reworking your idea and assumptions further. The workload is substantial and requires consistent weekly engagement in addition to the scheduled meetings.
No. Applicants should not treat the application or program discussions as confidential. Intellectual property or proprietary information should not be shared. The program encourages open conversations with potential users to understand their needs, without revealing sensitive or protected information.