top of page

Entrepreneurship Education / Circular Startup Challenge 

Circular Startup Challenge

Fall Semester 2026 - 1 ECTS

1773741631824_edited.jpg

Build a Circular Startup in 54 amazing hours

 

The Circular Startup Challenge is a three-day, hands-on event where you build a circular startup in just 54 hours. Starting Friday evening with idea pitches and team formation, you'll spend the weekend developing your venture through workshops and expert mentoring. You will explore circular economy principles like designing for reuse, reducing waste and creating sustainable business models. The challenge ends on Sunday evening with each team presenting their venture idea.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand core entrepreneurship concepts, with a focus on sustainability and circular economy principles.

  • Know how to develop a business idea from concept to viable plan.

  • Have strengthened teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

  • Feel inspired to drive societal and environmental change through your own ventures.

  • Have gained hands-on startup experience and expanded your network in the innovation ecosystem.

Why attend the course?

  • ​Connect with other creators: This format is a great place to connect with passionate people driven to build something new and impactful. There is no better place to meet new friends, colleagues, mentors and co-founders.
     

  • Start something great: Knowing you're not alone can make all the difference. The Circular Startup Challenge provides participants many opportunities to engage and connect with like-minded individuals and experts and truly start something amazing.
     

  • Learn about circularity: You'll explore key principles of the circular economy, such as designing for reuse, reducing waste, and creating sustainable business models. All this are essential tools for building ventures that align with a regenerative economy.

1773741640858.jfif

Fall 2026 Schedule

  • Online (video format): Week of 14th of Sept

    • Overview of the course and objectives

    • Introduction to the Circular Startup Challenge

    • Overview of circular economy and different ways of entrepreneurship

    • Developing entrepreneurial thinking and competences

  • Friday Sept 18th, 5-9pm

    Saturday Sept 19th, 9am-7pm

    Sunday Sept 20th, 9am-9pm

    • Learn how to think, work and build a venture in 54 hours

    • Startup Weekend is a 3-day ideathon where groups of changemakers pitch their ideas, experience startup life and build new ventures

    • More about the Circular Startup Challenge: https://startupweekendbasel.ch/

  • Wednesday Oct 14th, 16.30 –18.30

    • Attend the Role Model Talks on Circular Economy

    • Hear inspiring stories from founders of local circular startups

    • Grow your network in the circular economy community and connect with fellow founders

  • The number of participants is limited to 30. Interested students should email Carolina Rovira Schmitt (carolina.roviraschmitt@unibas.ch) before Sunday 6th September 2026. Please include:

     

    1. your name, study field, degree level (Bachelor’s or Master’s), number of completed semesters, and matriculation number,

    2. your knowledge/background in entrepreneurship and a short motivation statement explaining why you are interested in participating,

    3. a brief description of a sustainability problem linked to circularity that you would like to solve (for inspiration, see:
      https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-
      introduction/overview).

    4. and if you have a business idea already, give us a short description.

     

     

    Please check if ECTS from this course will be accepted by your faculty.

     

    We will select participants based on motivation and confirm participation by latest 10th September, 2026. Your registration will be entered in your Online Services only after the official deadline of the course registration period, i.e. after October 12, 2026. A deregistration is not possible and the following applies to everyone: enrollment =  registration for the exam/assignment. In case of non-participation after registration it will be noted as "nicht erschienen" in the transcript.

     

    Eucor-Students and mobility students of other Swiss Universities or the FHNW first have to register at the University of Basel BEFORE the start of the course and receive their login data by post (e-mail address of the University of Basel). Processing time up to a week! Detailed information can be found here: https://www.unibas.ch/de/Studium/Mobilitaet.html. After successful registration, you can enroll for the course in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch).

Applications open until September 6th!

Course facilitation

Anna_Elina_Pekonen.jpg
Anna-Elina Pekonen

Head of Entrepreneurship

Education, Innovation Office, University of Basel

csm_Krysiak_1000_500_7e3fbd4c7a.jpg
Prof. Dr. Frank C. Krysiak

Environmental Economics, University of Basel

Unbenannt (1)-min (1).jpg
Carolina Rovira 

Innovation Manager, Entrepreneurship Education, Innovation Office

Powered by

IHZ_Logo_ZH_black.png
Basel-Horizontal-sa.png
2025 Unibas IO Black.png

Sponsored by

BaselCircular_Logo_SoMe.jpg
image(1).jpg

Contacts

DSCF0833_edited_edited_edited.jpg
Anna-Elina Pekonen

Head,

Entrepreneurship Education

CRS.jpg
Carolina Rovira Schmitt

Innovation Manager,

Entrepreneurship Education

bottom of page