Get Ready!
For your startup/spin-off
16
selected participants
9
workshops
50+
investors to pitch to
5
alumni founded a company after the last run
YOU are a researcher with a business idea. WE help you become a founder.
Ready!
New cohort each semester
Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Why Ready?
- Learning by doing
- A community of founders, mentors, investors and technology transfer experts
- Business buddies for non-technical challenges
- A dedicated business mentor for you or your team
I went from 'maybe this could work in the near future' to 'yes, I am the right person to create this startup. I want to do it now.'
Ready! isn't about business lectures. You'll move your project from an idea to a spinoff or startup.
You'll be paired with a dedicated business mentor who will push your team's problem solving and delivery.
You'll also work with business buddies from VŠE and MÚVS, who will help you with the business, finance and people side of your spinoff or startup. Some of them may even become your future cofounders.
Get updates, stories and news from the Ready! community.
Follow Ready! on LinkedIn.The Ready! journey: Idea, Customer, Validation, Product, Market, Team, Pitch, Investor, Company.
What you'll get
- Develop a founder's mindset
- Validate your business model
- Build a strong network
- Meet investors
- Support beyond the program
This was the first program that gave me a completely new perspective: instead of focusing on whether a technology is sexy or cutting-edge, it encouraged us to think about whether anyone would actually buy it and whether it solves a real market need. I believe this is a mindset that should be introduced to all master's students much earlier in their studies.
Who should apply?
- PhD students
- Researchers
- Master's and Bachelor's students
…with a business idea at any stage.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Program at a glance
Participants
16
Dates
Each semester
Schedule
Every other Thursday, 9:00–12:30
Format
9 in-person workshops in Prague
Language
English
Between workshops
Most of the work happens between workshops, on your own project.
Buddies
Business student buddies join your team. 3 out of 5 invited business students in the first Ready! run became cofounders.
Mentoring
Individual mentoring by experienced business professionals
Pitch Night
Every cohort concludes with Pitch Night, with 50+ VC and angel investors
Funding
Fully funded by the Czech Semiconductor Centre and the Ministry of Education
Mentors
Each Ready! participant is supported by a mentor helping them turn their research into a viable venture. Your mentor spends about 2 hours with you and your team between workshops, gives guidance, problem-solves and holds you accountable for the entirety of the Ready! program. They help avoid common pitfalls, make decisions faster, and keep the momentum going. You are also free to reach out regarding specific topics or issues to other Ready! mentors than your own.
One-to-one conversations with mentors were definitely one of the most important and enriching things in this program.
Workshops
01
Commercialization context
What does my path to commercialization look like?
Mentor: Michal Hrabí, Roman Polák
02
Product development
How does my product solve my customer's problem?
Mentor: Jiří Helmich
03
Market validation
Who is my customer, and what problem am I solving?
Mentor: Vendula Richter
04
Go to market strategy & pricing
How do I get my product to customers?
Mentor: Lucie Fuchsová, Martin Ježek
05
Business model & Basic economics
How do I scale production?
Mentor: Vladimír Bayer, Jan Urban
06
Team agreement & Investor math
Who should be on my team, and on what terms?
Mentor: Sintija Meissner, Veronika Štěpánková
07
Business plan & Funding
What are my business ambitions, and how will I finance them over time?
Mentor: Liliana Unachukwu, Martina Vycudilíková
08
Pitch rehersal
Test pitch → feedback → test pitch → feedback → test pitch…
09
Pitch contest
Final pitch rehearsal before Pitch Night
10
Pitch Night
Every cohort concludes with Pitch Night. Pitch to 50+ VC and angel investors.
Apply
Ready! is designed for people who are serious about building a spin-off or startup. The program requires a significant time commitment of approximately 25–30% of your time. If you're selected for Ready!, you are expected to attend all workshops and actively develop your project throughout the program.
Have questions? Get in touch with Barbora at barbora.leblancova@cvut.cz or +420 602 689 517.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis
FAQ
What do I need to do to apply?
Fill in the application form. It consists of eight questions, including a two-minute informal video.
We encourage you to start your application and submit it even if it isn't complete yet. Once you submit it for the first time, you'll receive a confirmation email and a personal link that lets you return to your application, edit it and continue working on it. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
What do you look for in an application?
We look for two things:
- A clear, simple explanation of your idea. Feel free to use examples.
- Your drive and motivation to develop the project.
When I apply, does it mean I'm accepted to Ready!?
No. Ready! is designed for 16 selected participants, each of whom may represent a team or research group.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. An expert panel will review your application, and we'll let you know the outcome.
Can I participate online?
No. Networking, peer learning and informal conversations are an essential part of the Ready! experience.
If you need to miss a workshop because of a conference, illness or another exceptional circumstance, we'll handle it on a case-by-case basis.
How developed does my project need to be?
Can I apply to Ready! with my cofounder(s) or team?
Can I apply if I'm still a bachelor's student?
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Email us at barbora.leblancova@cvut.cz. We'll be happy to answer your question and add it to this FAQ.
