ZNEXT builds technology companies in learning, work, and wellbeing. Founded on the initiative of Zanichelli Holding, our legacy comprises 166 years in cultivating knowledge. That’s why we are looking for founders who want a partner that thinks long-term.
Four months to validate a real project and build an MVP based on evidence. This is how you enter the Italian startup landscape for real.
We have the exploration. A project is waiting for you to come in and lead it.
A milestone-driven program where you take ownership of a pre-vetted project and lead it through discovery, validation and build. Fast-paced, with a dedicated team behind you from day one.
Duration: 4 months.
Next batch starts March 23, 2026.
We’re looking for high-energy, highly motivated builders who are early in their founder journey or intentionally transitioning into it. People who want real responsibility, move fast, and are serious about turning effort into outcomes.
Execution-first. You move before you have all the answers.
Evidence-driven. You update your view when data tells you to, not when you feel ready.
Independent. You don't need a structure to tell you what to do next.
Founder-intent. You've been close to the startup world long enough to know you want to be on the founder path. You haven't had the right entry point yet.
If that's you, we can work together.
Month 1 -> Market & Customer Discovery: deep problem understanding, customer interviews, sharp definition of ICP, pain points, and core use case.
Month 2 -> Market Validation: test demand and willingness to pay, validate positioning and channels, iterate based on evidence.
Month 3 -> MVP & Go-To-Market: build the MVP, ship fast iterations, run early go-to-market tests, start generating real traction signals.
Month 4 -> Final Elements of the Business Case: build the business case, define the plan and economics, and structure a clear plan.
- Access to pre-vetted ideas with initial research already completed
- A step-by-step execution framework with milestones and standard deliverables
- An AI-First approach and paid softwares from day one
- Guidance, playbooks, and tools to run validation and build efficiently
- A dedicated team across Legal, Product & Growth, Strategy, GTM, Finance, and Communications.
- A €10,000 validation budget to help you move quickly.
- Regular touch-points and accountability throughout the batch.
Four months of full-cycle execution: from customer discovery to testing and building a strategy. You either get a validated idea with real evidence and a clear plan to scale, or a documented, rigorous account of why it didn't hold and what the evidence points to next.
Real founders know how to kill something when the data demands it. That intellectual honesty is what this program tests and what ZNEXT looks for.
If the project is validated, ZNEXT will fund it with €150,000, also becoming a co-founder with a 15% share of the new company. Then, we will help you grow.
