Startup Mentorship Sessions
During this period, TRIANGLE continued its Startup Mentorship Sessions, offering tailored support to participating startups: Nepheli, HOLO.PK, Alisa Dudaj, and Evangelia Tech. The sessions focused on assessing each startup’s current stage, identifying key challenges, and providing guidance on business model development, customer validation, market positioning, branding, digital strategy, and scaling opportunities.
Nepheli received support on customer development, pricing strategy, recurring revenue, and the transition from service-based activities toward a more scalable product model. HOLO.PK worked on refining its marketplace concept, MVP validation, customer trust, funding needs, and long-term strategic direction. Alisa Dudaj focused on strengthening brand identity, 3D printed footwear, storytelling, digital marketing, and market expansion. Evangelia Tech received guidance on business model development, scalable online learning products, pricing, content strategy, and network building.
Overall, the sessions helped the startups clarify their value propositions, improve their strategies, and strengthen their readiness for future growth.
Kick-off of the TRIANGLE Training & Mentoring Programme
The TRIANGLE Training & Mentoring Programme officially began with its Kick-off Event, held on October 13th, marking the launch of a collaborative learning and mentoring journey under the EIT HEI Initiative. The event brought together over 650 participants from more than 15 countries, including students, academic staff, non-academic staff, mentors, trainers, and innovation ecosystem actors.
The event introduced the programme’s main objectives, structure, and expected outcomes, while highlighting TRIANGLE’s role in strengthening entrepreneurial capacity across higher education institutions. Throughout the programme, participants will engage with key topics such as open innovation, business model design, fundraising, market validation, and prototyping, with the aim of transforming academic ideas into impactful ventures with real social and economic value.
Led by Barleti University, together with partners from Greece, Cyprus, and Spain, TRIANGLE connects academia, industry, and society to support knowledge transfer, entrepreneurial skills development, and the growth of Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
Training Sessions: TRIANGLE Rewind
Following the Kick-off Event, TRIANGLE continued the first phase of its Training & Mentorship Program through six focused training sessions delivered via an AI-powered learning platform.
The sessions brought together students, academic and non-academic staff, and young innovators to explore key topics such as market validation, open innovation, business model development, product development and prototyping, customer development, pitching, and fundraising.
The training sessions were guided by Claudia Franze, Dr. Dimosthenis Kotsopoulos, Besarta Tafa, Dr. Stavros Lounis, Dr. Christodoulos Pavlou, and Prof. Assoc. Dr. Rezart Prifti. Through practical and impact-driven modules, participants strengthened their entrepreneurial skills and gained tools to further develop their ideas into structured and market-oriented initiatives.
Mentoring Sessions
As part of the TRIANGLE Training & Mentorship Programme, four dedicated mentoring sessions were organised to support participants in developing their entrepreneurial ideas and strengthening their innovation journey.
The sessions featured Frixos Larkos (Founder & CEO of Envolve Entrepreneurship), who focused on transforming ideas into viable startup pathways; Nikolas Sopilis (Founder and Tech CEO), who shared insights on product development, prototyping, business models, and customer development; Oriol Pascual (CEO of S2 Xpeed), who guided participants on networking and ecosystem building within Europe’s innovation landscape; and Rifat Seferi (VP & Co-Founder of Live Information System Srl), who focused on career and professional development for aspiring startup founders.
Together, these mentoring sessions offered participants practical knowledge, professional guidance, and valuable perspectives on how to move from ideas toward sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives.
EIT Events Participation
Co-Creation Workshop on Research Commercialisation
TRIANGLE was represented by Alain Daou during the EIT HEI Initiative Cohort 4 Co-Creation Workshop on Research Commercialisation. The session focused on supporting participating projects in exploring pathways for turning research outcomes into market-oriented solutions. Through this participation, TRIANGLE strengthened its engagement with the EIT HEI community and contributed to discussions on research commercialisation, knowledge transfer, and the transformation of academic ideas into innovation-driven ventures.
EIT Higher Education Skills Days — Brussels
TRIANGLE was also represented at the EIT Higher Education Skills Days 2025 in Brussels, where project representatives engaged with the wider EIT community and explored new perspectives on skills development, innovation, and higher education transformation. The event provided an important opportunity to connect with other EIT HEI projects, exchange experiences, and strengthen TRIANGLE’s contribution to building entrepreneurial and innovation capacities across European higher education institutions.
