A New Era for Student Founders: Friends of Bata x Unknown University
At Friends of Bata, we believe the best way to learn entrepreneurship isn’t by reading about it — it’s by doing it. That’s why we’re proud to officially announce our partnership with Unknown University of Applied Sciences, a bold new school based in The Hague that shares our mission: empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs through real-world action.
This isn’t just a handshake. It’s a full-scale collaboration to unlock life-changing opportunities for young founders across Europe and beyond.
From Summer Camp to Startup Launchpad 🌱
Our partnership kicked off this summer with a bang — Valéry, a young founder from our Swiss community, joined Unknown University’s Summer School for an unforgettable week of workshops, bootcamps, and venture building.
Hosted inside Titaan — the largest innovation hub in the Netherlands — Unknown U’s summer program is no ordinary classroom experience. Valéry got a front-row seat to what it means to build, test, and pitch real ideas alongside students from all over the world. From late-night brainstorms to marine bootcamps (yes, really), the experience pushed his thinking, deepened his "why", and expanded his network overnight.
And he’s just the first. Through this partnership, more Friends of Bata students will be invited to attend immersive programs, pitch competitions, and acceleration experiences at Unknown University — whether in-person or online.
What Our Community Gets 🎁
So, what does this mean for you — as a student, aspiring founder, or mentor in the Friends of Bata network? Here’s what’s now possible thanks to this partnership:
- Access to Unknown University programs like their Summer School, Bootcamps, and MSc/BSc in Entrepreneurship
- Access to workshops and virtual masterclasses with Unknown U’s expert faculty and real startup operators
- Visibility across Europe through a shared platform that highlights your journey, ideas, and potential
- New acceleration pathways for student founders ready to scale — supported by mentors from both our communities
Why Unknown University?
Unknown U (formerly Global School for Entrepreneurship) isn’t your typical academic institution. Their students start real businesses from day one — mentored by entrepreneurs who’ve actually done it. Their BSc and MSc programs combine business-building with world-class coaching, and the entire experience is housed inside Titaan, where you’re never more than a hallway away from a founder, investor, or fellow disruptor.
That’s exactly why this partnership works. Unknown U doesn’t teach from theory. They teach from the trenches — just like we do.
Looking Ahead 🎙️
Starting this fall, Unknown University will also be a key contributor to our upcoming Friends of Bata Podcast Series — helping us spotlight young founders, share underrepresented stories, and give students the mic to inspire thousands. They’re also helping us nominate new talent to participate in our pitch competitions, mentorship circles, and founder journeys.
Together, we’re rewriting what entrepreneurial education looks like — faster, fairer, and more global than ever.
We’re incredibly excited about what’s ahead — and we couldn’t ask for a better partner in the Netherlands to help make it happen. Huge thanks to the Unknown University team for believing in this vision from day one.
Now, let’s build what comes next. Together. 🚀
