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Are you an EHL student ready to make your business idea a reality?

The Startup Pre-Acceleration Program (SUPA) is a hands-on entrepreneurial journey for ambitious EHL students with a business idea. Over one semester, your team works on your own project with support from industry experts and a personal mentor. The program culminates in a final pitch and certification ceremony.

Applications for the next SUPA cohort are open until 31 January 2027.

What you get

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12 practical workshops

on entrepreneurship with industry experts, always with a focus on your own project. The experts sit with your team and work on your idea with you.
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Dedicated mentor

who meets your team every week, for at least 30 minutes, to keep your project on track over the course of the program.
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Certificate of achievement

and 2 extra credits for the successful completion of the program after a final pitch to a professional jury.
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Closing ceremony

to celebrate the journey and your very own startup.

Program structure

SUPA runs from February to June 2027, alongside your studies. Most workshops take place in the evenings, with two Saturday sessions and weekly meetings with your mentor.

Applications close at the end of January 2027. The EHL Innovation Hub team reviews every application and selects up to 10–12 teams for the cohort, focusing on the strength of the idea and the team’s motivation.

SUPA starts on 27 February with a full day with three workshops: defining your problem and solution, building your value proposition,  and understanding the impact of your startup.

Evening workshops on digital tools, risk management,financial modeling, and other business topics, all applied to your own project. On 20 March, you present your market research and business model to experts and get feedback.

Evening workshops on IP and legal basics, building a minimum viable product, and marketing. No sessions take place during the school break or mid-term exams.

You pitch your project to a professional jury. Teams who pass receive a certificate of achievement and 2 extra credits.
The SUPA culminates in a festive closing ceremony to celebrate the end of the program.
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Who can apply?

  • SUPA is open to all EHL Bachelor and Master students.
  • You apply as a team of 2 to 4 people. Solo applications are not accepted, so bring your co-founders with you.
  • Your idea does not need to be linked to hospitality. The goal is to build your entrepreneurial skills, whatever your project.
  • Prior participation in the EHL Innovation Sprint is a plus, but not required.
  • There is no application fee. If your team is selected, the participation cost is CHF 100 per person, which covers the experts and the program content.

  • EHL Innovation Hub 

    Route de Berne 301
    1000 Lausanne 25
    Switzerland

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