Slovakia
InVenture Mind Program

Welcome to the Georgia Tech InVenture Mind Program in Bratislava—a pilot initiative bringing the Georgia Institute of Technology’s award-winning entrepreneurship curriculum to Slovakia. This program teaches high school students how to transform innovative ideas into real startup ventures. Inspired by Georgia Tech’s Emmy Award–winning InVenture Prize, it draws on a proven model that engages hundreds of student innovators each year and supports venture development beyond the classroom.

Through hands-on learning and mentorship, students learn to identify problems, design solutions, build prototypes, and pitch their ideas. Participants begin their entrepreneurial journey in the InVenture Mind program and can continue developing their startups through university and beyond with local support.

By starting early, the program empowers youth in Slovakia with critical entrepreneurial skills, encourages business creation, and supports the local economy while fostering global experience. This pilot is part of a broader effort by Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute to build an entrepreneurial learning continuum in Slovakia.

About EI2 and EI2 Global

Program Overview

What is InVenture Mind?

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What is the outcome?

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Ready to start?

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Participating Organizations

The Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU)

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The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic

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Digital Coalition

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About EI²

For more than 60 years, the Enterprise Innovation Institute has been the trusted resource that has delivered solutions that successfully unlocked potential and fostered socioeconomic opportunity for all. As Georgia Tech’s internationally recognized socioeconomic development arm, EI2 is the largest and most comprehensive university-based program of its kind in the United States. Comprised of more than a dozen programs, our core focus areas include entrepreneurship, business and industry growth, ecosystem development, international outreach, and student-focused engagement opportunities.

As a program within EI², EI² Global’s mission is to foster economic opportunity around the world through inclusive, sustainable, impactful collaborations with universities, innovators, governments, and nonprofit organizations. Our team offers a comprehensive set of tools to support entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives as important ways to promote local economic growth in your community.

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Contact Us

Have questions or need more information about the Bratislava InVenture Mind? We’re here to help! For any inquiries, fill out the form below, or please reach out to Annick Ducher, Program Manager for EI² Global, at annick.ducher@innovate.gatech.edu

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What is the InVenture Mind?

The InVenture Mind is both an educational program and a competition for inventive students. It originated at Georgia Tech and is now being introduced as a pilot in Bratislava for high school students. Below are key details about the program:

The InVenture Mind is an entrepreneurship course and invention competition for students. In the Bratislava pilot, high school teams will participate in an extra-curricular program where they learn how to develop a solution in response to a societal need or challenge. Students will learn the process and tools to turn an idea into a potential product or startup. Over the course of one academic semester, students attend workshops and coaching sessions to brainstorm solutions, validate their ideas through research and customer discovery, and finally pitch their invention to judges. The program is hands-on and project-based, giving students real experience in innovation and business creation. It culminates in a showcase competition where teams present their work and compete for awards.

Who is the program for?

The program is targeted towards high school students, specifically those in their later years of secondary school (approximately 3rd and 4th year high school students, around ages 17–19). Students from all academic interests and subjects can apply. The students do not need any prior business experience – the InVenture Mind is designed for students without any business knowledge.

What’s the outcome for the students participating in the InVenture Mind?

By participating in the InVenture Mind, students will gain transversal entrepreneurial skills and preparation for their future careers:

Knowledge and Skills: Students learn how to take an idea from concept to product. This includes skills in creative problem-solving, market research (customer discovery), product design, and pitching and presentation skills. Participants also develop soft skills like teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and resilience – all invaluable for any future career.

Certificate: Every student who completes the program will receive a Certificate of Completion from Georgia Tech, recognizing their training in innovation and entrepreneurship. This certificate can be a valuable addition to college applications or resumes.

Competition Awards: During the final competition, top-performing teams will be recognized. Winning teams may receive prizes to help further develop their project. For example, teams that successfully build a working prototype might earn funding or resources to continue pursuing their startup.

A unique aspect of this pilot program is the opportunity it creates for a student learning pathway. Those high school students who have participated in the InVenture Mind, and who are admitted to the Slovak University of Technology (STU) to continue their education, will be able to keep working on their startup as part of their university education. These students will have access to Create-X, Georgia Tech’s entrepreneurship support program, adapted at STU as an extracurricular opportunity to launch startups during university. Upon graduation, they can connect with local incubators and entrepreneurship programs in Bratislava’s startup ecosystem to further grow their ventures. In short, the InVenture Mind is the first step in a broader innovation pipeline – from high school innovator to college entrepreneur, to startup founder.

Networking and Mentorship: Students will meet and work with mentors from Georgia Tech and Slovakia’s tech community. This networking can lead to lasting relationships, internships, or mentorships that extend beyond the program. Being part of the inaugural Bratislava InVenture Mind also means students will become alumni of the program, paving the way for future cohorts and potentially helping to mentor younger students down the line.

Overall, students who take part in the InVenture Mind will walk away with a sense of entrepreneurial confidence – knowing that they can identify opportunities, create solutions, and even start their own venture from scratch. It’s a transformative experience that can influence their education and career paths for years to come.

Application Process

Interested high school students will be able to apply to the InVenture Mind program. The application process will involve a simple online form (to be provided soon) where you can describe your invention idea or the problem you want to solve. You may apply as an individual or as a team. Applicants should be prepared to share why they are passionate about their ideas and what makes their ideas innovative.

The Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU)

The Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), the largest and most significant university of technology in the Slovak Republic, is a modern European educational and research institution. It offers university education mainly in technical, technological, technical-economic, technical-information and technical-artistic fields of study. Its activities reach back to the rich old tradition of the Mining Academy in Banská Štiavnica, established by the Empress Maria Theresa in 1762.

The STU provides a comprehensive and modern system of university education, research, and cooperation with the world of work through the transfer of knowledge. STU disposes of the widest spectrum of study branches. Since its establishment in 1937, more than 159,000 graduates have completed their education at the university, with the average number of students attending annually being 12,000.

In addition, the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava is one of the leading academic institutions in Slovakia and Europe and has received numerous high rankings and awards for its quality of research and teaching.

The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic

The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic is the central body of the state administration of the Slovak Republic for elementary, secondary and higher education, educational facilities, lifelong learning and for the state’s support for research, development and youth.

The Ministry manages schools and school facilities at the territory of the Slovak Republic through generally binding rules; by providing vocational guidance to all founders, it administers the network of school and school facilities in the Slovak Republic.

Digital Coalition

The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic is the central body of the state administration of the Slovak Republic for elementary, secondary and higher education, educational facilities, lifelong learning and for the state’s support for research, development and youth.

The Ministry manages schools and school facilities at the territory of the Slovak Republic through generally binding rules; by providing vocational guidance to all founders, it administers the network of school and school facilities in the Slovak Republic.