Top universities launch network for aspiring entrepreneurs
KTH and other leading European universities and innovation hubs, including ETH, Oxford, TUM and CDTM, have launched a new, cross-border programme called Relativity Collective – to unite the continent’s top entrepreneurial students.
The aim of Relativity Collective is to cultivate the next generation of founders and unlock Europe’s full entrepreneurial potential. Europe has world-class universities and produces exceptional entrepreneurial talent, but fragmented networks prevent many early founders from connecting across borders.
“What if Anton Osika from Lovable (KTH), Hanno Renner from Personio (CDTM/ TUM) and Paulina Grnarova from DeepJudge (ETH) had met as students, long before they started their respective companies,” Lisa Ericsson, Head of KTH Innovation, says.
Leading innovation hubs
The initial partners in the initiative are ETH Zurich, CDTM in Munich and Valencia, KTH, Aalto University, Technical University of Munich and Oxford University.
Under the Rise Europe alliance, a network for leading innovation hubs across Europe, where KTH Innovation is a member, it aims to strengthen the start-up ecosystem and boost innovation for the European economy. Additional university partners are expected to join in the coming months.
Receive a trip
Relativity Collective is aimed at students enrolled at participating universities who are determined to found a start-up company within the next 12–18 months.
The 25 best entrepreneurial students from across Europe will be invited to a programme in March 2026. During a three-day all-expenses-paid trip, they will build their network, explore potential co-founder relationships, and become part of a curated community of Europe’s top emerging founders.
“Europe’s future unicorn founders shouldn’t have to wait to meet by chance. The Relativity Collective will support cross-border founder formation and prevent talent from staying siloed,” Ericsson says.
Applications to Relativity Collective are open until 14 February.