Launching this September, Pitch Lab is the bold, unscripted podcast-meets-pitch series from Friends of Bata.
We’re bringing Gen Z founders (18–28) and Millennial entrepreneurs (29–45) into one energetic space to talk about what really happens in the startup trenches.
🎙️ Forget the polished success stories — this is about raw lessons, candid feedback, and the kind of advice you wish you had before starting!
💬 Why We’re Doing This
Our research shows that early-stage entrepreneurs want more than just motivation — they crave honest conversations, real mistakes, and practical feedback they can act on. They also want to take part, not just listen.
That’s why Pitch Lab combines founder pitches, mentorship moments, and community voting in a format that’s engaging, visual, and built for LinkedIn, YouTube, and social.
🌐 Who It’s For
- Gen Z Founders (18–28) — Pitch your venture, get feedback, and gain visibility.
- Millennial Founders (29–45) — Share your experience, mentor rising talent, and grow your network.
- Partners & Ecosystem Builders — Help connect great ideas to great mentors and audiences.
🔥How It Works
- Series: 5 episodes (Sept 2025 –Jan 2026) + Live Finale (Jan 2026)
- Duration: 30–40 min episodes
- Format:
- One key startup challenge per episode
- Gen Z founder pitch (3–5 min)
- Live mentor feedback from a Millennial founder
- Audience Q&A & voting
- Clips shared on LinkedIn, YouTube, and partner channels
One key challenge per episode
- 📉 Why startups fail (and how to avoid it)
- 🎯 Brand & go-to-market on a student budget
- 🤝 Finding the right co-founder or team
- 🤖 AI tools for growth & productivity
- 💸 Fundraising 101 — pitching, positioning & surviving rejection
🌟 Why Join
Gen Z founders get the mic to pitch their venture, receive unfiltered, in-the-moment guidance from a founder who’s been there, and gain massive visibility through our podcast, viral video highlights, and partner networks. It’s your launchpad for mentorship, exposure, and lasting connections — plus a shot at €1,000 and powerful startup tools.
Millennial founders become the go-to voices in their field — mentoring the next wave, building their brand, and expanding their network while inspiring audiences across podcast, video, and social channels. Give back, level up, and join a high-energy entrepreneurial tribe.
Partners & ecosystem builders get a front-row seat to rising talent, the chance to spotlight founders from their community, and brand visibility baked into every episode, clip, and campaign.
📩 Key Dates
- Apply by: Sept 10, 2025
- Episodes: Sept 18 · Oct 16 · Nov 13 · Dec 18 · Jan 15
- Finale: Jan 2026
How to Apply:
- Gen Z Founders: Send a 60–90 sec video to valentina.muller@triple-b.co
- Millennial Founders: Email your LinkedIn + short intro to valentina.muller@triple-b.co
- Partners & Friends: Nominate great founders by forwarding them this blog's link!
🤝 Created by Friends of Bata, in partnership with:
YoungPreneurs · Junior Achievement Czech Republic · Junior Achievement Alumni Europe · Junior Achievement Slovakia · Unknown University · Tomas Bata University · Aticco
🎓 Invited collaborators:
Schulich School of Business · LaunchX · California Lutheran University · Anglo-American University and more!
💡 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, episode drops, and behind-the-scenes!
Click here > Friends of Bata
