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Cohort 2 is ON
Cohort 2 Is Off to a Start
On Friday, July 3rd, we officially opened Cohort 2 of the Vest Ventures Pre-Acceleration Program, in person, at Cowork Timișoara. It was an evening we prepared with care, and one we hope the 30 selected teams felt exactly the way we intended: a warm, energetic start full of possibility.
How the First Evening Went
We opened the event with an overview of everything ahead in the program, the structure of the four weeks, the evaluation criteria, the resources the teams will have access to, and the pace we'll be moving through together. But we didn't want the evening to be just about logistics.
We also made room for networking, the moment when participants got to know each other, shared their ideas, and discovered they weren't the only ones who believe a vague idea can turn into something real. We wrapped up with a team game, designed specifically to loosen up the atmosphere and turn a room full of strangers into a group that already feels like a community.
An Intense Lean Startup Weekend
Over the weekend, the 30 teams had two packed days: workshops, hands-on exercises, and discussions guided by our mentors, all centered around the Lean Startup methodology. Topics covered included:
Lean Methodology
Hypothesis Thinking
Problem Validation
Customer Interview Craft
Lean Canvas v0
Value Proposition Design
Customer Personas
These aren't just theoretical concepts. They're the tools each team used to start questioning their own idea in the good sense. To check whether the problem they want to solve is a real one, whether there's genuinely a need in the market, and whether their solution actually makes sense for the people who'd use it.
This kind of early validation is exactly what sets apart a startup built on assumptions from one built on evidence. And the opening weekend put every team on that path, right from day one.
You Still Have a Chance to Join the Program
If you're reading this and thinking you wish you'd been there too, the good news is there's still a way in.
In the second week of the program, on July 9th at 6:00 PM, we're hosting the Mix & Match event the moment when teams already enrolled in the program go looking for the people who can complete their lineup.
Maybe you're exactly the person a team is looking for right now. 👀
We're looking for people with experience in:
Graphic Design
Marketing & PR
IT / Development
Sales & Outreach
Accounting & Finance
Legal
If you fit into one of these categories and find the right team during the session, congratulations, you automatically become part of the team enrolled in the program, with access to all of Cohort 2's activities, mentorship, and resources.
What's Next
Activities in the coming weeks will take place online, giving participants the flexibility to enjoy their summer without giving up the time dedicated to their idea. We understand summer has its own rhythm, that's why we built the program so participants can keep moving forward without having to choose between the two.
Cohort 2 will wrap up back in person, at Cowork Timișoara, with a Demo Day event open to anyone interested in seeing the participants' progress and experiencing the program's unique atmosphere. It's the moment when the ideas they started with, back in week one, become real products presented on stage, in front of an audience.
We wish all the Cohort 2 participants the best of luck, and we hope this turns out to be a truly valuable experience for them one that stays with them long after the four weeks are over.
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