Fall 2026 Course
Ready to take your venture expertise to the global stage? This dynamic course equips students with the strategic insight and practical tools needed to drive international expansion in high-growth AI and robotics startups and scale-ups.
Upon completion, students will be equipped to:
- Apply foundational principles of international strategy to challenges presented in founder-led startup case studies.
- Analyze and select appropriate international markets and entry strategies for real-world ventures.
- Evaluate timing, scaling, and cross-border operational challenges based on active startup scenarios.
- Assess the influence of cultural, regulatory, and institutional factors on the global expansion plans of participating startups.
- Develop and present comprehensive international strategic plans directly relevant to the participating founders and management.
Whether you're aspiring to lead a venture or advise one, this course empowers you with the mindset, methods, and confidence to navigate global markets with impact.
Ready to apply? Click here to know more.
Startups 2026
The coursework centers around 2 participating startup companies. Students will work on live case studies focused on AI transformation, exploring potential extensions of the company's business model and international expansion. Targets are to gain exclusive insights into AI and strategy, apply state-of-the-art tools and develop winning strategies. Students will work in 4 groups on 4 case studies provided by the 2 start up companies. Fast paced team work, learning from passionate business leaders and presenting the strategies to the company's leadership at the Grand Finale in December 2026 are the core of this course.
ANYbotics has confirmed its participation in the 2026 course. It is a world leading Swiss robotics company that designs and builds autonomous, four legged robots for industrial inspection and maintenance. Founded in 2016 as a spin off from ETH Zurich, ANYbotics is headquartered in Zurich and operates commercial hubs in San Francisco and Barcelona. Financed with over $150 million in venture funding from Qualcomm Ventures, Swisscom Ventures and Climate Investment, the "physical AI" company is rapidly scaling its sales and production.
A second AI startup company will be confirmed and announced shortly.
Preliminary Program 2026
| Program | Date |
|---|---|
| Introduction Day + Briefing of Startups | Thursday, 24.09.2026, 09:00-19:00 |
| Lecture Day + Q&A | Friday, 25.09.2026, 08:30-17:00 |
| First group discussion | Thursday, 15.10.2026, 13:30-18:00 (60 minutes / group) |
| Second group discussion | Thursday, 12.11.2026, 13:30-18:00 (60 minutes / group) |
| Third group discussion | Thursday, 26.11.2026, 11:00-17:00 (90 minutes / group) |
| Final group presentations with Startup's top management | Wednesday, 09.12.2026, 09:00-19:00 |
What do our 2024-2025 students say about this course?
"It was the most useful course in the master studies. There is no other course that is this practical, helping us understand how to work with a company on a real case in the real world."
"I learned so much, not only on the educational side but also on a personal level, where I feel I've learned and grown a lot."
"It was really great to be able to talk with the team and learn from their experiences. A huge thank you to Jan; it's just incredible for students to have the chance to meet him and learn from his experience."
"Very simple: this is one of the best courses that I ever had."
"It’s great to receive guidance from professionals. The university sometimes lacks more practical courses where we can truly apply our theoretical knowledge, and I believe this is important for our academic development before starting our professional careers."
Impressions from 2025
