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We help your startup succeed!
Upstream is Innovatum’s hands-on 12-week program for startups that want to validate their market, develop their offering, and create better conditions for sales, financing, and growth.
Through workshops, one-on-one business coaching, and support from experienced experts, you’ll gain the tools, knowledge, and connections to help your startup take the next step.
6 Reasons to Apply to Upstream!
Strategy & Customer Validation
| A strong startup starts with the right problem and the right customer. We’ll help you define your company’s direction, identify your most important customer segments, and determine whether there’s genuine demand for your solution in the market. We focus on vision, customer insights, competitors, positioning, and strategic priorities. |
Products & Offers
| Turn customer insights into a clearer value proposition. During the program, you’ll work on defining your MVP, planning product development, and testing the solution with potential customers. The goal is to create a product plan based on real needs and continuous learning. |
Brand & Market
| Clarify what you offer, who it’s for, and why customers should choose you. You’ll work on your value proposition, positioning, core messages, and brand. You’ll also create a concrete marketing strategy for how to reach and win your first or next customers. |
4. Sales & Growth
| Build a more structured and repeatable sales process. You’ll receive support in developing your pitch, prioritizing the right sales activities, and creating a plan for customer acquisition, partnerships, and expansion. The focus is on turning interest into concrete business opportunities. |
Finance & Investment
| Gain better control over the company’s finances and future capital needs. You’ll work on the revenue model, financial forecasts, growth plan, and financing strategy. You’ll also receive support in developing an investor-focused pitch and preparing the company for future financing discussions. |
Coaching & Networking
| You’ll complete the program alongside other entrepreneurs and have the opportunity to share experiences, challenge perspectives, and provide each other with feedback. Upstream combines group workshops, individual business coaching, expert-led seminars, and connections with mentors, partners, and investors. |
Some startups we've supported
Practical Business Development for Startups
Every startup looks different, but many of the most important questions are the same. What problem are we solving? Who is our most important customer? How should we develop our offering? How do we reach the market? What sales model works? How will we finance our growth?
Upstream follows the startup’s natural development journey—from strategy and customer validation to marketing, sales, finance, and investment. Over the course of 12 weeks, you’ll gain hands-on experience with your own business through workshops, one-on-one coaching, customer dialogues, and assignments between sessions.
The program helps you gradually develop a clearer strategy, a stronger value proposition, and a concrete plan for sales and growth. The program concludes with a Demo Day & Startup Showcase, where participants present their progress and next steps.
Fast facts
| Program length | 12 weeks. |
| For whom? | Startups that have identified a problem worth solving and want to validate their market, develop their offering, and lay the groundwork for growth. |
| Format | Business ideas are assessed based on scalability, market, international potential, level of innovation, sustainability and team. |
| What do we do? | Customer validation, product development, branding, marketing strategy, sales, economics, financing, leadership, and investment. |
| What is expected of you? | Active participation and hands-on work on your startup throughout the program. |
| Conclusion | Demo Day & Startup Showcase. |
| Location | In-person meetings at Innovatum Science Park combined with digital meetings. |
Questions or concerns? Get in touch with us!
Frida Finnman
Head of Incubation & Acceleration
Pavel Calderon
Business Advisor