Relativity Collective: Building Europe’s next generation of founders
KTH students Max Decman and Victor Fredrikson were two of 27 students selected for the first cohort of Relativity Collective, a program designed to connect entrepreneurial students from universities across Europe. Last week, they spent three days in the Austrian Alps.
“Europe has the talent to build globally leading companies. What is often missing are the networks, a shared level of ambition and the urgency to act early. Relativity Collective is designed to address exactly that”, says Lisa Bäckman, who joined the program representing KTH Innovation.
By connecting ambitious students at an early stage, the program aims to strengthen Europe’s ability to create and scale globally competitive companies. KTH Innovation is one of six founding hubs, together with ETH Zürich, CDTM, Oxford University, Aalto University and TUM.
Raising ambition
The program focuses less on content and more on mindset and connection.
“A main thread throughout the program was raising ambition”, says Victor Fredrikson. “That’s something we don’t always emphasize as much in Europe, so it’s been a real mindset shift for me”.
Creating strong networks
The ambition is to expand what participants believe is possible, increase their pace, and strengthen their sense of agency. Just as importantly, it is about building a trusted network of peers across Europe who are equally committed to creating new ventures.
“It was an incredible experience to be surrounded by like-minded people who all share the passion to start something in Europe”, says Max Decman. “Meeting so many ambitious, inspiring people has really opened my eyes to what’s possible”.
Long-term impact in focus
Over the course of three days, the group worked intensively on defining their ambitions. Not in incremental terms, but in terms of long-term impact. What kind of companies do they want to build? What problems are worth dedicating a decade to? What does success actually look like?
“These conversations were not theoretical. They were grounded in a shared expectation that many in the room will start companies within the next few years”, says Lisa Bäckman.
A shared builder culture
Participants formed relationships across countries, disciplines and backgrounds, creating a shared European builder culture. A group that not only has the technical ability to build, but also knows each other, trust each other, and can move quickly together.
This highlights the long-term potential of the Relativity Collective.
“When these students begin building companies, they will not start from scratch. They will already have a network of potential co-founders, early hires and collaborators across Europe. They will know who to call in Stockholm, Munich or Zurich. They will have access to multiple ecosystems, not just one. These connections are critical for building companies that can scale globally while staying rooted in Europe”, says Lisa Bäckman.
Applications open after summer
The next application period for Relativity Collective will open after summer.
“I would strongly encourage others to apply, says Max Decman. “This program is truly unique, and you get the chance to be part of building something from day one”.
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Text: Lisa Bäckman