Andrea Giorgi
Simone Serani
Powered by Unfold Tomorrow
Build your team.
Launch your startup.
Dock is the startup founder academy guiding founders through uncharted waters with direction, resources and a crew of experts, from idea to impact.
- Founders supported
- 1.000+
- Startups launched
- 60+
- Awards distributed
- €300K+
- Raised by startups in our program
- €8M+
4 Months
to launch your own startup
For each edition, we review more than 300 applications to identify the strongest talent who are the best fit for this journey. From these, we select 100 aspiring startup founders and equip them with the essential skills they need to begin their entrepreneurial path. You do not need to have a fully developed startup idea to apply.
Find your startup co-founders
We intentionally bring together diverse, high‑potential individuals so they can get to know each other, experiment with different collaborations, and choose the right co‑founders. We believe the most successful startups are built by complementary teams rather than solo founders, which is why team formation is at the heart of our approach.
Some of the founders who found their co-founders through the program.
Saverio Borrelli
Francesco Vingiano
Massimiliano Vitale
Alessia Lucentini
Alessia Poggi
Kaloian Gueorguiev
Renzo Carpio
Brando Rettino
Marco Tramutola
Samuele Gottofredi
Simone Cingolani
Serena Mignucci
Federico Roviglioni
Giuseppe Spinelli
Alessandro Contaldo
Pierfrancesco Mazzolini
Federico Ortenzi
and many more
Key dates
February 2027
Applications deadline
The application period closes and our team begins the process of candidates selection.
March 2027
Start of the program
The selected candidates begin the entrepreneurial program.
July 2027
Demo Day
The best teams will pitch at the Demo Day in front of the investors and jury.
Completely free for all selected participants.
No registration fees, tuition costs, or hidden charges.
We are a growth ecosystem where aspiring entrepreneurs, experienced mentors, and valuable resources converge in a journey of cultural cross-pollination.
The journey unfolds primarily online, featuring practical expert-led masterclasses and actionable video content that you can revisit anytime.
Throughout the program, we bring you face-to-face with Rome's startup community through in-person meetups at the city's most dynamic innovation hubs: SIEH, CTE, Zest, Talent Garden and PiCampus — innovation spaces at the heart of Rome's startup hub, connected to the international startup scene.
01 / 08
How the program works
How the growth phases run across the four months of the program — from team setup to Demo Day.
01
Month 1
Build your Team and Validate the Problem
- Team skills, roles, goals and timeline
- Target customers, problem research and user journeys
- Market analysis, benchmarks and competitors
02
Month 2
Build, Measure and Learn
- Solution hypotheses and business modelling
- Prototyping, user testing and implementation
- Measure feedback, iterate and validate product fit
03
Month 3
Validate Growth and Impact
- Marketing, branding and growth experiments
- KPIs, metrics and impact indicators
- Financial modelling and growth viability
04
Month 4
Prepare for Investment
- Evidence, traction and investment readiness
- Fundraising strategy and pitch refinement
- Investor networking and scalability
Demo Day →
Eni Gazometro · Rome
Demo Day
The journey culminates at Eni Gazometro, one of Rome's most iconic innovation landmarks, where you'll pitch to investors, industry leaders and fellow founders at Demo Day.
Watch the highlights from the last edition of the program — and join a community of passionate startup founders.
Demo Day 2026 was supported by
Who should apply
Built for talent, not only ideas
- 01
Aspiring entrepreneurs
With a background idea, looking for the right team and guidance to bring it to life.
- 02
Students, graduates, and PhD candidates
Eager to apply their knowledge in a dynamic, real-world startup environment.
- 03
Skilled professionals
Seeking to transition into the startup world and find exciting projects to contribute to.
Past editions were made possible thanks to:
Main Partner
Joule - Eni School of Entrepreneurship
Main Partner
TP Italy
Academic Partner
Sapienza Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub
Academic Partner
Roma Tre University
As seen on
Voices from our founders
“What awaits you at Dock is a journey, where nothing is left to chance and where they firmly believe that people's enthusiasm is the right driving force to make the world we live in a better place.”
Eva“It was an amazing journey. You get the opportunity here to find your team and build your startup if you put your mind into it. They have a very supportive crew which makes the experience even better.🥳”
Hiva“A valid program scheduled according to current best practices on the market and, above all, a unique opportunity to create valuable connections that will last over time.”
Alessia“Competent mentors, a pleasant environment, and lots of practice. It helped us clarify our business model, improve our pitch, and compare ourselves with other teams. An intense but truly useful experience.”
Federico“Before participating in Dock, we knew nothing about the startup world. Now I am satisfied with the information we received, but above all with the networking we did! I would recommend it to all aspiring entrepreneurs!”
RobertaRecognitions
Recognised for 3 consecutive years among the top 50 of Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs, and top 3 in Italy, by the Financial Times and Statista. → See the FT ranking
Ecosystem access
Plug into the Unfold Tomorrow ecosystem
Every startup in our programs gets access to our ecosystem of mentors, advisors, community partners, corporates and early-stage investors, so the relationships built during the program keep working for you after Demo Day.
Incentives for our startups
Over €10,000 in curated perks and partner deals
Each startup in our programs gains access to over €10,000 in curated perks, credits, and exclusive partner deals designed to accelerate growth.
Ready to launch your startup?
Take the first step toward your entrepreneurial vision.
Any doubts, or want to see if this journey is right for you? Reach out at info@dockstartuplab.com.
FAQ
Who can apply to Dock Startup Lab?
The program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, students, graduates, PhD candidates and skilled professionals who want to build a startup. You should be ready to learn, collaborate and commit at least 10 hours per week. Selection focuses on talent and fit for the journey, not only on the maturity of an idea.
Do I need a fully developed startup idea or a co-founder?
No. You do not need to have a fully developed startup idea to apply, and you can apply on your own or with a co-founder. During the program, participants meet peers, explore collaborations and form teams around meaningful problems.
What does the application involve?
Click “Apply now” and complete three steps: About you, Your edge and initiative, and Resilience and availability. Share your background, LinkedIn profile, experience and how you will make time for the program. If you apply with a co-founder, include their name and email. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an assessment or interview; submitting an application does not guarantee a place.
What are the phases of the program?
The four-month journey follows the Lean Startup approach:
- Month 1. Build your Team and Validate the Problem
- Team skills, roles, goals and timeline
- Target customers, problem research and user journeys
- Market analysis, benchmarks and competitors
- Month 2. Build, Measure and Learn
- Solution hypotheses and business modelling
- Prototyping, user testing and implementation
- Measure feedback, iterate and validate product fit
- Month 3. Validate Growth and Impact
- Marketing, branding and growth experiments
- KPIs, metrics and impact indicators
- Financial modelling and growth viability
- Month 4. Prepare for Investment
- Evidence, traction and investment readiness
- Fundraising strategy and pitch refinement
- Investor networking and scalability
How much time should I commit each week?
At least 10 hours per week. Plan regular time for learning sessions, customer research, team collaboration and practical work on your venture. In the application, you can indicate whether you will use weekday time blocks, evenings, weekends, a combination of these, or reduce other commitments.
No full-time commitment required. Live sessions are scheduled with global time zones in mind, and recordings are available when needed. Sessions are in English.
Is the program online, and is there a participation fee?
The program runs primarily online, with practical masterclasses and video content you can revisit. It also includes in-person meetups with Rome’s startup community and concludes with Demo Day. Participation is completely free for selected participants, with no registration fees or tuition costs.
What is the prize?
Every edition, with the support of our partners, we make €40,000 available to the best startups.