Future Innovators Academia | Fall Cohort 2026
Rules and Regulations
Future Innovators Academia is a free startup education platform, open to the wider community. Within the Academia, cohorts are created to offer university students the opportunity to compete for a prize through a pitch competition. For the Fall Cohort 2026, that prize is a spot to present at Web Summit 2026. The program is run by Unicorn Factory Lisboa, as part of the Future Innovators Programme.
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The Fall Cohort 2026 aims to guide university students, recent graduates and students of other recognised schools from idea to pitch. It offers free access to startup courses and mentorship, and ends with a competitive pitching session. The strongest pitch, submitted between September 14 and October 25, 2026, will earn a live pitch at Web Summit 2026.
CALL STRUCTURE
Phase 1: Enrollment – September 14 to October 25, 2026
Participants register on the Academia platform.
Phase 2: Pitch Deck Submission – September 14 to October 25, 2026
Teams submit their pitch deck through the platform.
Phase 3: Top 10 Selection – October 27, 2026
Up to 10 submissions are shortlisted as finalists ("Top 10").
Phase 4: Pitching Session with Partners – October 30, 2026
The Top 10 pitch online to a panel of partners. The 1st and 2nd place teams are selected and announced after the session.
Phase 5: Web Summit – November 10-12, 2026
The winning team presents their pitch live at Web Summit 2026.
SELECTION PROCESS
Step 1 – Eligibility Screening
Submissions that do not meet the basic requirements are filtered out. These are: at least one Eligible Participant per team, registration on the platform, submission within the window, and a pitch deck in English.
Step 2 – Top 10 Shortlisting
UFL shortlists submissions for the Top 10 based on:
- Innovation & Creativity – originality and differentiation of the idea
- Technical Excellence – quality and robustness of execution
- Product Market Fit – fit between the solution and the problem/market
- Execution & Prototype – level of development and proof of concept shown
Step 3 – Finalist Evaluation
The Top 10 pitch live to the partner panel. Pitches are scored on the same criteria above, plus:
- Pitch Quality – clarity, structure, and communication of the proposal
CALENDAR
Applications open | September 14, 2026
Applications close | October 25, 2026 (extended from October 16, 2026)
Top 10 announced | October 27, 2026
Pitching Session with Partners (online) | October 30, 2026, 10:00-12:00
Raffle draw (Web Summit ticket) | October 30, 2026
Web Summit 2026 | November 10-12, 2026
APPLICATION CRITERIA
The Academia platform is open to the wider community for learning purposes. The prizes described in these Rules are reserved for Eligible Participants.
Eligibility. An Eligible Participant is a person who, on the date of sign-up or pitch deck submission:
(a) is enrolled in, or completed in 2024 or later, a higher education programme at a university or polytechnic institution, in Portugal or abroad; or
(b) is enrolled as an active student in, or completed in 2024 or later, a structured, non-degree education or training programme at a school or training institution, in any field, in Portugal or abroad (for example, project-based, peer-to-peer or intensive training schools).
School validation. Unicorn Factory Lisboa decides, at its sole discretion, whether a school or programme under (b) qualifies. Participants may confirm in advance whether their school is accepted by writing to education@unicornfactorylisboa.com. Unicorn Factory Lisboa's decision is final.
In the pitch track, at least one team member must be an Eligible Participant.
Any participant who attends Web Summit 2026 under these Rules, whether as a member of the winning team or as the raffle winner, must be at least 18 years old on November 10, 2026. The winning team must have at least one member who meets this requirement to present the pitch at Web Summit.
Proof of eligibility. Unicorn Factory Lisboa may request proof of age and eligibility at any time. This may include an identity document, a certificate of enrolment or completion, a student card, or a declaration from the school confirming the participant's status. Participants who cannot provide proof will be excluded from prize attribution.
Applicants must be registered on the Academia platform. Pitch decks must be submitted in English between September 14 and October 25, 2026. The last submission per team is the one that counts.
REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION
Submit a complete pitch deck, in English, through the platform, within the application window (September 14 – October 25, 2026). Team members must confirm availability for the Pitching Session (October 30) and, if selected as winner, for Web Summit (November 10-12). Team members must provide proof of age and eligibility whenever requested by Unicorn Factory Lisboa.
