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uBlueTec

OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPATION uBlueTec Entrepreneurial Acceleration Bootcamp 2025

Give it a try and Validate your Entrepreneurial Skills in the Blue Economy

The uBlueTec project (Grant Agreement No. 101124893), co-funded by the European Union under the EMFAF–Blue Careers initiative, is launching its Entrepreneurial Bootcamp, a practical acceleration programme with entrepreneurial training and a final hybrid Bootcamp event designed to immerse selected participants in real-world startup development and marine technology challenges.

Objective

The goal of uBlueTec Entrepreneurial Acceleration Bootcamp is to accelerate the transformation of ideas related to Blue Economy into business. It is open to teams, startups, students, researchers, freelancers, professionals and to individuals wishing to develop a business idea related to Blue Economy. 

In particular, we are looking for: 

–> Teams, Students and Researchers: Groups or individuals collaborating on a business idea or a project idea, regardless of their professional background or group structure. 

–> Startups and Professionals: Early-stage companies or entrepreneurial ventures focused on developing an innovative product, service, or business model, typically with scalability potential.

The uBlueTec Entrepreneurial Acceleration Bootcamp 2025 is an Entrepreneurial Mentoring Programme with online and hybrid sessions. The programme will help participants transform their ideas into comprehensive business models and business plans while cultivating and increasing their entrepreneurial attitudes, skills and capacities. The program will be conducted entirely in English.

Applications open in September, followed by the evaluation and enrollment phase of the selected teams in October. The online sessions of the Entrepreneurial Acceleration will start in November, leading to the 2-day Hybrid Bootcamp Session which will take place in December 2025. Participation in all sessions is expected.

Application Details

 

Programme Structure 

  • Open Call for Applications: Applicants are requested to fill in an online application form, answering key questions about their background, their business/project idea and upload relevant files to further support their application and enhance their chances of being selected.
  • Online Clarifications: During the application period, potential applicants are free to initiate e-mail exchanges with the uBlueTec team for clarifications: ubluetec@beia.eu. All emails will be answered by the project team providing answers to questions and clarifications regarding the uBlueTec Entrepreneurial Bootcamp structure, key opportunities, more details and the next steps for candidate teams. In case multiple questions arise, an online Q&A session will be organised in due time, prior to the deadline, to facilitate all applicants.
  • Evaluation of Applications: The applications will be evaluated and feedback will be provided to the applicants. Additional clarifications or short 15’ meetings may be requested.
  • Selection results: All applicants will be informed whether they are selected to participate in the Acceleration phase and the entrepreneurial Bootcamp. Applicants will be requested to reconfirm their commitment and their availability to participate prior to the programme start.  
  • Phase 1 of Entrepreneurial Acceleration: 5 consecutive days addressed to all teams, with common online training sessions for entrepreneurial upskilling, focused on business development, entrepreneurial and pitching skills. The participants will have the opportunity to develop essential entrepreneurial skills on market validation, competition, business models, financial analysis, market launch, pitching, valuation, crowdfunding, and strategic partnerships. 

This phase requires approximately a commitment of approx. 3 hours per day, for 5 consecutive days, in November 2025. The exact schedule will be shaped and shared with the participants prior to the program start.

  • Phase 2 of Entrepreneurial Acceleration: 1-1 mentoring meetings with each team. Dedicated 2h online meetings with each team and provision of individualised feedback and support towards the Bootcamp. This phase is expected to take place between the end of November – beginning of December, prior to the Bootcamp.
  • Final Preparation for pitching & Bootcamp: Applicants will prepare and send us the final Pitches for the Bootcamp Session.
  • 2-day Bootcamp: The programme will close with a hybrid 2-day Bootcamp event which will take place in the week between 8th – 14th of December 2025, in Romania (for physical presence) and online (remote participation). During the first day, a round of initial informal pitching and feedback from Mentors and external experts is planned. On the second day (Final Pitch & Evaluation) each team will present their Final Business Idea presentation in front of a jury panel (evaluators) and invited audience.


Certification

All teams that successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion. The top performing teams will be awarded non-monetary prizes, including: 

  • Best Pitching Award – For the most compelling and well-structured presentation. 
  • Greatest Social & Environmental Impact Award – For the idea with the most significant contribution to society and sustainability. 
  • Highest Investment Readiness Award – For the venture with the strongest potential for attracting investment. 

 

Rules of Participation

    1. Eligibility:
      • Age 18+
      • Resident in an EU Member State or associated country
      • Ability to present in English
      • Committed to participate in all phases of the Acceleration Programme and Bootcamp.
    2. Costs:
      • Participation is free.
      • Travel costs are not being covered by the Programme
    3. Data & Visibility:
      By participating, applicants agree that anonymized evaluation data and group work may be used in project research and dissemination materials.