The Forge: from idea to prototype to pitch.
A practical venture-building pathway for students who want to test, build, and present ideas with structure, critique, and momentum.
The Forge is EUVIS's core venture-building pathway. It gives students a structured way to move from vague idea to clearer problem, from clearer problem to prototype, and from prototype to a pitch that can survive honest critique.
Spark
Identify problems worth solving. Explore markets, users, friction points, and unmet needs. Good ideas begin with sharper observation.
Shape
Define the user, pain point, value proposition, and early assumptions. Turn loose ideas into structured venture concepts.
Build
Create a prototype, mockup, demo, MVP, landing page, model, or validation asset. The goal is not perfection. The goal is evidence.
Stress-Test
Receive critique from mentors, peers, founders, operators, and domain specialists. Test assumptions before the showcase.
Pitch
Turn the project into a clear story. Explain problem, solution, user, market, traction, insight, and next steps.
Showcase
Present standout projects to the EUVIS community, mentors, sponsors, invited guests, and ecosystem partners.
The Forge Junior · Semester 1, 2026/27
The Forge Junior — Semester 1 Timeline
Edinburgh University Ventures & Innovation Studio (EUVIS) · Academic year 2026/27
Where we are right now
We're kicking off with The Forge Junior only, for Semester 1 of 2026/27 — because we just started.
There is no The Forge Senior yet. In order to do Senior, you first need to complete Junior — and no one has yet, because we've only just begun.
In principle, Junior and Senior should run simultaneously each semester. For now, the plan is: Junior in Semester 1, Senior in Semester 2. We haven't mapped out Senior for Semester 2 yet — that comes next.
Semester 1, 2026/27 — Forge Programme
| Week | Mon–Sun | Session | Deliverable / event |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 14–20 Sep | — | Welcome Week — Activities Fair, sign-ups open |
| 1 | 21–27 Sep | Launch + Session 1 (extended, 2hr) | Track selection; teams locked by Sun 27 Sep |
| 2 | 28 Sep – 4 Oct | Session 2 | Cohort registration closes Sun 4 Oct, 23:59 |
| 3 | 5–11 Oct | Session 3 | — |
| 4 | 12–18 Oct | Session 4 (IM clinic) | Idea Memorandum due Sun 18 Oct, 23:59 |
| 5 | 19–25 Oct | Session 5 | IM feedback returned in session; TB1 ends Fri 23 Oct |
| 6 | 26 Oct – 1 Nov | Session 6 | TB2 starts Mon 26 Oct |
| 7 | 2–8 Nov | Session 7 (final taught session) | Deck v1 due Sun 8 Nov, 23:59 |
| 8 | 9–15 Nov | — | Mock showcase, Wed 11 Nov |
| 9 | 16–22 Nov | — | Tech check Mon 16 Nov · Final showcase, Wed 18 Nov |
| 10 | 23–29 Nov | — | Speaker event (optional); written debrief issued |
| 11 | 30 Nov – 4 Dec | — | Dark. TB2 ends Fri 4 Dec |
| — | 7–8 Dec | — | Revision |
| — | 9–21 Dec | — | Examinations |
What students get
Everything you need to move fast.
Who should sign up?
Anyone ready to begin.
- —Students with an idea
- —Students without an idea
- —Technical students looking for commercial collaborators
- —Commercial students looking for technical collaborators
- —Designers looking for real briefs
- —Researchers curious about commercialisation
- —Students who want to join a team rather than start one
- —Anyone who learns better by building
What counts as a prototype?
More than you'd think.
The Forge mindset
Build before you overthink.
Test before you claim.
Listen before you pitch.
Simplify before you scale.
Earn attention through clarity.
The first version is supposed to be rough.