OUTPUTS AND PRIZES
1st place: €500, a live pitch at Web Summit 2026, 2 Web Summit 2026 tickets for team members, and access to the Youth Acceleration Sessions (a UFL mentoring session and 2 Rocket Sessions, normally reserved for UFL incubated startups).
2nd place: €500 and a UFL mentoring session.
Cash prizes are awarded per team, not per team member. Non-cash prizes, including Web Summit tickets and sessions, are not transactional, are not transferable to third parties, and cannot be converted, in whole or in part, into cash or any equivalent monetary value. UFL reserves the right to replace a non-cash prize with one of similar nature and value, should circumstances beyond its control require it.
RAFFLE – WEB SUMMIT TICKET
All Eligible Participants who are at least 18 years old on November 10, 2026 and registered on the Academia platform by October 25, 2026 are automatically entered into a raffle for one Web Summit 2026 ticket. The draw takes place on October 30, 2026. The winner is contacted via the email associated with their platform account and must provide proof of age and eligibility before the ticket is awarded. The raffled ticket is not transactional, is not transferable to third parties, and cannot be converted into cash or any equivalent monetary value.
COSTS AND LIABILITY
Unicorn Factory Lisboa assumes no responsibility for any costs, expenses, or losses incurred by participants in connection with their participation in the Fall Cohort or Web Summit 2026. This includes, but is not limited to, travel, accommodation, meals, insurance, or any other personal expenses. Each participant is solely responsible for ensuring their availability and arranging the logistics needed to meet the commitments described above.
FINALISTS' REQUIREMENTS
Top 10 finalists are expected to:
- Attend the Pitching Session with Partners online (October 30, 10:00-12:00).
- If selected as the winning pitch, attend Web Summit 2026 in person (November 10-12). Up to 2 team members, aged 18 or over, may attend.
- Respond to any reasonable request for information from UFL related to the pitching process, including proof of age and eligibility.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Unicorn Factory Lisboa reserves the right to amend, suspend, extend, or cancel this program, or any part of these rules, including dates, criteria, and prizes, at any time and at its sole discretion, without prior notice. Participation in the Fall Cohort implies full acceptance of these rules and regulations. Any matters not covered by these rules will be decided by Unicorn Factory Lisboa.
CONTACT
For questions or support during the application process, contact the Future Innovators Academia team, by Unicorn Factory Lisboa, at education@unicornfactorylisboa.com
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The Fall Cohort 2026 aims to guide university students, recent graduates and students of other recognised schools from idea to pitch. It offers free access to startup courses and mentorship, and ends with a competitive pitching session. The strongest pitch, submitted between September 14 and October 25, 2026, will earn a live pitch at Web Summit 2026.
CALL STRUCTURE
Phase 1: Enrollment – September 14 to October 25, 2026
Participants register on the Academia platform.
Phase 2: Pitch Deck Submission – September 14 to October 25, 2026
Teams submit their pitch deck through the platform.
Phase 3: Top 10 Selection – October 27, 2026
Up to 10 submissions are shortlisted as finalists ("Top 10").
Phase 4: Pitching Session with Partners – October 30, 2026
The Top 10 pitch online to a panel of partners. The 1st and 2nd place teams are selected and announced after the session.
Phase 5: Web Summit – November 10-12, 2026
The winning team presents their pitch live at Web Summit 2026.
SELECTION PROCESS
Step 1 – Eligibility Screening
Submissions that do not meet the basic requirements are filtered out. These are: at least one Eligible Participant per team, registration on the platform, submission within the window, and a pitch deck in English.
Step 2 – Top 10 Shortlisting
UFL shortlists submissions for the Top 10 based on:
- Innovation & Creativity – originality and differentiation of the idea
- Technical Excellence – quality and robustness of execution
- Product Market Fit – fit between the solution and the problem/market
- Execution & Prototype – level of development and proof of concept shown
Step 3 – Finalist Evaluation
The Top 10 pitch live to the partner panel. Pitches are scored on the same criteria above, plus:
- Pitch Quality – clarity, structure, and communication of the proposal
CALENDAR
Applications open | September 14, 2026
Applications close | October 25, 2026 (extended from October 16, 2026)
Top 10 announced | October 27, 2026
Pitching Session with Partners (online) | October 30, 2026, 10:00-12:00
Raffle draw (Web Summit ticket) | October 30, 2026
Web Summit 2026 | November 10-12, 2026
APPLICATION CRITERIA
The Academia platform is open to the wider community for learning purposes. The prizes described in these Rules are reserved for Eligible Participants.
