When you think of a startup bootcamp, you probably imagine long hours, high-stakes pitches and a relentless hustle to come up with a game-changing idea. At IE University’s Tech Venture Bootcamp, that’s exactly what you get—but it’s more than just the “final pitch” that leaves a lasting impact on the students. The tech bootcamp is designed to redefine what it means to be an innovator through hackathons and demos, giving participants a taste of the challenges and rewards that come with turning an idea into reality.
For first-year students like Matteo Giorgetti and Christoph Rintz, the bootcamp is an exciting opportunity to take theoretical knowledge and turn it into something tangible. But the experience proved to be far more transformative than either of them expected.
Why take the leap?
Matteo and Christoph, both Bachelor in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence students, came to the bootcamp with different expectations—but left with a shared sense of achievement.
“I heard about it from a student in the year above,” Christoph recalls. “The concept was intriguing, and the opportunity to meet with investors really appealed to me. Plus, it was only a few days, so I figured it wouldn’t be a huge commitment.”
Matteo had a similar motivation. “I wanted something that would push me beyond my comfort zone. The bootcamp seemed like the perfect way to dive deeper into the world of tech and entrepreneurship.”
Both soon found that the bootcamp was more than just a side project. “I didn’t expect to learn so much about pitching and starting an idea from scratch,” Christoph says. “What I thought would be a small, one-hour-a-day side project turned into my main focus. It definitely exceeded my expectations.”
From the drawing board to reality
At the heart of the bootcamp is the opportunity to create something from the ground up. Matteo’s team, for example, built Budget Buddy, an innovative chatbot designed to help users manage their finances with personalized guidance.
“Our concept evolved a lot,” Matteo explains. “The more we worked on it, the more we changed and adapted based on feedback. What we ended up with was very different from what we originally envisioned.”
Christoph’s team also saw their project take shape in unexpected ways. They started with a broad idea, but as the days went on, the concept had to evolve to meet the challenges they faced. “The more we discussed it, the more the idea shifted,” Christoph says. “We had to adapt and refine the concept. It was a fluid process, and we learned how to navigate those changes as a team.”
Teamwork: where the magic happens
The bootcamp didn’t just focus on tech design—it also put a heavy emphasis on collaboration. Both Matteo and Christoph highlight the importance of their team dynamics in making their projects succeed.
“We didn’t assign strict roles,” Matteo says. “We just worked together, playing to each person’s strengths. One person focused on design, another on tech and I worked on the business side. It made the process really fluid and productive.”
Christoph’s team followed a similar approach, ensuring that each person contributed in a way that played to their strengths. “We divided the work based on our individual skill sets,” he explains. “One person focused on design, another on technology and one on business strategy. It was a really productive dynamic, which helped us get things done efficiently.”
Despite facing challenges, including some team member changes and evolving ideas, both teams remained united by a common goal: to bring their idea to life.
The final pitch: the ultimate test
“Even when we had setbacks, like team members leaving, we made sure to stay focused,” Matteo reflects. “It was a true test of teamwork and adaptability.”
At the end of the bootcamp, the culmination of days spent refining ideas and pushing boundaries comes down to the pitch. For both Matteo and Christoph, this moment was a chance to reflect on how much they’d grown over the course of the program.
“The final pitch in front of the investors was definitely the highlight of the week,” Christoph says. “It was a fantastic opportunity to present our project and see it from the investors’ perspective. The whole experience really showed me how much I had learned in just a few days.”
Matteo agrees: “That moment, standing in front of the investors, was exhilarating. But honestly, the real reward came from the journey to get there—the feedback we received, the learning and the growth we experienced as a team.”
The power of good mentorship
Throughout the bootcamp, students encountered unexpected obstacles—from technical hurdles to team misunderstandings. But the program provided something even more valuable than the solutions: mentorship.
“Our mentors didn’t tell us what to do,” Christoph notes. “They didn’t just give us answers. Instead, they helped us question our ideas and made us think critically. The best advice I received was to shift our project from a B2C to a B2B model. It completely changed our approach and opened up so many more doors for us.”
For Matteo, the mentors’ insights were equally invaluable. “Our mentors offered guidance on everything, from the technical side to business strategy,” he says. “Their best advice was to stay flexible with our approach and be open to multiple paths. It helped us make informed decisions and refine our product.”
Crafting a new mindset
By the end of the week, both Matteo and Christoph had not only learned how to build a product but also gained a crucial entrepreneurial mindset—one that would serve them well in the future.
“I didn’t realize how much this tech bootcamp would push me to think like an entrepreneur,” Christoph says. “It forced me to stay committed to the project, even when things got tough. You realize that you’re not just working on an idea—you’re building something with real-world potential.”
Matteo shares a similar sentiment: “This experience really opened my eyes to what it takes to turn an idea into a reality. It taught me how to work through challenges, adapt and think critically—skills I’m going to need moving forward, no matter what career I choose.”
Beyond the tech bootcamp
For Matteo, Christoph and their peers, the Tech Venture Bootcamp was more than just a few days of intense work. It was a fast-track to learning essential entrepreneurial skills like collaboration, resilience and creative problem-solving. While they walked away with hands-on experience in building tech products and pitching ideas, what mattered most was the growth they experienced along the way—both as innovators and as individuals.
Supported by IE Venture Lab and IE Impact Xcelerator and as part of the ambitious Rise Europe initiative, this experience pushed students to step beyond their limits. Whether they go on to start their own ventures or pursue careers in the tech industry, the bootcamp gave them the confidence to believe in their ideas—and the skills to turn those ideas into reality.