Industry Insights Put Into Practice and Strong Recognition

Participants go from ideation to closing a round thanks to guidance and a strong network while obtaining a Master’s so they are recognised by both employers and investors.

Hands On Experts Offer the Right Mix of Theory, Insights and Execution

30%Professors
Columbia Business SchoolUniversity of Genova
70%Industry
SequoiaMetaMicrosoft
7H

industry mentor median reply time

MASTER
University of Genova

and a Columbia Certificate

01

Personal connections with customers, peers and investors

02

Powered by real relationships with their industry leaders.

03

The best give you theory and insights and make sure you apply correctly

01

Personal connections with customers, peers and investors

Nur and Anas receive weekly advice from their industry leader, Clay’s CEO ($3B val.), thanks to Genoa ES.Nur and Anas receive weekly advice from their industry leader, Clay’s CEO ($3B val.), thanks to Genoa ES.
Nur and Anas receive weekly advice from their industry leader, Clay's CEO ($3B val.), thanks to Genoa ES.

Genoa Mentors are present in Decisive moments for the startup

Interviewing a potential co-founder, closing key customers, negotiating, or handling emergencies are hard challenges. Mentors are there if asked, even joining meetings. Thanks to Genoa ES mentors with relevant experience, every past student has received expert support, even on just 24 hours’ notice.

Watch it yourself
Irina secured a pilot with her market leader, by preparing the call with 7 Genoa ES mentors.Irina secured a pilot with her market leader, by preparing the call with 7 Genoa ES mentors.
challenges+
Tommaso saved thousands in parts, after his MVP was tested by a Genoa hardware expert.Tommaso saved thousands in parts, after his MVP was tested by a Genoa hardware expert.
challenges+
With Ugo’s advice (tech founder of Compass, $7B val), Matteo saved months in tech development.With Ugo’s advice (tech founder of Compass, $7B val), Matteo saved months in tech development.
challenges+
02

Powered by real relationships with their industry leaders.

Ali was introduced to his industry leader, Pat Kinsel, CEO of Proof, $700M val. by a Genoa ES mentor.Ali was introduced to his industry leader, Pat Kinsel, CEO of Proof, $700M val. by a Genoa ES mentor.
Ali was introduced to his industry leader, Pat Kinsel, CEO of Proof, $700M val. by a Genoa ES mentor.

Genoa mentors work at iconic companies like Meta, Google, or Stripe and can host sessions at their otherwise inaccessible offices.

By having a workshop in many of the most successful companies in the world’s offices and emerging startups, students see directly the winning operational techniques and can apply them in their own ventures.

Watch it yourself
Ali found a potential co-founder at an invite-only event hosted at Ramp in NY, through Genoa.Ali found a potential co-founder at an invite-only event hosted at Ramp in NY, through Genoa.
challenges+
The cohort learned from Meta’s AI team. One of them later also invested in a Genoa ES startup.The cohort learned from Meta’s AI team. One of them later also invested in a Genoa ES startup.
challenges+
Every mentor is a potential angel. All students who raised received a check from a Genoa mentor.Every mentor is a potential angel. All students who raised received a check from a Genoa mentor.
challenges+
03

The best give you theory and insights and make sure you apply correctly

Giovanni, thanks to Prof. Bontempo’s negotiation class, closed three corporate customers.Giovanni, thanks to Prof. Bontempo’s negotiation class, closed three corporate customers.
Giovanni, thanks to Prof. Bontempo’s negotiation class, closed three corporate customers.

Mentors share the insights they learned on specific topics over their years of experience so students can avoid mistakes.

Ali, a UCL graduate strong in business and execution, was looking for product management and technical advice, along with a first round of funding. Through Genoa ES, he secured pilots with two industry leaders, found his CTO, who had built infrastructure for 70 million users, and his first investor.

Watch it yourself
After a Genoa session on finding a niche, Giulia pivoted and closed her first customer.After a Genoa session on finding a niche, Giulia pivoted and closed her first customer.
challenges+
Gianluca crafted his startup’s value proposition at Viarengo’s workshop. (Ex-CMO of McAfee).Gianluca crafted his startup’s value proposition at Viarengo’s workshop. (Ex-CMO of McAfee).
challenges+
Kris overcame sales fear via the Genoa ES street-pitching competition in New York.Kris overcame sales fear via the Genoa ES street-pitching competition in New York.
challenges+

Follow the Students’ Journey.

Connect with our community to see the impact for yourself.

Explore now

Learning Execution in the best cities

Over 70% of students find clients in New York, 82% a cofounder when in California, and 91% funding or a job when in Genoa.

Oct 6- Oct 20

New York

Genoa students learn the hard skills necessary to build successful new startups at Columbia Business School. Its professors helped launch 3,000+ startups in 3 decades, which raised 8.9B dollars in 2025 alone.

Oct 21 - Nov 7

New York

Through Genoa ES, students have the chance to grab coffee with the founder of a $7B IPO startup among others. They will also attend events and have opportunities to find co‑founders and customers.

Nov 8 - Dec 22

San Francisco

In San Francisco, Genoa students have 1.5-hour workshops at leading companies with directors and founders who are changing the world. They connect with investors and can even have sessions at mentors’ homes.

Jan 7 - May 28

Genoa

Mentors fly from all over Europe and Middle East to teach our students in 48-72h deep dives every week. They city has highly skilled technical talent at competitive costs providing the ideal ecosystem early stage ventures.

May 28 - May 29

Graduate

Upon completion students receive a University of Genoa Master’s of 60 ECTS and a Columbia alumni status. Both institutions have been excellent for over 250 years so students are appreciated in both continents.

Practical support included into the program

The American Consulate of Genoa will personally take care of supporting students with the US Visa process, ensuring a fast and smooth experience without any stress.

Frictionless US Visa

Finding an accommodation during the program is student’s responsibility, but they can count on the Genoa ES dedicated desk to receive assistance in the search and booking process.

24/7 housing help

A Typical Week

The week intensity and topics are personalised depending on the needs on the cohort.

1:1 mentorship session
Theoretical Class
Mentor workshop
Events & activities
Collaboration & management

Academic topics

Full year with talents, mentors, investors and much more ...

Columbia Business School

Evaluating Ideas - Murray Low
- 6 h -
Teacher with Experience with

Sequoia CapitalApple
Columbia Business School

Hypothesis Validation - David Rogers
- 12 h -
Teacher with Experience with

ToyotaMerckCiti
Columbia Business School

Startup Branding - Bernt Schmidt
- 12 h -
Teacher with Experience with

VWSamsung
Columbia Business School

People Management - Paul Ingram
- 12 h -
Teacher with Experience with

Sequoia CapitalApple
Columbia Business School

Startup Finance - Amir Ziv
- 12 h -
Teacher with Experience with

Goldman SachsLafargeLogo
Genoa ES students celebrating

Genoa ES students who decide to look for a job earn three times the average graduate in the country where they work.

Alumni Performance