Contact us
Contact us

Our office

  • Thessaloniki
    78 Georgiou Papandreou
    54655, Thessaloniki, Greece

Get in touch

hello@ideasforward.com
+30 2310 422633
LinkedIn

For Research & Academia - From research to venture

We work with universities, research centers, technology transfer offices, and public or non-profit innovation bodies that are responsible for enabling entrepreneurship and commercialization.

Our role is to help translate research outputs and early technical results into credible early ventures through structured programs and hands-on support.

Universities, TTOs and research bodies partnered with
8
Programs delivered across regions and institutions
10
Research teams and spin-offs supported and coached
90+

Services - We design and operate venture enablement activities.

From program architecture to hands-on delivery, we work within the constraints of public and academic systems to produce real outcomes.

  • Lab-to-market programs. Research commercialization and lab-to-market programs that help teams move from technical results to early venture formation.
  • Accelerators and bootcamps. Intensive programs designed to compress learning cycles and move teams from idea to validated business model.
  • Training and coaching. Founder, researcher, mentor, and coach training designed for academic and institutional contexts.
  • Selection and evaluation. Structured selection, evaluation, and progress-tracking systems tailored to program needs and institutional reporting.
  • Program architecture. End-to-end program design and delivery inside the constraints of public and academic systems.
  • Open innovation. Corporate-startup matchmaking and challenge-based programs connecting industry partners with research teams.

Our approach - From design to delivery

We don't hand over a slide deck and walk away. Every program we run is designed, built, and delivered by our team, end to end, inside the operational realities of academic and public institutions.

  • Needs assessment. We begin by understanding the institutional context: the research strengths, the existing entrepreneurial infrastructure, the constraints of the funding framework, and the realistic outcomes an institution can aim for. This shapes everything that follows.
  • Program design. We architect the full program structure: selection criteria, curriculum sequencing, coaching models, milestone frameworks, and evaluation systems. Every component is designed to work within the timelines, budgets, and reporting obligations of the partner institution.
  • Hands-on delivery. Our team runs the program on the ground: facilitating workshops, coaching teams one-on-one, coordinating mentors, managing demo days, and handling the operational logistics that institutions rarely have capacity for.
  • Evaluation and continuity. After each cycle, we assess what worked, what didn't, and what the next iteration should look like. We build institutional memory so programs improve over time and don't reset with every new cohort.

What sets Ideas Forward apart is that they actually run the programs themselves. They didn't just advise us on structure and leave. They were in the room coaching teams, managing logistics, and iterating the format between cycles based on what they saw working.

Dr. Elena Papadimitriou
Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Programs that kickstart founders

We have designed and delivered programs with universities, research bodies, and innovation organizations across Greece and beyond.

WALK AUTh Innovation Accelerator

2023–ongoing Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Implementation partner for AUTh's innovation accelerator, delivering multiple startup acceleration cycles and founder bootcamps. A multi-phase structured journey from idea validation to venture readiness, supporting 65+ teams across 4 completed cycles of students, researchers, and faculty.

Confluence Challenge

2023 Architectural Aluminium Academy & I4byDesign

Open innovation program connecting industry partners ALUMIL, ISOMAT, and KLEEMANN with startups and research labs. A two-month acceleration responding to 11 industry challenges, with mentoring, training, and Demo Day. 10 teams awarded, 8 Letters of Intent signed, and over 35,000 EUR in prizes.

Next Stage Lab-to-Market Bootcamp

2024 AUTh, WALK & Alexander Innovation Zone

Three-week in-person program focused on commercializing cutting-edge research and emerging technologies. 8 selected teams received training on business model risk management, competitive analysis, and financial evaluation, with one-on-one coaching and networking with investors and corporate executives.

Next Stage Sustainability Bootcamp

2023 Alexander Innovation Zone

Ten-day intensive bootcamp targeting early-stage teams working on solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with emphasis on energy and agri-food. 8 selected teams presented at Final Pitch Day to a jury of industry experts, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders.

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