EIA Rome 2026 | Opening Day

​70 founders. 20 startups. 3 weeks to $10K revenue.

​On Wednesday, July 15, European Innovation Academy opens its doors at UCBM in Rome — the morning 20 startups take the first step from pre-revenue toward a real company, live in the room.

​This is the opening morning of EIA Rome's 3-week program, and a chance for the wider community to watch it start.

​You'll walk away with:

• ​A front-row seat to how 20 startups begin their sprint to revenue

• ​Real founder-stage tactics from a Wharton lecturer who has advised Deliveroo, Chef Robotics and dozens of others

• ​A first look at who's building in Rome this summer — and how to get involved next

​Come if you're:

• ​Curious about startups and want to see one actually begin

• ​A student or aspiring founder weighing whether to apply next round

• ​A mentor, investor, or partner scouting who's building in Rome

• ​Part of the local ecosystem or press covering it

​On the opening stage:

• ​Diogo Forte (CEO, European Innovation Academy) — Welcome to EIA!

• ​Prof.ssa Simonetta Filippi (UCBM Pro-Rector for Internationalisation) — greeting from our host university

• ​Patrick Fitzgerald (President & CEO, TFC Ventures Group · Wharton Entrepreneurship Lecturer · advisor to Deliveroo, Chef Robotics & others) — Founder-Problem Fit: Eight Questions Entrepreneurs Should Ask Themselves

• ​Florent D'Souza (Digital Communications, Roche) — The Team Charter: Aligning Teams for Success

​How the morning runs:
9:30 — Welcome to EIA! + greeting from UCBM
10:20 — Founder-Problem Fit — Patrick Fitzgerald
11:00 — The Team Charter — Florent D'Souza
11:40 — Closing remarks

​🗓️ Wednesday, July 15 · 9:00–11:50 AM CEST
📍 UCBM, Rome
🎟️ Free

​Registration is subject to host approval — capacity is limited to the room. Request your spot below.