Eligibility. An Eligible Participant is a person who, on the date of sign-up or pitch deck submission:
(a) is enrolled in, or completed in 2024 or later, a higher education programme at a university or polytechnic institution, in Portugal or abroad; or
(b) is enrolled as an active student in, or completed in 2024 or later, a structured, non-degree education or training programme at a school or training institution, in any field, in Portugal or abroad (for example, project-based, peer-to-peer or intensive training schools).
School validation. Unicorn Factory Lisboa decides, at its sole discretion, whether a school or programme under (b) qualifies. Participants may confirm in advance whether their school is accepted by writing to education@unicornfactorylisboa.com. Unicorn Factory Lisboa's decision is final.
In the pitch track, at least one team member must be an Eligible Participant.
Any participant who attends Web Summit 2026 under these Rules, whether as a member of the winning team or as the raffle winner, must be at least 18 years old on November 10, 2026. The winning team must have at least one member who meets this requirement to present the pitch at Web Summit.
Proof of eligibility. Unicorn Factory Lisboa may request proof of age and eligibility at any time. This may include an identity document, a certificate of enrolment or completion, a student card, or a declaration from the school confirming the participant's status. Participants who cannot provide proof will be excluded from prize attribution.
Applicants must be registered on the Academia platform. Pitch decks must be submitted in English between September 14 and October 25, 2026. The last submission per team is the one that counts.
REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION
Submit a complete pitch deck, in English, through the platform, within the application window (September 14 – October 25, 2026). Team members must confirm availability for the Pitching Session (October 30) and, if selected as winner, for Web Summit (November 10-12). Team members must provide proof of age and eligibility whenever requested by Unicorn Factory Lisboa.
OUTPUTS AND PRIZES
1st place: €500, a live pitch at Web Summit 2026, 2 Web Summit 2026 tickets for team members, and access to the Youth Acceleration Sessions (a UFL mentoring session and 2 Rocket Sessions, normally reserved for UFL incubated startups).
2nd place: €500 and a UFL mentoring session.
Cash prizes are awarded per team, not per team member. Non-cash prizes, including Web Summit tickets and sessions, are not transactional, are not transferable to third parties, and cannot be converted, in whole or in part, into cash or any equivalent monetary value. UFL reserves the right to replace a non-cash prize with one of similar nature and value, should circumstances beyond its control require it.
RAFFLE – WEB SUMMIT TICKET
All Eligible Participants who are at least 18 years old on November 10, 2026 and registered on the Academia platform by October 25, 2026 are automatically entered into a raffle for one Web Summit 2026 ticket. The draw takes place on October 30, 2026. The winner is contacted via the email associated with their platform account and must provide proof of age and eligibility before the ticket is awarded. The raffled ticket is not transactional, is not transferable to third parties, and cannot be converted into cash or any equivalent monetary value.
COSTS AND LIABILITY
Unicorn Factory Lisboa assumes no responsibility for any costs, expenses, or losses incurred by participants in connection with their participation in the Fall Cohort or Web Summit 2026. This includes, but is not limited to, travel, accommodation, meals, insurance, or any other personal expenses. Each participant is solely responsible for ensuring their availability and arranging the logistics needed to meet the commitments described above.
FINALISTS' REQUIREMENTS
Top 10 finalists are expected to:
- Attend the Pitching Session with Partners online (October 30, 10:00-12:00).
- If selected as the winning pitch, attend Web Summit 2026 in person (November 10-12). Up to 2 team members, aged 18 or over, may attend.
- Respond to any reasonable request for information from UFL related to the pitching process, including proof of age and eligibility.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Unicorn Factory Lisboa reserves the right to amend, suspend, extend, or cancel this program, or any part of these rules, including dates, criteria, and prizes, at any time and at its sole discretion, without prior notice. Participation in the Fall Cohort implies full acceptance of these rules and regulations. Any matters not covered by these rules will be decided by Unicorn Factory Lisboa.
CONTACT
For questions or support during the application process, contact the Future Innovators Academia team, by Unicorn Factory Lisboa, at education@unicornfactorylisboa.com
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