Masterclass: From Corporate to Founder

You have been good at your job. Maybe even very good. You built expertise, credibility, and a strong professional identity. And yet, at some point, a different question starts to appear: what if I built something of my own?

For many experienced professionals, entrepreneurship does not begin with certainty. It begins with tension: the sense that the next stage of growth may require a different path entirely. A move from executing within existing systems to creating new ones.

This evening is designed for exactly that moment.

Join us for an open discussion and info session hosted by Andreas Antonopoulos, entrepreneur, investor, academic leader, and Rector of the University of New York in Prague, who will introduce From Corporate to Founder — a new pre-accelerator program launching in Autumn 2026 for ambitious professionals ready to explore entrepreneurship seriously.

The session will combine two parts:A focused presentation of the program itself what it is, how it works, who it is designed for, and what participants can expect followed by an honest conversation about the realities behind the transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship.

• Together, we will explore questions such as:
• Is now the right moment to make the move?
• How do you know if entrepreneurship is genuinely for you?
• What happens when you do not yet have the “perfect idea”?
• How do you evaluate financial and personal risk?
• What makes a strong founding team?
• And how do experienced professionals transform their existing strengths into entrepreneurial advantage?

Rather than motivational clichés, the evening is built around clarity, practical thinking, and grounded exploration.
Participants will leave with a better understanding of whether this path and this program is relevant for them, and what their next concrete step could look like.

THE SESSION

A conversation-driven session built around reflection, perspective, and dialogue.

Rather than presenting entrepreneurship as a glamorous leap, the discussion aims to unpack the realities behind building something from scratch: uncertainty, identity shifts, financial and emotional risk, and the challenge of moving from operational expertise to entrepreneurial ownership.

The session will also explore:

• why many experienced professionals feel the pull toward entrepreneurship later in their careers
• the difference between wanting freedom and being ready to build
• how founders identify real business opportunities worth pursuing
• the role of risk readiness, timing, and personal motivation
• what makes early-stage ventures fail or succeed
• and how experienced professionals can transform accumulated expertise into entrepreneurial leverage

Participants are encouraged to engage actively through discussion and Q&A.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

A pre-accelerator for ambitious professionals ready to build something of their own.

Launching in Autumn 2026, From Corporate to Founder is a three-month pre-accelerator designed for experienced professionals who want to explore, validate, and potentially launch a new venture.

The program is not centered around certificates or theoretical entrepreneurship. Its purpose is much more practical: helping participants reach a real decision, supported by clarity, evidence, strategic thinking, and an actionable plan.

The learning journey is structured across three major dimensions:

Self & Context

Why this? Why now? Why you?

Participants explore personal motivations, founder strengths, competitive advantage, risk readiness, and the deeper transition from corporate identity toward entrepreneurial ownership.

Business Opportunity

What is a real problem worth solving?

This part focuses on identifying and sharpening business ideas through customer pain analysis, market sizing, business model construction, and exploration of emerging sectors with strong future potential.

Business & Resources

With whom and with what?

Participants work on team structure, co-founder matching, financing options, and venture-building resources — including the program’s optional co-financing mechanism for selected teams ready to move forward.

FORMAT

• Duration: 2.5 hours
• Format: presentation, moderated discussion, and Q&A

AGENDA

• 18:00 – 18:30 – Welcome and informal gathering
• 18:30 – 20:30 – Conversation & info session

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This session is designed for:

• experienced corporate professionals considering entrepreneurship
• ambitious individuals with a strong desire to build something meaningful
• professionals who may not yet have a fully formed business idea, but are ready to explore seriously
• people looking for a structured environment to test assumptions, challenge themselves, and move from intention to action

It is particularly relevant for those who feel they have reached a professional inflection point: successful in their current path, yet increasingly aware that the next stage of growth may require building something of their own.

A solid general understanding of business fundamentals  finance, marketing, strategy, and operations is expected. Previous EMBA or management education can be helpful, but is not required.

FORMAT & KEY DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM:

The program will run over three months in Autumn 2026 and will include:

• three to four intensive two-day sessions
• sessions spaced approximately three weeks apart
• practical application work between sessions

The time between sessions is considered just as important as the classroom experience itself, as participants are expected to test ideas, conduct conversations, validate assumptions, and apply frameworks directly in real-world contexts.