Fostering Ecosystem Innovation & Collaboration — Copenhagen
TRIANGLE partners participated in the in-person training “Fostering Ecosystem Innovation & Collaboration: A Systems Innovation Approach”, designed and delivered by Climate-KIC in Copenhagen. The three-day training brought together participants from across Europe, including universities, innovation hubs, and entrepreneurial communities, to explore how higher education institutions can support systemic change and sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship. Through sessions focused on ecosystem innovation, collaboration, leadership in complex systems, and the role of universities as drivers of transformation, TRIANGLE strengthened its engagement with European innovation networks and gained valuable insights for building stronger links between education, research, and entrepreneurship.
IVAP 2025 — EIT Higher Education Initiative
TRIANGLE representatives took part in IVAP 2025, organised by the EIT Higher Education Initiative, joining three days of collaborative sessions, knowledge exchange, and networking activities with EIT KICs, universities, industry partners, and EU stakeholders. The event provided valuable insights and inspiration for TRIANGLE’s ongoing activities, highlighting the role of Higher Education Institutions in connecting knowledge, practice, entrepreneurship, and societal impact. Through this participation, TRIANGLE further strengthened its engagement with the European innovation ecosystem and its commitment to co-creation, collaboration, and skills development.
Community Events
Breaking Barriers for Innovation: TRIANGLE at Falling Walls 2025
From 6–9 November, TRIANGLE joined the international innovation dialogue at the Falling Walls Science Summit 2025 in Berlin through the participation of Dr. Luca Simone Macca, representing AUB Mediterraneo and the TRIANGLE Project. Known as a meeting point for bold ideas and breakthrough thinking, the Summit created an inspiring space for researchers, innovators, and leaders to reflect on how science can respond to today’s most pressing societal challenges. Dr. Macca’s participation offered an important opportunity to share TRIANGLE’s vision of connecting academia, research, and industry within a stronger European innovation ecosystem. By engaging in this global platform, TRIANGLE continued to promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and sustainable innovation as key drivers for Europe’s future.
TRIANGLE at the Digital Agenda Conference — Nicosia
TRIANGLE was represented at the Digital Agenda Conference, held on October 9th in Nicosia, where the team had the opportunity to engage with Mr. Stefan Dobrev, Chairperson of the EIT Governing Board. The discussion focused on the TRIANGLE Project, its expected impact, and potential opportunities for future collaboration. This exchange provided an important moment for strengthening TRIANGLE’s visibility within the wider EIT and innovation community, while opening space for new connections with key professionals and stakeholders.
TRIANGLE and Startup Albania — Smart City Ecosystem Workshop
TRIANGLE was featured in collaboration with Startup Albania during GEW Albania 2025, through the workshop “Innovate, Connect, Transform: HEI Initiatives for Smart City Ecosystem — TRIANGLE’s Contribution.” The session, led by PhD Ada Spiru, expert in Transport Economics at Barleti University, focused on the role of higher education institutions in developing innovation ecosystems and smart cities. Through the example of the TRIANGLE Project, the workshop highlighted how universities can foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration between academia, the private sector, and public institutions for more sustainable and inclusive urban development.
Scientific Dissemination
TRIANGLE at the Scientific Conference “Fundamentals and Technical Means of Design”
TRIANGLE was presented by Prof. Assoc. Genta Rexha at the scientific conference “Fundamentals and Technical Means of Design”, organised by the Technical University of Sofia. The presentation introduced the TRIANGLE EIT Higher Education Initiative and its work in strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge transfer within higher education. This participation offered an important opportunity to share the project’s approach with an academic audience and to promote TRIANGLE’s contribution to building stronger innovation ecosystems across Europe.
TRIANGLE Showcased at ICITEE 2025 in Tirana
The TRIANGLE project was showcased at ICITEE 2025 — The 3rd International Conference on Information Technologies and Educational Engineering, held on December 18–19, 2025, in Tirana, Albania. Representing Barleti University and the TRIANGLE consortium, PhD Kejda Nuhu presented the paper “Engineering Graduates’ Perceptions of Entrepreneurial Education: Evaluating the Need for Business and Innovation Skills in Engineering Careers.” The presentation contributed to the scientific dissemination of TRIANGLE by highlighting the importance of entrepreneurial, business, and innovation skills in engineering education, while strengthening the project’s visibility within an international academic forum.